Trip Report Index
US ROADTRIP – TENNESEE – ALABAMA – GEORGIA & FLORIDA
Day 3 – Sunday 8th July – Sweet Home Alabama
Just to start, I'm Lisa - the planner and reporter. Ade is my hubby and he's our driver and there's Hollie who turns 19 on this trip and Louis is 16.
I started my day at 5am.
I took myself off in to the quiet lounge with my mini photo printer (sprocket) and my journal.
I love the quiet time. (quite funny as I got up at 4.30am this morning to be able to work on this day of my trippie!).
I went in to Ade later and we watched the sun rise over the Smokies again on our deck.
Such a perfect way to start the day.
And we tested out our new Clumpies mugs from yesterday. Big heavy chunky mugs. The best!
Once everyone else was up washed and had breakfast which was tea, toast and fruit we had left by 10am.
Ollie was very excited to have his first day out with us.
This was the first time ever that I’ve known my Dad not to want to drive.
He’s the most confident driver I know. But he was dreading getting his car out of the drive.
He knew it would scrape the bottom of the car at the top. So Ade drove the whole time we were there.
Each time holding our breath going up and out of that driveway.
We were heading to Mentone in Alabama. It was about 45 mins away.
I’d found this place by accident.
I had originally been searching for a waterfall to visit, but with easy access.
Most had a couple of mile hike before you reached one and often there would be warnings of steepness etc.
That’s fine for us, but my Stepmom had, had a knee replacement and we didn’t want to risk it.
Then I stumbled across a travel vlog when I was researching the area and this girl was visiting Mentone and ate in the most adorable of cafes. I loved it! So I went on to google maps to research the whole area as I always do and not only was it just 45mins from us but there was also a waterfall just down the road from the café which had super easy parking and the waterfall was right by the road.
Perfect!
The drive was beautiful.
We soon drove through Georgia.
And then into Alabama.
We saw a sad little armadillo dead on it’s back.
Mentone was just as I pictured. Adorable.
But we’d forgotten that we’d gone through a time zone and the clocks had gone back and everything was still closed.
So we headed for the falls first.
Although only a few minutes away, I managed to miss the turning or at least not given Ade enough warning before he could make the turn, so we ended up coming back and up this very steep mountain road that twisted and turned and we were right on the edge of this narrow mountain road in our huge car.
I kept telling Ade not to look. He’s dreadful in situations like this.
And yet again I found myself saying ‘But it didn’t look like this on googlemaps!’.
We arrived at the falls and it was perfect.
No trickery from google maps this time.
It really was an easy 2 min walk from the car and no one was around.
The roar from the water was so loud!
And up high were these little houses which had the most amazing view over the falls.
We enjoyed this so much!
Dad then decided to go beyond the safety barrier and walk over the rocks with Ollie.
He wanted to see if Ollie wanted a drink. Even though he had one in the car.
It’s always Dad that pushes the boundaries….never the kids!
He’s so naughty!
We took the short drive back to the little main street to find the Wildflower Café.
I didn’t want to get there late as I know it’s really popular and gets very busy and it was Sunday lunchtime now.
Look how pretty!
You pull off the road and drive around the back and park up in a large woodland area and this faces the back. So you don’t see this from the road.
My kind of place!
We were expecting to get take out as we had Ollie so we went inside first to ask and to see a menu. Leaving Dad and ollie outside.
It had the cutest store inside of all things local.
Crafts, treats, jams, jewellery etc… and there was live music playing too.
I’d read that there’s usually someone local playing.
They were super accommodating with us and there was a marquee outside and they said we could all sit out there with Ollie. They even bought him water.
It was all dressed up on the side and was a really lovely place to have lunch.
Thankfully it was much cooler today so the heat wasn’t an issue either.
I was so excited about the food here. The reviews are amazing!
I went for their famous Tomato Pie.
Hollie and I shared a piece but then wished we’d had one each. It was that good!
And we had a small salad each too.
Louis and Ade had a burgers.
I think Dad and Janet may have had too.
Then came the desserts.
Louis had this huge sundae.
A couple had the Chess Pie which was like a sweet custard tart.
And a couple of us had the Derby Pie.
Oh My! That was something else!
Warm chocolaty and amazing and I don’t usually eat chocolate desserts.
We had the best server ever. Nathaniel.
It really was Southern Hospitality at it’s best.
I wanted to try and recreate the tomato pie at home and he gave me some tips.
I’ve tried since and it’s so good. (shortcrust past base, almost like a pizza base but pastry. Marinated sliced vine tomatoes in a little olive oil, balsamic and Italian herbs. Layered over the pastry and topped with cheese and baked).
Dad treated us to the lunch and then we went for a wander.
This was the sweetest Main Street.
Louis hadn’t wanted to go to Alabama.
He thought he would get shot!
Louis has a fear of everything.
So we didn’t tell him that we were coming.
He liked the outing but still thought there was a chance that he could get shot!
Such a sweet place for an after lunch stroll.
We thoroughly enjoyed that trip!
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