Marciano Adventures: Thanksgivingggggg

Back to our favorite weekend getaway destination - Rabun Co. for this quick 4-day trip, we wanted to share with you about an awesome hike (or you can drive to this one), my dad's favorite Thanksgiving day activity, our favorite way to bring in Christmas (in November), and our favorite place to cut down our own Christmas tree. Additionally, we are practicing an attitude of gratitude this year, so we each wanted to share a few of the things that we are most thankful for.

First, I just have to share that one of my dad's favorite things to rope us into is the Turkey Trot in downtown Clayton. I am not a runner (and neither is Josh), but for some reason I work up on Thanksgiving morning and decided I wanted to run it. So let the record state - I finished the Turkey Trot 5k.

We first read about Glassy Mountain on the Wander North Georgia Blog. You should definitely check out their site if you are anywhere in the North Georgia area. You can also read their post for better fetails on how to find the hike and tips about it. One thing we did learn that has changed since their post is that you are allowed to drive your car right up to the bottom of the tower as long as the gate is open. Anyways, the views are great (if you can get over the knee knocking climb up the tower). Cindy made it up to the top, though, so you should have no problem. They say at night, that you can see Clemson from the top of the tower. Like I said - pretty solid views.

Every year, the Friday night after Thanksgiving, is Christmas in Clayton when all the shops stay open a little later, and they serve cookies, cider and hot cocoa. This is a great small town tradition that allows you to start your Christmas shopping and enjoy one of the super yummy restaurants downtown. Make sure you stop and take a picture in front of one of the beautifully decorated trees.

Our favorite ‘Saturday after Thanksgiving in Georgia’ tradition is to head up to North Carolina to Osage Farms to cut down our own tree. Im sure there are a million places to cut down trees, but we have always had success here and our trees have always survived until Christmas. A few tips:

Plan to be here a few hours - the amount of trees available is overwhelming and it takes a while for the workers to come get your tree, bundle it up, and tie it to your car

There is very minimal (or no) service once you get close to Osage. They have big signs with Christmas trees on them for you to follow, but you’ll want to communicate with anyone you’re meeting up with before you head up the mountain

I will say that even though they have guys with chainsaws there to cut it down for you, but that you should bring a good ole hand saw with you to cut it down if you really want the full experience

Bring your family and take lots of pictures because it is SO much fun and SOOO pretty up on top of the mountain