After the plane incident, I needed a weekend to relax and clear my mind. Where better to do that than Oakridge, NC? I took the weekend to surround myself with friends and family, get much-need rest, and submerse myself in nature. I had the most fantastic time as Tyler, my boyfriend, showed me around the town which he grew up in. Oakridge is a small country town that is rapidly growing in size.
We took a hike through the woods behind his parent’s house. When Tyler was younger, he used to spend a lot of time exploring and playing out there. And I can’t blame him —the landscape is beautiful. On the edge of the woods stands a tiny cabin which was built in the 90’s for community kids to roam. However, now abandoned and locked up, it makes a wonderful area to just sit and chill. 
The pups LOVED playing in the stream which gave us an excuse to dip our toes in as well. The sound of moving water can be so relaxing. There are tons of great walking trails in Oakridge like Owl’s Roost trail, Bald Eagle trail, and Lake Brandt Greenway. If you’re up for even more adventure, Hanging Rock is about 45 minutes away.
Of course Ollie had to roll around in the mud and get super dirty…. ?
Nature has tons of great health benefits and is very therapeutic. Being in fresh air, getting exercise, and positive energy is GOOD for you. So, get out there this Summer!!! Just make sure to apply sunscreen, stay hydrated, and check yourself for ticks after. Also stay away from poison oak and ivy. I wore long pants and sneakers just incase.
On the other hand… Who else agrees that puppy kisses are the best type of kisses?
[ctt template=”3″ link=”ve67S” via=”no” ]I love exploring my state! This little town has a rustic, country feel to it! http://bit.ly/2tp9zi9[/ctt]
Once a year, the town of Oakridge gathers for their annual 3-day event, Ridgefest! Up until this year I’ve never been able to go so was super excited to find out I could make it!! The celebration is held is Oak Ridge Town Park and close to a thousand people show up each night. The festival is filled with amusement rides, food, games, and live music. It’s safe to say that we had a spectacular time.
One thing you should know about us it that Tyler and I love live music. (I mean, who doesn’t?) We will always stop to support local artists and their talents. When we first got to the park, a singer was playing some country tunes. So, we sat back and listened to him for a bit.
I faced my fear of heights and rode the Ferris wheel at Ridgefest. Fair Ferris wheels especially scare me because they tend to be old and rickety. With my luck, I wouldn’t be surprised if it broke down while I was at the top or broke off and rolled away. But while we were up there, I was mostly distracted by the awesome view! Poor Tyler. I practically squeezed the life out of his hand though.
The night ended with a BANG! We enjoyed watching the bright colors and designs of the Ridgefest firework show ?
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