Every now and then, the Lewis family gets to step away from the docks for a few days off the island. This fall, Main Attraction owners Captain Marty and his wife Katie, along with their daughter Natalie, packed up for a road trip to Sapphire, North Carolina, to visit Katie’s parents. Her folks recently bought a new home on seven acres in the mountains, and the whole family was excited to head north and see it in person.
Three Labs, One Nine-Year-Old, and a 3:30 A.M. Start
Anyone who has fished with our captains knows early mornings are nothing new, but this trip started early even by charter standards. By 3:30 a.m., Captain Marty and Katie were passing through Palm City with three Labradors and a nine-year-old in tow, aiming to make North Carolina in a single day. After a few stops for food, fuel, and bathroom breaks, they rolled into the mountains that afternoon.
Riding the Scaly Mountain Screamer
A week in the mountains meant family lunches, family dinners, and plenty of adventures. No trip up this way is complete without a visit to Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain for the mountain coaster, tubing, and of course gem mining, which might just be Natalie’s favorite activity of all.
The Scaly Mountain Screamer is a mountain coaster that winds its way through the woods and down the hillside. The ride lasts anywhere from five to ten minutes, and you take in a lot of scenery along the way. Captain Marty and Natalie rode it together, and Katie rode with her father, Fred. As Fred put it, you are never too old for some fun!
Captain Marty Trades Saltwater for Trout Streams
A captain on vacation is still a fisherman at heart. A few days into the trip, Captain Marty and Fred went fly fishing, focusing on private trout streams. The streams were active and strictly catch-and-release, and both of them had good luck and caught their fill. It is a long way from sailfish and mahi, but a tight line is a tight line.
Bears, Bucks, and Evening Side-by-Side Rides
Each evening, everyone loaded up for a side-by-side ride around the neighborhood to check out the houses and the scenery. The wildlife did not disappoint. Over the week, the family spotted lots of deer, including a big buck, along with turkeys, squirrels, and several black bears.
One big bear, estimated at a few hundred pounds, strolled right behind the house. None of the bears paid anyone much attention. They were simply cruising through on their way into the woods to find food.
Learning to Slow Down (Mostly)
Trips to the mountains have a way of forcing everyone to slow down, and anyone who knows Captain Marty and Katie will tell you that is not their strong suit. Still, they managed. The week was full of time on the back porch with family, grilling on the deck, and learning a new card game called Skip-Bo, courtesy of close family friends, the McDaniels. It didn’t take long for things to get competitive, and the whole family is now officially obsessed.
Natalie Meets Gucci
The McDaniels also keep four horses, and Natalie asked to see them just about every day. Midway through the trip, everyone piled into the side-by-side and headed over. Fred, or Grampie as Natalie calls him, saddled up a horse named Gucci and led her around the yard, and she loved every minute of it.
A Farewell Feast With Old Friends
As the vacation wound down, everyone gathered for a big dinner at one of the McDaniel family homes. Katie grew up alongside the McDaniel family, and being back in North Carolina with them brought back fond childhood memories. Katie says an evening of great food and great conversation with family and close friends was the perfect way to close out the trip.
Back to the Keys and Back on the Water
The next morning, the family left the mountains at 4 a.m. and headed back toward Florida. Fall may be our slower season, but our boats are still running trips and the fish are still biting, so it was right back to work.
Now is a great time to get out on the water with less traffic and plenty of fish to go around. Night bullynetting trips for Florida spiny lobster are also still available through November, making them a fun option for families and groups looking for something different. To book your trip, call us at (305) 289-0071 or reach out through our contact page. We would love to have you aboard!
