While the Lewis family’s weekend in Key West last month was a quick recharge, the end of a long summer of running fishing charters called for a true family vacation. Last week, the Lewis family celebrated a monumental milestone: the 50th wedding anniversary of Main Attraction Co-Owner Katie Lewis’s parents, Fred and Marguerite Chesney. The family gathered to honor them near Asheville, North Carolina, where the Chesneys spend their summers escaping the Florida heat.
First Captain Marty, his wife Katie, and their daughter Natalie flew out for the celebration. The trip was especially exciting for Natalie, as it marked her first time on a plane. After landing at the Asheville airport, they rented a car and began the scenic drive into the mountains to their first destination: Cashiers, North Carolina.
Their first stop was Cornucopia, a beloved local restaurant that has been a must-visit destination in the area for years. Katie reminisced about childhood visits to her grandparents in Cashiers, recalling how they would all eat together at this same restaurant.
They headed to the Chesney’s house to unpack and settle in and spent a lovely evening with their family. The next day, Captain Marty and Katie drove back to Ashville to pick up their son Captain Alex. He had to stick around another day for a few college classes but it was a quick flight from Key West. It was another pretty laid back day. They all hung out with family and friends and took the kids to the playground.
The following day, they booked a fly fishing excursion with two guides from Brookings Fly Shop to explore the local rivers and streams. They met at the Fly Shop and got outfitted for waders and boots.
They followed their guides to the stream locations to start their fishing trip. They split into two groups, Captain Marty and Alex went with one guide, and Katie and her father went with the other.
Katie caught the first fish of the day, and also the smallest. It was such a tiny trout that it fell through the holes of the net! They all had a good laugh about it.
Katie’s father Fred did quite good, catching both rainbow and brown trout. Captain Marty and Alex also reported they caught several trout as well. The combination of great fishing and magnificent scenery made for a truly memorable experience.
That evening was the 50th Wedding Anniversary dinner celebration with their family and close family friends. They all met at Mica’s Restaurant, and celebrated the incredible milestone, laughed, joked, and told stories from all the younger years. By the time dinner was over, their cheeks were hurting from laughing so hard!
The next day’s destination was the Highlands Outpost, a year-round hub for family fun. During the warmer months, it offers a wide range of activities including a mountain rollercoaster, tubing, gem mining, and trout fishing. In winter, the venue transforms with snow tubing on man-made snow and an ice skating rink, making it a popular spot for kids of all ages.
The Lewises kicked off the fun on the tubing hill, their laughter and joyful screams echoing as they raced down the mountain. Next they all took turns on the mountain rollercoaster, called the Screamer. The Screamer consists of little carts that you sit in, either single or double and run around the mountain, twisting and turning. It goes surprisingly fast too!
The Scaly Mountain gem mine was next and Natalie enjoyed it in particular. They sifted through several buckets until they had a bag full of a dozen different types of colorful gems.
Seeing a trout pond just a few steps away, you know the boys had to try their luck. Armed with corn kernels for bait, Alex quickly out-fished Dad and had to playfully show the “ole pro” a thing or two.
On the last morning, prior to their airport journey, the Lewis family ventured over to their family friends’ home, where they got to visit with their horses. They met the beautiful Gucci, Storm, Thunder and Rango, and gave them treats.
The mountains were absolutely gorgeous and soon the fall leaves will change to brilliant hues of yellow and orange accompanied by cooler weather. They enjoyed getting away and spending time with their family. But as always, it’s back to work and there are fishing trips to be fished and boat maintenance, to get their vessels in tip top shape for Sailfish season.
We hope to see all of you in the near future, and remember if you are coming to the Florida Keys this holiday season, please book early, before you know it our calendar will be full of fishing charters again! Visit our contact page for more information or call us at (305) 289-0071.
