Breath-Taking Views

We drove 6 miles from the entrance to the visitor center—and by then, we were already above the clouds! ☁️ That moment when we peeked over the edge and saw the stretching out below? Totally breathtaking. The views from the surrounding area were incredible—lush peaks peeking through the mist, sunlight filtering down in golden streaks… it felt like we’d stepped into a dream 🏔️.​ Unfortunately, there was a little hiccup: by the time we arrived at the visitor center, our rented jeep had just under half a tank of gas. That meant we couldn’t make it to the top and back—such a bummer! 😕 We also realized we still needed sweatshirts, even with the sun out (the higher elevation brings a chill!).​ So here’s the key tips if you plan to go all the way:​ Fill up your gas tank completely before entering—you don’t want to cut your trip short like we did! ⛽​ Dress warmer—pack a sweatshirt or light jacket, even if it’s sunny at the base. 🧥​ But even if you can only make it to the Visitor's Center, it’s 100% worth it! The views alone are amazing, the staff there has plenty of helpful information to share (we learned so much about the area’s history and nature), and there’s even a souvenir shop where you can grab a little memento of the trip 🛍️.​ This drive might have had a small detour, but the views and the little surprises (like the visitor center’s gems) still made it one of our favorite parts of the trip! ✨​ #MountainDriveAdventure #AboveTheCloudsViews #RoadTripTips #VisitorCenterGem #ElevationPrep