Seeing the Smoky Moutains a Different Way


Yesterday we rose early to take our much anticipated trip into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park...going through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, as we had done some 29+ years ago shortly after we married.

I remember we drove around Cades Cove; saw Mt. LeConte; and came back to a small hotel room (one we could scarcely afford) with a bottle of wine. When we were settled in the room, we realize we did not have a cork screw, but Raf went out in the night, found an all night market, and purchased one. We vowed never to be caught without a cork screw again...and haven't been. And we haven't!

Yesterday, once we turned off I-40 to the south, we encountered motels, restaurants, tourist snares, and billboards...over and over again, mile after mile. Whew! Sevierville is no longer the picturesque little town we remembered. And Pigeon Forge...well, think Dollywood. Thankfully, we didn't have to go into Gatlinburg, as there was a bypass right into the park.

And coming back to Baileyton, we went south out of the park toward Cherokee, turned off on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is little used now, and made our way back to the coffeehouse we found Thursday, to the beauty of Greeneville, and on to a restaurant called The Farmer's Daughter...which, should you ask, was not very good!

All-in-all, yesterday was a disappointment, because all the beauty of the towns had been replaced by the commercialism and glare of tourist traps. You know, if I wanted to see an aquarium I'd go to the sea. If I wanted to see a Nashville show, well...I think I'd go to Nashville! If I wanted to see the beauty of God's creation, I certainly wouldn't look in glitzy restaurants, bars, and shopping malls!

I'm glad we went...but we won't go back. If we ever want to see the Great Smoky Mountain National Park again, we'll sneak past the Cherokee Reservation and enter through the southern border.

Oh, one thing we did was a dream of mine...we walked along the Appalachian Trail for a little piece...not far, but I did want to say I'd walked on the Appalachian Trail.

The mountains were beautiful...smoky and blue. The rilles gurgled, roared, and ran swiftly over rocks. There were many springs leaking their clear water down mountainsides. The Smokies are beautiful...but if you intend to travel there, know the national park is the most visited national park in the country...and Cades Cove is it's most traveled roadway. Therefore, we drove up to Clingman's Dome, the highest peak in Tennessee. It was 6,500 feet and utterly lovely.

Today is a rest day. It's raining out right now, and we plan to wash clothing when the rain has passed. We are reading, computing, downloading, and I will draw some I hope. Hope your day is as pleasant as ours.

See ya later, alligators!
















Comments

Mrs. Goodneedle said…
I love the photo of you and Raf together! Awww...

I agree with you about avoiding the glare and hype of all the touristy-glitzy shops/traps; not my taste at all. Climgman's Dome is a fantastic place, it's been awhile but we loved it, too!

Stay safe. Prayers abound for happy travels and returning sunshine.
Lila Rostenberg said…
There are just getting to be fewer really natural places...so many of us! Now,on my trip, I drove past the Talledega Raceway...so we will rent and watch "Talledega Nights"...not my usual fare, but the reace track is in a beautiful forested, hilly part of Alabama.
Susan said…
Beautiful pictures. Yes, I know that Gatlinburg is so much more commercial than it was many years ago...but that park is STILL gorgeous! I love to go to the Arts Community on the outskirts of Gatlinburg. All the potters and craftspeople have great studios out there.

It's one of my favorite places.

I pray that you have a wonderful trip and thank you for sending your prayers at the loss of my Uncle.

Blessings.

:-) Susan
Carole Burant said…
I so enjoyed all the pictures and videos! Sounds like you're having a wonderful time but I know what you mean about things changing through the years. It really is a shame that the commercialism has invaded much of God's creations. When I travel, I try to stay away from all of that and just be one with nature but it's getting harder to do all the time! Safe travels my friend! xoxo
Kelli said…
Gorgeous photos!!! Thank you for sharing your vacation with us!
Kelli
david santos said…
Thanks for you work, is vry nice, and have a good day
Michelle said…
I loved the pictures of the mountains! I'm sorry about your disappointment with the commercialism though; I completely understand where you're coming from - we don't have too many natural places left anymore!
Linda said…
Oh, you've been in my neck of the woods! I recognize all of those places -- Bean Station, Greeneville, and so on. I agree about the problem of progress in the Sevierville-Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg area. It has grown so much that is isn't any fun to visit anymore. We take some back ways in when we want to go to the park, and avoid the rest of it whenever possible!

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