We love our Tennessee Mountains!
And we've had the opportunity to enjoy some time up that way
a few times in the last year -
Y'all remember us going to Jingle in July...
such a fun event / gathering of vintage trailers all decorated for Christmas!
It was held in Pigeon Forge / Sevierville this past year and we didn't take the time to drive into Gatlinburg... but still enjoyed the mountain views...
There's a reason they're called the Smoky Mountains!
We always love visiting...
Oops - this is across into North Carolina when
I went to the Becoming Conference in late July -
[We stay on the go - and love life!]
In September we were back up that way
with Craig's mother for a wedding -
Seriously... to see the love these two share was the sweetest thing.
I made the frame for the photo-op...
And I think everyone enjoyed it...
but I won't share all 37 photos with you today, lol.
While in the area, we took a little time to enjoy
Gatlinburg all decked out for fall..
Always fun to see a bear or two - ha
This is the aquarium, right across from our hotel.
They play music ALL THE TIME so it always reminds me of Disney when we hear it... While in the area, we took some time to walk through some of the crafty shopping areas outside of town...
And seriously, one of the things I love best about Gatlinburg is that NATURE is within a 5 minute drive of all the hustle and bustle of the touristy areas.
Most recently, we were up that way in January -
We went up for a quick weekend to attend Kanye West's Sunday Service
[I'll share more on that soon -]
and since we've been lucky enough to get reservations at Elkmont for late May / June [synchronous fireflies, anyone?] we drove in the back way so we could do a quick drive-through and see our spot... But, alas, [Magic] Mildred [our navigator] took us on a detour due to a fallen tree... and we kept seeing TURN AROUND signs if you're towing a camper [we weren't.] Those were some of the skinniest mountain roads I've ever been on... and it did make us think twice about how we're going to navigate with #AnnieLeetheArgosy...
[Craig's thought is that at least we can back up -
which we could not do towing a vehicle behind our little motor home...]
Still it was beautiful to be in nature
and see the mountain streams, even in winter...
And we stayed in a creek side room.
A favorite of mine... because... even when the aquarium is playing its music constantly, if you're on this side of the hotel and open your door...
all you hear is nature... it's pretty neat.
So. What do you think of when you think of Gatlinburg?
[Or any touristy mountain spot?]
Me?
Caramel apples and fudge / candy shops of course. Ha.
And there just happens to be one within walking distance of our favorite hotel.
I'm not even sure we bought one during this trip...
But they look [and smell] delicious!
We did grab a quick bit to eat at the Sunliner Diner in Pigeon Forge before the service. They let us do a quick photo op in the car...
But it was so crowded that we had to grab a seat at the bar...
And we shared this giant milkshake, burger, and fries...
and onion rings...
[I think they'd just opened that week...]
It was all delicious - and such a fun place!
After the service we had dinner at a [very good] Italian place off the beaten path before heading back to our room. And yes. It was COLD.
But we sat out on the patio for a bit to just enjoy our time there..
The Margarettaville resort across the way had an open fire pit going
[but there were no visitors to it that evening.]
And it snowed on us before we left -
always a treat!
As I write this during the pandemic... I'm wondering how things will be at the end of May and if we'll be able to see those fireflies afterall...
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