Great Smoky Mountains

January 24, we left the Atlanta area and drove north to Knoxville, TN to spend some time with very dear friends. We were excited because this was the first time we had come to them as opposed to their traveling to visit us. Knoxville is a beautiful little city that gives you the perks of a “bigger” city but feels like a small town. The downtown streets are still lined with buildings from the mid-1800’s and is very welcoming. In about an hour, you can be in one of the most serene national parks in the country: The Great Smoky Mountains.

We stayed in Pigeon Forge and visited Gatlinburg. We had a wonderful time with our friends as we played mini-golf, rode the ice bumper tubes, took in a dinner show, enjoyed the snow at Ober Gatlinburg, browsed through the shops and indulged in moonshine tasting at Ole’ Smoky’s. For $5 you can sample about a dozen different moonshines and walk out with a slight buzz and warm feeling!

As we left our friends, we took the opportunity to visit the park and get in a short hike. Unfortunately, due to the weather, many of the roads were closed so our sightseeing was limited. Nonetheless, we took advantage of what was open and enjoyed Mother Nature. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited of the national parks. There is something magical about the place.