All that fresh mountain air made me sleep like a baby. It really does feel good to get away from it all every now and again. The first thing we did was grab a fresh cup of coffee from the Tassimo machine and head out onto the back deck. Any other season would have been more colorful for photographic purposes, but there was a certain peace and serenity in the mountains that morning that was easily captured by the camera.
It was very quiet and very still (I swear I'm gonna call Stephen King), almost like every living thing was just waiting for Spring. The woods were filled with wild rhododendrons just waiting for a sign that it was time to bloom. I can only imagine the beauty that overtakes this area when the weather warms up a bit, but for now, it is still winter. The bears are hibernating and thankfully so were the snakes. Don't get me wrong, I love bears.....but from a distance.....or stuffed. Snakes, I am not as fond of and was very happy not to have to look out for them while I was crawling through the wooded paths in search of an unsecured Internet connection with hubby's new iTouch. It takes me awhile to acclimate to my environment and I was so craving access to my blog life. Luckily, we also took the camera on my search for civilization and came up with a few nice shots.
It didn't take long for the peace and quiet to end, moments actually. It was apparently time to go on our daily trek down the mountain and see some sites. My mother-in-law had a few specific things she wanted to see and when she sets her mind to something, well let's just say, there was a reason she was doing the driving. She probably wouldn't get to do anything she wanted to do if she didn't have us all trapped in the car like rats headed in the direction of her own agenda. Hopefully when she gets done curling her nose up at this remark, she will laugh because she knows I am right!
At this point I am still hoping to catch a glimpse of Gatlinburg, although I am realizing that there is a fine line between Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Even the GPS got confused. I told you about some of the exciting attractions in Sevierville, but you may recognize Pigeon Forge as the home of Dollywood, Dolly Parton's Great Smoky Mountain Family Amusement Park. At first I thought this to be a little hokey (even though I am a huge fan of Dolly's singing), but I am finding out that hokey is part of the fun around these parts! Dollywood offers rides and attractions like rollercoasters and kiddie rides. There is also shopping, crafts, shows, and many special events including Five of the South's Largest Festivals. The dining experience is renowned at Dollywood with it's famous southern cooking and choice of venues. We did not actually go to Dollywood this time around, but I think I might suggest it for next time. I hate to admit it, but it sounds like fun.
We were headed to a place called Alewine Pottery that had caught someone's eye on a TV ad. We were finally headed to Gatlinburg so I was cool with this plan. We drove down the road a piece (about 4 miles) and lo and behold there it was....Gatlinburg. I was just starting to see a few stores and hotels and some more cabins on the ridge, when we hung a left and were headed back out of town again. Everything for the next few miles was all about goods and wares crafted by local artisans. A unique characteristic of Gatlinburg are the craftsmen who demonstrate their special talents and skills. An historic 8-mile loop has been designated as Tennessee Heritage Trail. Established in 1937, the artisans whittle, paint, sew, weave and carve to create original collectibles.
After making our way through the arts and crafts village, we decided that we would pick up an awesome BBQ rib dinner from Damon's Grill and head back up to the cabin before dark and enjoy a little family time with games and movies. This time it was me who threw a wrench in our otherwise grand plan. When it came time to pay for our carry out meal, I realized that while running my mouth in a cute little store where I bought a cute little stuffed alpaca bear, I forgot to get my credit card back from the merchant. In a little bit of a panic, we hurried back to the store to retrieve my card. This set us back about a half an hour which made getting back to the cabin by dark almost a problem. So, we decided to take a short cut.........with the help of the GPS.........in the mountains.......
Such beautiful pictures, we just spent a week in Austin, and I can say..the fresh air, and the sound of the moors and riggings on the marina next door was heaven to my ears!
Posted by: Susie | 09 April 2008 at 06:18
Hi Annie! Now I'm really gettin jealous! Gatlinburg is in my back yard, and it's probably been over a year since we were there! And even if it hasn't been that long, it's bee TOO LONG! I'm realy enjoying your saga! Much of it is VERY familiar, but you're throwing in some new tips even for a local to enjoy! THANK YOU!
Posted by: Fred | 11 April 2008 at 21:30
I love Gatlinburg, its one of my fondest childhood memories. I remember riding this sled ride down the mountain on a cement track and ice skating in the mall there.
Its definitely a trip I have to take with my kids.
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