My weekend in Gatlinburg was amazing! There were beautiful sunsets, pancakes, hiking, new friends and of course…some photography.
It was a great weekend getaway with the hubby. We stayed in a lovely cabin on Ski Mountain, called Mountain Splendor (which you can book through Chalet Village if you’re interested, by the way). On our first night there, we drove to Clingman’s Dome. Because rain was forecasted for a majority of the weekend and Thursday looked like the best day for a nice sunset, we made our way to the highest point in Tennessee. It did not disappoint.
As we waited for the sun to set, we met some hikers. These guys had been hiking the Appalachian Trail for over a month!
The hubby and I ended up giving a couple of them a ride down to Gatlinburg for the night. It was really interesting hearing their stories. Rob (pictured left) was from Cincinnati. His trail name was ‘MauiSuperDogMan’ and he was hiking with a trusted companion, his dog (except through the Smokies because pets are not allowed in the national park). A veteran and former yoga instructor, Rob was preparing to hike for approximately six months from Georgia to Maine. Apparently, he was not alone. There were plenty of like-minded people doing exactly the same thing.
Not surprisingly, there were also lots of photographers at the top of Clingman’s Dome. We first drove to the parking lot, then steadily walked the paved but steep climb to the top. However, there were places along the way to sit and rest. While the hike to the summit was difficult, it was totally worth it! Here is another, more abstract, photo of the sun before it went down over the mountain.
No trip to Gatlinburg is complete without a stop at the Pancake Pantry. This is without a doubt my favorite restaurant on the strip and thus our first stop on Friday morning. Granted, the allure of this place is mostly nostalgic on my part. But, seriously, they have the best pancakes, too!
Next stop, Santa’s Claus-et where we had to buy an ornament or two. Finally, we drove into the Arts & Crafts community to check out their beautiful pottery. This time, I purchased a pretty little vase from Alewine Pottery!
Then it was chill time at the cabin before dinner.
On Saturday we hiked to Alum Cave! It was a nice day hike and only 4.4 miles round trip.
Of course, I took some photos along the way. There is a nice babbling brook that follows the first half of the trail.
We barely dodged the rain, but saw some nice flowers along the way.
While the hike was strenuous at times, the truth is at the end of the day I felt a real sense of accomplishment. There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. ~Beverly Sills
Then the rain finally came. And it didn’t stop.
So the hubby and I enjoyed a nice dinner and a quiet night in the cabin before heading back home. 😜