This is the view from our cabin near Pigeon Forge this past weekend. We discovered cabin lodging about 25 years ago, and except for a few stays in a condo in our annual trip to the Smokies, we have stayed in nothing else.
Once upon a time, the Smokies were my “happy” place. The views, the colors in the fall, the things to do–it was a perfect fit for me. I enjoy the beach as long as I’m active. I’m not the type to enjoy sitting on the beach all day and reading a book. My idea of fun at the beach is walking on the beach at least twice a day, swimming, spending a little time on the sand (maybe an hour or two), going to locally owned shops, doing things like a dolphin cruise, and things like that.
When I was a teen, I enjoyed horseback riding at the Smokies. I enjoyed the ski lift, Ober Gatlinburg where I ice skated, going to Cade’s Cove, and exploring the mountains.
The years, however, have brought changes, some of which are good and some of which are not.
Pigeon Forge, once a sleepy little spot on the way to Gatlinburg from Exit 407, is now a commercialized chaos that brings bumper to bumper traffic, crowded restaurants, crowded stores and entertainment venues, and…well, crowds. To be honest, although I always loved the mountains when I growing hop and in early adulthood, I’ve never liked the town of Gatlinburg. Too commercialized even back in the day, with the fudge shops and places selling souvenirs and that sort of thing. These days, it’s more crowded than ever.
I get it. Places like that rely on the tourism industry. It’s the lifeblood of the community. They need those dollars, and I actually feel like I’m doing something good for someone when I spend money there.
The resort in which we stayed, Sherwood Forest, was secluded, not too far from Pigeon Forge, and very clean and comfortable. We grilled on the gas grill one night, enjoyed YouTube TV programming availability in the evenings, and walked the resort for exercise one morning instead of fighting the traffic to go into the park and find a hiking trail. The roads were sometimes steep but nothing too bad, although walking UP the hills was a cardio workout like no other!
Luckily, many visitors left Sunday morning, so the traffic became much better, the miniature golf courses and the Titanic exhibit not crowded at all, and no problem with dining out.
If you’ve never been, I do recommend going at least once. Go to Dollywood for the kids or the water park. Play miniature golf and do all those other things kids enjoy. Adults can take in shows, explore the artisan shops like Alewife Pottery (locals, did you know they’re from Martin?), and explore Cade’s Cove and other sites where you are likely to see a bear in the wild. Enjoy the beauty of the mountains. Relax in a cozy cabin..
As for me, I’m visiting the Smokies in my mind regularly these days as I write my third book in the Mandi series entitled Secrets of the Smokies. The Mandi series is for girls ages eight to 12, and I’m rewriting and revising (meaning improving, hopefully) the first two books The Ghosts of Graceland and Music City Mayhem. Notice the alliteration in all the titles? Cheesy, I know, but it just happened that way.
As for this trip, though, we made the mistake of scheduling it without checking to see if there was any sort of special event taking place. Or maybe it wasn’t on the schedule when we planned our trip. But Friday and Saturday were packed with people attending a Street Rod (Street Hot Rod?) convention. Those cars and people were everywhere.
So, when you plan your trip, research. Maybe go during the week instead of on a weekend. Even then, be prepared for the traffic. And don’t stay in the midst of all that chaos. Don’t stay in a hotel or a condo, unless they’re far away from the madness. Go to VRBO or find cabin rental companies. Find the cabin that is right for you and your companions. You’ll find luxury cabins, some in resorts with pools and even cabins with their own indoor pool, lodges, one-bedroom and two-bedroom cabins, and more. You’ll find some very high up with amazing views and others at lower elevations and surrounded by nature’s beauty.
Not everyone likes spending time in the mountains. I don’t love it as I once did, but my husband does. We’ve learned it’s more enjoyable to go with friends or family because spending time with them is part of the experience. It all comes down to your personal preferences and your situation in life. So for all you beach-lovers, continue to do what you like to do.
As for me, as long as I’m with friends or family, I can enjoy being anywhere…well, as long as you promise not to want to just sit around all the time and not do things.
An active life is a happy life. At least, it is for me.
Life As I know it 