Can I AW our vacation? PIPs

[RoxMonster]

We just got back from an amazing trip to the Smoky Mtns. I will try to keep it short and just hit the highlights.

We stayed in a semi-private cabin about 10 min. from Gatlinburg. It was awesome. Two bedroom, two bathroom, a pool table, a hot tub, and this amazing view:

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Every morning I sat on the upstairs balcony and drank my coffee while looking at the mountains.

We did lots of fun things, mainly spending our time in the park. We did a lot of scenic driving through the park and visited different areas. Some of the highlights:

We went up to Clingman's Dome, which is the highest point in the park. We went up here twice--the first time, by the time we hiked to the observation tower, we were fogged in, which happens frequently. But I did get this awesome view from the parking lot:

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The second time, we did get some views from the tower.

We did a lot of hiking and I am exhausted! But we got to see some cool waterfalls and very peaceful streams. Many times, we were the only ones on the trail and it was just so silent. I LOVED it. We drove through the park with no radio on and the windows down. The cool air was amazing.

We drove through the Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail and went to Cades Cove, basically a huge meadow between the mountains known for lots of wildlife. Although I couldn't get a pic fast enough, we did see a HUGE black bear about 100 yards away in the woods and it was awesome.

One day we drove part of the Blue Ridge Parkway through NC. We stopped at Waterrock Knob to have a picnic and then hiked to the top of it. Awesome views.

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We got to taste flavored moonshine and brought a jug home. We also tasted wine at a tasting room and bought six bottles. In the evenings, we played pool and hung out in our hot tub. We didn't turn the TV on once and I loved it.

It was an awesome trip. I loved getting away from the chaos of every day life and being in nature. We were literally in the park from 7 AM to 5 or 6 PM every day and I wouldn't have had it any other way. This trip has made me want to go to other national parks as well. Any recommendations for favorites?

ETA: More photos added later in the thread

[nahoku]

Sounds and looks awesome! One of these years we might mix it up and go to the smokies instead of the Rockies for our vacation.

What is a semi-private cabin?

[RoxMonster]

Jul 12, 2014 18:25:46 GMT -5 nahoku said:

Sounds and looks awesome! One of these years we might mix it up and go to the smokies instead of the Rockies for our vacation.

What is a semi-private cabin?

We had no cabins in front, behind, or to the left of us. There were a couple cabins to our right that we could see depending where we were on our balcony, but there were trees between them, so they weren't on top of us. "Semi-private" is how it was described on VRBO. I would consider private to be totally and completely alone with no other cabins around. At least, that's how I'd define it

[kayakjenn]

That sound like the perfect vacation! Do you have a link to where you stayed?

[RoxMonster]

Jul 12, 2014 18:28:55 GMT -5 kayakjenn said:

That sound like the perfect vacation! Do you have a link to where you stayed?

www.vrbo.com/200050

The owner was awesome to work with, and it was immaculately clean--a BIG deal to me.

[kayakjenn]

Jul 12, 2014 18:29:46 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Jul 12, 2014 18:28:55 GMT -5 kayakjenn said:

That sound like the perfect vacation! Do you have a link to where you stayed?

www.vrbo.com/200050

The owner was awesome to work with, and it was immaculately clean--a BIG deal to me.

Thanks! It looks like the perfect place to stay, I'm showing my husband right now.

[RoxMonster]

I got a few more photos on my computer.

This is The Place of a Thousand Drips we saw on our drive through Roaring Fork. It was a really neat waterfall.

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This was driving through Cades Cove in the morning

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This is our view when we finally got to the top of Clingman's Dome on a semi-clear day

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[bluetopaz]

I love those mountains! We've gone up right after school lets out the past few years. Last year we stayed in Franklin, NC, and this year we stayed in Clayton, GA. Next year I'd like to stay closer to Gatlinburg. We visited Cades Cove and Clingman Dome last year, and you've given me some trip ideas for next year. I love it so much up there---so green, so quiet.

[Deleted]

Great pics and it sounds like such a fun time! For a similar national park trip, consider Acadia in Maine? We are spending a week there in August, I'll post pics for you

[RoxMonster]

Jul 13, 2014 10:11:20 GMT -5 @missusbee said:

Great pics and it sounds like such a fun time! For a similar national park trip, consider Acadia in Maine? We are spending a week there in August, I'll post pics for you

Yes, please do! We already have a trip planned for 2015, but I seriously want to do another national park in 2016. I was thinking either Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, or Acadia, since I've heard it's beautiful.