Bears!
by janiac
I went to the Smokies in search of bears. As a kid, my mom had taken me to Yosemite and Yellowstone where I remeber seeing bears -- especially at Yellowstone where they used to be very common due to the bad practice of dumps near the hotel or something like that. But I remember seeing lots as a kid, but not since then.
I heard the Smokies had a large population, but was told not to fool myself into thinking I would see any. But we were lucky. We saw quite a few, mostly up in trees in eating cherries (I think).
Hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
by COFFEEBEAN52
With nearly 900 miles of hiking trails and about 550,000 acre, there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to experience a wonderfull hoking experience in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Novice or proffessional, short hike or ovenight, easy or challenging, there are many trail to give you a magnificent experience. Many trails give you the only way to see beutifull water falls and unbelievable mountain views. Although you are in the most visited national park in the US, it is not hard to find yourself thinking that you are in total wilderness, miles and miles from civilization just as the first explorers here probably felt. Bring plent of water and your camera. It's always a good idea to have rain gear with you because this is actually a rain forest and as such, rain can develope quickly.
Biltmore Estate Gardens
by monica71
The gardens at Biltmore Estate are fantastic. They are very well maintained and I can honestly say that you can easily spend one entire day here just exploring the gardens. The gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the famous landscape architect.
If you are on the grounds just for a short visit (as we were), make sure that at least you check the Italian Garden and the Rose Garden.
A pitcher of margaritas, some appetizers, and FUN
by Darkeyedgirl about No Way Jose's
The food, the decor, the people working there, the outside (yet, covered) bar, the pitchers of margaritas so-perfectly-flavored with Tequila (mmm... tequila)... the platefuls of appetizers... the way the kids can run around & play near the stream or watch people walking by... the kids menu (which was great!)... right in the heart of Gatlinburg, near the aquarium.
If you're in the mountains & need to tie one on & get some good food at the same time, (yet very cheaply and the kids think you're drinking lemonade), No Way Jose's is a great escape! They had this appetizer that just about offered a bit of everything. Some type of corn something or other was really tasty.
But, mainly, my favorite dish was the pitcher of margaritas that somehow kept refilling itself?
mmm!
Cades Cove
by recipe_addict
Cades Cove was one of the places we visited while in Gatlinburg, and we were not disapointed. There are a lot of historic buildings to see and it is a nice relaxing driving tour from one place to the next. Make sure to check out the cemetary and the grave stones. I got some neat pictures of some of them. There is a lot of history there.
On this 11 mile driving tour, you will glimpse original pioneer homesteads, barns, businesses, pasture and farmland.
outside cottage
All of us!
River Bend Farm Building
Old grave
