We are home again but the mountains have left an impression in our hearts and minds. We stayed in a condo above a golf course in the village of Cobbly Nob. Our view, other than the golf course far below us, was of Smoky Mountains National Park with pristine woodlands blanketing the mountains. Nature at its finest.

In the early morning–very early–you can sit outside and listen as the clouds move through the valley in front of you. It’s the air moving through a million leaves. A thrilling sound for me. A cool breeze, the soft twittering of thousands of birds in those thousands of trees. Peace.

We learned an important lesson, this trip: stay away from resort areas when school is out for the summer. And you can’t beat them to it, because folks get out early here. There are pancake houses on every corner and a few in between. They are all busy. By midday, a living tide moves along the wide sidewalks as thousands vie for space in the hundreds of shops.

We ducked into a quiet gallery and enjoyed some excellent artwork. We didn’t buy anything but it was a nice break from the crowds.

Our favorite thing turned out to be the sky lift. It was just fun and the views of the city and surrounding mountains was perfect. We sat in rocking chairs at the top while sipping cool drinks. A nice respite on a hot afternoon.

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Our trip up into the mountains was less than perfect, due to roadwork that closed one lane of the two-lane highway. This meant long delays due to the crowds–thousands making the same journey. We left early (good thing!) and made another discovery. My husband’s recent health issues made breathing difficult at the top, so he was unable to hike up to Clingman’s Dome. We turned around and headed back down.

The views along the way made the trip a little less painful.

One of us was disappointed that we didn’t see any “large” wildlife. No bears. No elk. Bummer. I enjoyed the wildflowers and the expansive views. I was happy to note that the forest is healing after the devastating fires of a couple of years ago.

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So, back in the land of blue grass and beautiful horses, I am quite content. I do love the mountains, but if there’s a next time, we will head there when the crowds are thinner, and hopefully, the roads will all be open.

If you go, and you love the hustle and bustle, do stay in town. There are some fine places to rent. You might consider one of those that backs up to the Little Pigeon River. The sound of the water rushing over the rocks is mesmerizing. If you prefer to be away from the noise and the crowds, the surrounding area is filled with nice cabins, fully equipped homes, and some great campsites.

Don’t forget the Alamo! We enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner on the front porch of a restaurant known as “The Alamo.” Excellent service! There are other good restaurants in town, but this one was our favorite.

As always, thanks for reading!