Now I'm back and refreshed and ready to BLoG!
We ventured back to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and took some amazing photos of some beautiful views! There's something about going to the mountains that I absolutely love. Every time I leave there I feel like I've left a piece of my heart behind in those mountains.
Here's a sample of those views...
The first photo is Clingman's Dome. It's the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. The bare spruce firs in the foreground were attacked by the Wooly Aphid in the late 19th century. It's an uphill hike to the dome so bring comfortable walking shoes and water for this excursion. The next photo is a partial shot of Laurel Falls. This wonder of nature is a short *cough* 1.3 mile hike UPHILL but the end result makes all the sweat worth it. Treat yourselves to dipping your feet in the refreshingly cold mountain spring water. We did and it was very refreshing! The last picture is one of the many beautiful views of the springs and rivers that flow alongside the windy roads through the mountains.
True to my form, I must include photos of some of my other favorite things! First a couple shots of the Old Mill Pottery. I love this pottery and it will eventually be the star of my dinner table :o) If I make the 'nice' list...
I also couldn't resist posting two photos from my favorite restaurants in Pigeon Forge. The first is a photo of the fritters with maple butter from the Old Mill Restaurant. Very delicious and just as good when you take them to go when you are unable to finish the ENTIRE meal! The other photos are from the Alamo Steakhouse, 'THe STeaK' ~an oak fired beautifully marbled ribeye steak and a baked sweet potato (my starch of choice) with butter and brown sugar! The other is a picture of my beautiful caesar salad, just look at all that cheese :o) My mouth is watering and it's 500+ miles to have it again
:o(
I hope you chose to visit this friendly area for yourselves and bring your camera for some AMAZING pictures of you and your family and the Great Smoky Mountains. For any scrapbookers out there*winking at my RSF*...there are shops after your own heart in Sevierville, TN, right up the Parkway from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Bring your wallet :o) You're gonna need it!
