My husband and I spent last week in the Smoky Mountains for our 6 year wedding anniversary. We try to take a kid-free vacation every year on our anniversary.
We originally planned to stay in a cabin closer to home, but Tennessee (Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg) is only about about 4 hours from were we live. Plus it’s a beautiful relaxing drive through the mountains.
Nothing works once you get into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The radio doesn’t pick up and there’s no cell service. Nothing but quiet curvy roads and lots of beautiful views. It’s marvelous! 😉
We stopped a few times along the way to take in the amazing mountain views and to snap some photos. The second we entered the park, there was an Elk grazing in a field. They have lots of bears there too, but we didn’t see any this time.
The cabin was beautiful. It’s a studio style cabin so both the upstairs and downstairs are wide open. We decided to stay one additional night since we found out the 4th night was free.
We spent most of our time playing pool and relaxing in the hot tub. My husband did a little fishing when the ducks weren’t around.
The ducks were very friendly. We fed them lots of bread and we became their new favorite people. Every time we stepped outside they came running up to us.
On the 11th, our actual anniversary, we drove to Gatlinburg and walked around and visited some of the shops. We bought airbrush tshirts for both the girls and had a caricature done, just like we did on our honeymoon.
There were LOTS of free moonshine tastings in Gatlinburg… and of course we tried them all! I think I had every type of moonshine ever made before noon. We ate lunch at Blaine’s Bar and Grill to sober up before hitting some of the hiking trails.
We did the motor nature trail in Gatlinburg. It’s a loop through the mountains with lots of neat places to stop along the way.
We stopped at an old cabin that was the farm of Noah “Bud” Ogle between 1883 and 1925. The first settlers called this place “Junglebrook” after the dense growths of rhododendron and magnolia that boarded the streams.
On the drive back home, we stopped at Clingman’s Dome.
At an elevation of 6,643 feet, it is the highest mountain in the Smokies, the highest point in the state of Tennessee, and the highest point along the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail.
I love visiting the Smokies! I can’t wait to go back and bring the girls!
Gatlinburg was lovely when we went this summer. Everyone should go to Gatlinburg at least once in their life!
You will have to enter photos in my annual nature photo contest. 🙂
We stayed at Westgate, and its an awesome place: http://wstgt.com/2020552520
What a fabulous to visit and enjoy your anniversary, Happy Anniversary!!! I love all your photos and the outdoors!!! Make me miss the mountains and staying in cabins.
Have a great week!!
I love all your photos. It looks like you had a GREAT time.
Oh my gosh that is the most beautiful cabin I’ve ever seen. I’m glad you had a great anniversary!
Oh my! It looks so beautiful there. I absolutely love the coziness of the cabin. What a great trip!
Sounds like a perfect getaway. That room is awesome.
I love the Smokies. Gatlinburg is one of my favorite towns. Your trip looks like such a fun time.
Wow looks like a wonderful place! Your photos are very lovely!
My husband and I spent our Honeymoon in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg years ago. We’ve been back a time or two since then but it’s probably still my favorite vacation spot in the Fall. You got a lot of great photos!! I’m glad you enjoyed your time away!
Such marvelous photos! That cabin looks gorgeous!
That cabin looks wonderful and comfy. Looks like you had a great time.
Ahhh, Gatlinburg is my happy place! I absolutely love that area and the mountains and the shops.. and the food haha. Your amazing pictures make me miss it so much!
Your photos are beautiful and I’d love to stay in that cabin sometime. You were not too far from where I live (I’m in Asheville.) 🙂
How beautiful! If that’s not the perfect romantic getaway, I don’t know what is.
The cabin you stayed in is gorgeous! My husband and I love going to the Smoky Mountains!
What a fun trip! I’ve never taken a vacay this time of year. Now I want to. Your picts are so pretty!
Wow. That’s God’s country right there. It’s truly gorgeous.
Glad you were able to getaway! I love the photos you took at the cabin
I have always wanted to go to the Smokey Mountains. It looks so beautiful here.
I love the log cabin decor!! It is so rustic and beautiful. I can’t wait to visit here some day.
I love the place! Stunning views! I cant remember the last time my husband and I went away w/o our son. I wish we can do something like this to rekindle our relationship.
The smoky mountains look so romantic in your pictures. Happy anniversary
OMG! We should defitinely visit and stay here. I love the mountain view.
It’s absolutely breath taking and beautiful there! I haven’t been in a good 20 years though. So pretty!
We live in Knoxville, so we go hiking several times a year in the Smoky Mountains. We also visit Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge fairly often. The mountains are beautiful with so many wonderful trails to hike! Glad you enjoyed it!