rubikscube
09-15-2005, 11:48 AM
We just returned from our Smoky Mountain honeymoon and it was fantastic. :fhug:Though Matt had been with his family many times, I'd never been!
Where did you visit?
Cosby, TN and surrounding areas
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Approx date of travel?
first week of September; the colors were just starting to turn as we left
Where did you stay?
Cosby Creek Cabins (http://www.cosbycreekcabins.com/)
How was the place where you stayed?
We stayed in the Sparrow's Nest and it was perfect. It was nestled in the side of a mountain, not far from the Park, and overlooked an incredible view. On the back deck, we enjoyed breakfasts in the cool mornings and the hot tub in the cool evenings. There was plenty of living space for 2 people (one bedroom, sleeps 4 w/ hide-a-bed) and the cabin offered pretty much everything we needed (except a corkscrew and a dresser).
How did you get there?
by car
Places of interest?
*National Park (http://www.nps.gov/grsm/), of course http://www.greatsmokymountainsnationalpark.com/
there are plenty of trails and other things we didn't do in the park, but we did do:
-Clingman's Dome - highest point in the Smokies (6,600?); it's quite a drive up and then a short, but steep hike - what a view!
-Cade's Cove - 11 mile road tour inside the mtns w/ old buildings (church, homes, barns, mill) from the 1800s and early 1900s
*Gatlinburg (http://www.gatlinburg.com/), http://www.gatlinburg-tennessee.com/, http://www.attractions-gatlinburg.com/
-shopping - lots of neat arts and crafts shops and then all the tourist-y stuff
-Ober Gatlinburg (http://www.obergatlinburg.com/) - aero tram that offers a great view of Gatlinburg and the mts
-Smoky Mountain Aquarium (Ripley's Believe it or Not) - all sorts of tropical and fresh water fish and sharks that you can view from above, below and all around. Very cool and worth the admission.
*Pigeon Forge (http://www.pigeonforgeonline.com/) - we went for the restaurants and a stop at the outlet malls
*Smoky Mountain Knife Works
(http://www.eknifeworks.com/)
Places to eat?
Anything you want from big chains to local stuff and it's also fun to pack a picnic
Any areas to avoid?
trying to go anywhere fast on the weekend - traffic can get very heavy
Pro's of this vacation?
Beautiful scenery and plenty to do, or not do - whatever you want
it was a decent drive from Indy and not hard to find
Con's of this vacation?
Lots of mountain driving
Additional comments:
I was excited to see lots of wild life...which we didn't see lots, but we did see some turkeys (at the cabin and the Park) and some deer (Cade's Cove). I was bummed not to see any black bears in person (besides the ones in the "fake" habitat at Ober Gatlinburg)...
We probably could have "accomplished" much more if it wasn't in fact our honeymoon and we weren't recovering from wedding planning and the big day...but there isn't anything I feel like I regret missing. And now, we have a great get-a-way to return to on our anniversary! :smooch:
Matt may have some thoughts...
Where did you visit?
Cosby, TN and surrounding areas
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Approx date of travel?
first week of September; the colors were just starting to turn as we left
Where did you stay?
Cosby Creek Cabins (http://www.cosbycreekcabins.com/)
How was the place where you stayed?
We stayed in the Sparrow's Nest and it was perfect. It was nestled in the side of a mountain, not far from the Park, and overlooked an incredible view. On the back deck, we enjoyed breakfasts in the cool mornings and the hot tub in the cool evenings. There was plenty of living space for 2 people (one bedroom, sleeps 4 w/ hide-a-bed) and the cabin offered pretty much everything we needed (except a corkscrew and a dresser).
How did you get there?
by car
Places of interest?
*National Park (http://www.nps.gov/grsm/), of course http://www.greatsmokymountainsnationalpark.com/
there are plenty of trails and other things we didn't do in the park, but we did do:
-Clingman's Dome - highest point in the Smokies (6,600?); it's quite a drive up and then a short, but steep hike - what a view!
-Cade's Cove - 11 mile road tour inside the mtns w/ old buildings (church, homes, barns, mill) from the 1800s and early 1900s
*Gatlinburg (http://www.gatlinburg.com/), http://www.gatlinburg-tennessee.com/, http://www.attractions-gatlinburg.com/
-shopping - lots of neat arts and crafts shops and then all the tourist-y stuff
-Ober Gatlinburg (http://www.obergatlinburg.com/) - aero tram that offers a great view of Gatlinburg and the mts
-Smoky Mountain Aquarium (Ripley's Believe it or Not) - all sorts of tropical and fresh water fish and sharks that you can view from above, below and all around. Very cool and worth the admission.
*Pigeon Forge (http://www.pigeonforgeonline.com/) - we went for the restaurants and a stop at the outlet malls
*Smoky Mountain Knife Works
(http://www.eknifeworks.com/)
Places to eat?
Anything you want from big chains to local stuff and it's also fun to pack a picnic
Any areas to avoid?
trying to go anywhere fast on the weekend - traffic can get very heavy
Pro's of this vacation?
Beautiful scenery and plenty to do, or not do - whatever you want
it was a decent drive from Indy and not hard to find
Con's of this vacation?
Lots of mountain driving
Additional comments:
I was excited to see lots of wild life...which we didn't see lots, but we did see some turkeys (at the cabin and the Park) and some deer (Cade's Cove). I was bummed not to see any black bears in person (besides the ones in the "fake" habitat at Ober Gatlinburg)...
We probably could have "accomplished" much more if it wasn't in fact our honeymoon and we weren't recovering from wedding planning and the big day...but there isn't anything I feel like I regret missing. And now, we have a great get-a-way to return to on our anniversary! :smooch:
Matt may have some thoughts...