A Weekend in the Smokey Mountains

The first weekend in May, my husband and I went to the Smokey Mountains to celebrate our five year anniversary.  We had a great time! (Warning: This is kind of a long post with lots of pictures!)

We visited Cades Cove and hiked to Abrams Falls.  The drive to Cades Cove is about an hour from Gatlinburg but absolutely gorgeous.  You can stop off along the way at several places including Meigs Falls.  Cades Cove is beautiful and is the number one place to see wildlife in the Smokies (according to the park).  We saw several deer and bears.  The hike to Abrams Falls was 2.5 miles each way and considered moderate.  There were 4 log bridges to cross, incline, tree roots, rocks, etc.  The picnic at the falls was worth the hike!

Meigs Falls.

Cades Cove.

Abrams Falls.  We had a picnic lunch on the rock closest to the falls.

We also visited Cherokee, NC.  This is another hour long drive from Gatlinburg but again, gorgeous.  On the way, you pass Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome (which was closed while we were there).  We hiked the 0.2 miles (of stairs) to Mingo Falls.   This was the most stunning, amazing, gorgeous, breathtaking waterfall I have ever seen (and Mike agreed too).  I really can't say enough about this waterfall and these pictures although beautiful, do not do it justice.

A very unattractive pictures at Newfound (WINDY!) Gap.

Stairway to Mingo Falls.

Mingo Falls.

We mostly ate in our cabin but we did visit the Smokey Mountain Brewery which is very close to the park entrance in Galtinburg.  We stopped there after our drive to Cherokee for a late lunch of pizza and beer.  You can't beat 6 beer for $6.  Our favorite was the seasonal Wheat Ale.  (I'm not much of a beer drinker so, I don't have much more to say about them.  One did taste like burnt wood - not good.)  If you like pizza and beer this is a good place to stop by for lunch.  We were there in the middle of the afternoon and it wasn't crowded at all.  They have their own parking lot which is free if you dine there (with validation).  The pizza was great especially the freshly made crust.

Our cabin (Bears Trail Cabin) was fantastic.  We rented it from the same ladies that we rented our honeymoon cabin from 5 years prior: Sue and Lise.  These ladies own three cabins and seriously do their job well.  Their attention to (every) detail and customer service is like none other that I have experienced.  I would recommend them to anyone!  We didn't see any bears outside the cabin but we did see several wild turkeys.  Apparently they roost just behind the cabin.

A great weekend!