As each day, month and year progresses and I grow physically, mentally and just altogether, my preferences in things not only change but they grow. When I hear the phrase “getting older”, one might think of this as a negative thing. Me, although I get one year closer to the days of aching and prescription bottles, I feel so much better and happier as a person the more I see new things, places, and kinds of people. Note: As long as I stay active and healthy, prescription bottles and aching can be at minimum levels ;). But in regards to new things, places, and people, for my 26th birthday, as much partying by the beach and or in a city has been and still is so much fun, I wanted to do something different. In addition losing my weekend savings job and nearly losing my father to heart problems created enough stress to reconsider pounding music and loads of alcohol in my system.
In the end, I wanted something different, something laid back, mellow, including something to do outdoors. In the opposite direction of the beach, a few hours north west of Greenville, SC lies the Smoky Mountains, a name I couldn’t seem to spell correctly for years. Although the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg are far too touristy for me to bare, my sole purpose was the outdoors. On a Satuday morning, a day after my last day at the second job my girlfriend and I, and some friends set off on a 3-4 hour car ride to the Smoky Mountains, the North Carolina side for Cataloochee Valley, one of many preserved historic valleys in the region. Crossing into Tennessee, I was presented a birthday gift from my girlfriend to my first whitewater rafting experience on the Pidgeon River, a 2 hours adventure on the river with several rafting guides. In addition, my family provided me with an apartment-like, cozy stay at the Wyndham Smoky Mountains in Sevierville. 🙂
Cataloochee Valley
Cataloochee Valley
Whitewater Rafting Pigeon River
With our lodging set, this gave us the opportunity to do a tour through the Titanic Museum and drive through the traffic and tourist infested Pigeon Forge and do some go karts followed by a drink in Gatlinburg. Pigeon Forge, has a huge resemblance to International Drive in Orlando, except more lanes and more traffic and MORE STUFF. In Orlando you have a water park, many stores, one or two go kart places, restaurants, and museums. In Pigeon Forge, all of these are tripled since it seemed like we passed the same attractions three times. AS for Gatlinburg, considering it was Labor Day weekend, the congestion was a pure reminder of what it was like leaving Universal Studios for International Drive in Orlando, Cars and People EVERYWHERE!!!
Cades Cove, TN
Grotto Falls
Smoky Mts (Clingmans Dome)
This wasn’t the primary reason for my visit though as fun as these towns are. What drew me was the outdoors, the air, the trees, wildlife (did not see any). The views of the rolling mountains at high altitudes which are identical to the Blue Ridge Mountains just east of the Great Smoky Mountains. They are practically identical mountain ranges, all a part of the Appalachians. But who cares, it’s new territory and it’s the BEING that matters most. This area of the south is very interesting with its very own twist of history in America. Traveling for a short weekend gave me the privilege to check out Cataloochee Valley, Cades Cove (another beautiful valley), hiking, travel up and around mountainsides to Clingmans Dome, the highest point of the Smoky Mountains, down to Cherokee Nation for a quick view of Mingo Falls and eventually to an uncompleted road system left abandoned, or better known as “The Road To Nowhere”.
Mingo Falls, Cherokee, NC
Road to nowhere Tunnel
Fontana Lake from the road to nowhere
So living closer to the mountains while still close to the beach has allowed me to expand my horizons and gain a new love for a completely different environment. Despite the loses in my life, much more was gained. I still have my father, a good paying job and a great environment to escape to and enjoy.
