Fall in the Smoky Mountains

 My birthday gift this year from Doug was a trip to the beautiful 

Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

We left Iowa on Friday morning, October 30th, after I got off work at 8:00 AM.

We travelled to the Indianapolis area and spent the night at C & C Farms.  We had our personal bed & breakfast.  Thank you Matt and Sarah for the hospitality fit for, as Doug says, "royalty."

The food was spectacular.  

Up and attem' on Saturday to begin our trek through southern Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

The land changed topography and color the farther south we went.

 Just driving into Tennessee.

 Fall colors in Tennessee.

 Doug picked the perfect time of year!  The colors are brilliant.

Traveling from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg.

Yes, it was rainy...(photo taken from inside the car.)

We arrived at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort at 4:30 PM to mid 50 degree temperatures.

 We checked into the resort and then "checked-out" the resort.

 This is a beautiful resort.

Inside the water park and activities center.

 We had a festive welcome dinner at the Owners Club House.

Halloween Spooky Bear and me.

Sunday was our first full day.  

We took a trolley around Gatlinburg to get a feel of the area.

The temps were in the mid 60's with intermittent drizzle.

We stopped at shops along the way. 

 We rode the trolley to visit Gatlinburg and some of the shops.

We stopped at one of the Arts & Crafts areas along the 8 mile loop around Gatlinburg.

 With a 1 hour wait at the trolley stops ,
there were too many shops to see today.

So, we decided to drive the route on another day.

The Wood Whittlers Shop

A Thanksgiving turkey for Evie.

 Doug is a kid in a candy shop.

Moonshine is quite the commodity in Tennessee.

You can even find it in the candy!

We were up Monday by 8:00 AM to begin our day with water aerobics in the beautiful aquatic center!

The work out was an hour and the water was warm.  I do need perfect conditions to exercise.  

That explains a lot.

Our first stop was at the Welcome Center at the Smoky Mountains. 

I enjoyed this Wilted Lettuce Salad growing up when the leaf lettuce and spring onions 

were fresh from our garden.
This recipe took me back to my younger years growing up on the farm.

 The welcome center had many souvenir items for sale. 

 I bought some things including a stuffed black bear.  

Biologists estimate over 1,500 black bears live in 

Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

I am hoping to see one while here.

 We bought a ceramic bowl with the signature Alewine Maple Leaf.

We ventured through the rain to the Arts & Crafts Village on an 8 mile loop through the Smokies.

It rained on and off, but it was a great adventure as an artist.

I also bought a beautiful print of original painting on silk of the Smokies Chimneys

 by Lynn Greer Rogers.

  I do have to get a souvenir of each region Doug and I visit.

Our evening entertainment was spent watching 

the Hatfield & McCoys Christmas Show 

in Pidgeon Forge.

Feast & a Feud

Back to the resort.