Note: My apologies for the delay in posting. A dearth of internet connection has plagued us for the past ten days.
Mountains are my happy place. Through all our travels, my heart and soul overflow with joy when I see mountains. While the Rockies display jagged edges rising sharply from the foothills, the Great Smoky Mountains evoke a quiet awe in my spirit with heavily-wooded, rounded peaks lush with the green of spring. An extended visit to western North Carolina and into Tennessee has filled my—and Skip’s—cup to overflowing.
First stop, Asheville! Our first morning brought us to the Biltmore Estate. If you aren’t familiar with this stunning property, think of it as an American version of a Renaissance chateau, or should I say, Downton Abbey. From the Biltmore website, “Biltmore House is America’s largest home spanning 175,000 square feet, which is more than four acres of floor space. The 250-room chateau includes 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces.” The surrounding gardens were breathtaking. Confession… this is a screenshot from their website. Swarming people made a clear shot impossible.


For our second adventure, we trekked to Chimney Rock, just south of Asheville. In the early 1900’s the Morse brothers who owned the property dreamt of sharing its pristine beauty with the public. Through their generosity and ingenuity, a tunnel was carved through the stone of the rock face, then coupled with a state-of-the-art elevator to afford easy access to the massive rock which boasts a 475 square-foot “Old Glory.” What a glorious site to behold! This picture to the right was taken from the main street of Chimney Rock Village where Skip and I stopped for a cold drink after our hiking adventure.



Skip and I ventured further, hiking up flights of stairs and rocky hills above Chimney Rock to experience extraordinary panoramic views, aptly named Exclamation Point.



Our third Asheville adventure focused on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We opted for a guided tour to see the highlights surrounding Asheville. Our guide brought us to three different waterfalls in the Pisgah National Park.


Next, we took a day to explore the southern end of The Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We drove an unexpectedly harrowing 10 miles of incredibly sharp switchback turns on a dirt road barely large enough for two vehicles. The destination was worth the stress.

We hiked a marvelous trail called the Big Fork Ridge that began with a creek crossing. The bridge over the fast-flowing creek must have been created 100 or more years ago. Our hike was serene; the only sounds we heard were the birdsongs in the trees and the leaves rustling under our feet.


Families lived in these mountains until the land was claimed by the government to form this national park in 1934. Their descendants still hold annual reunions. After we finished our hike, we drove by a two-room schoolhouse built in 1903 where the local children had attended. The desks looked to be original, scratched with children’s names.


We pressed north to experience the Tennessee Smokies as well as the famed Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Both cities were outrageously commercial and touristy which felt overwhelming and not to our liking. Nonetheless, we did enjoy the Dolly Parton Stampede Dinner Show as well as more hiking in the Smokies.
Saving the best for last, we relished precious time with our nephew Rich Toltzman, his lovely wife Bridget, and their amazing five children—Bryce, Mica, Finley, Eli and Ansel—who live in Knoxville. We were treated to a yummy dinner at their home, and a couple of days later, we shared an adventure touring the Lost Sea which is a lake in an underground cave. Time with family is the best!

Our truck and rig are now pointing north and west. We are heading home via Indiana for an upgrade to our rig’s suspension. I plan to write one more blog about our time in Nashville and our visit to the Mammoth Cave National Park. Hope you’ll come along for the ride!
I am really loving hearing about your travels Anne. You & Skip have had quite the adventure.
Happy travels!