This summer on our honeymoon, my wife and I made a stop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It was our base city on the way to see the Smoky Mountains. Our hotel, located on the edge of town, overlooked the ever flowing river. You could still see the damage done by forest fires earlier in the year as well as hear frequent stories from the locals. This hot spot for family tourists was hurting from the lack of tourists. We walked down to the Trout House for some southern-style food and trout. After an uneventful dinner, we walked the main street and looked at the touristy shops with large signs aimed to draw kids in. It reminded me Wisconsin Dells. Lots of t-shirts, sweatshirts, key chains, and magnets with Smoky Mountain and Gatlinburg logos. We debated getting the classic cheesy old western photo but passed. At the time fidget spinners were in complete full craze and there was loads to be seen in every store. Returning to our hotel we sipped wine on the balcony taking in the sight of the flowing river. The contrast in elevation and change of scenery was refreshing.

The following day we headed to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. One of the bonuses of this park is the free charge for enterance. We checed into the visitor center for a map. Cell service was not working great, so it's always a good idea to get a hard copy of the small roads and hiking trails. We decided to take the single lane driving tour called the Cades Cove loop. The loop is around 11 miles and proceeds at a very slow pace. Traffic backs up at any animal sightings. As soon as we saw the park ranger’s vehicles, I knew there was something big going on ahead. To add to our excitement, the ranger said there was a mama black bear under a tree with three baby cubs up in the tree about a hundred yards off the loop. In the chaos of the muddy single lane road, I found a spot to park and grabbed my camera. Making our way to the closest point of view among the large crowd of people, we made out the black shadowy figures. It’s important to exercise caution and not disturb wildlife. Fortunate for us, a woman shared her spotting scope with us so we could get a glimpse of the cubs. This was a spontaneous spotting we were lucky enough to witness. Continuing around the loop, the meadows and wildflowers with the mountainous background were picturesque. We stopped at a small trail and look out point to watch three mule deer run in the field. I wish we had more time in this place. It looked just like a post card. We had a wedding to make in Asheville so we had limited time.

Before heading out of the park, and towards Asheville, I wanted to see Clingman’s Dome. Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in the park at over 6,600 feet. My ears popped as we drove upward. It was days like this one I am grateful I own a Mustang. My black Mustang hugged the turns as I pressed the pedal down to go up the mountainside through the switchbacks. There were some great pull out spots with views for miles and miles. We stopped at the parking lot outside the dome. We made our way up the steep paved road to the observation tower. Even though the route is not very long, I highly recommend good shoes and water. Elevation changes always make me incredibly thirsty. My wife and I breathlessly comment on the different people present. There’s a range between infant and elderly, and we quiet our breathing as we walk next to a man easily three times our age. The observation tower is a concrete ramp that goes to the top for unspoiled view of the landscape. It was breathtaking. Below the observation tower runs the Appalachian Trail. Many hikers on the trail had not seen civilization in awhile based on the looks on their faces. My brief experience of a canoe trip in high school in the Boundary Waters area of northern Minnesota gave me small sense of what they might be going through. As we drove down the mountainside, I reflected on today’s society. We live in a world of techology, but there is still such a strong calling for the outdoors and nature enthusiast. I hope wild places stay wild.