The Smokies.....Cades Cove...sm

• For anyone who has been on the Skyline Drive in Va and Gatlinberg and the Smokes in TN which did you - MTPA
  • Smokies in TN - ppaul
  • The Smokies.....Cades Cove...sm - MT20+
    • Cades Cove - do NOT go on Wednesdays- - see Bear story inside
      • Wow! That's amazing. sm for my buffalo story. (sm) - editor
        • now that's funny! - NM
  • Gatlinburg - love Cades Cove...sm
  • I live in Kentucky and we try to take a long weekend in the fall and go to Gatlinburg every year! - LuLu
  • Both are equally as lovely--sm - kps
  • It's all wonderful to see....Cades Cove.....sm - Wonderful beautiful state, TN...sm
  • Meant Smokey Mts. - MTPA

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You are more apt to see a bear (and definitely deer) in Cades Cove.  It is a small approximately 11-mile loop through old farms.  However, on Wednesdays they don't open until 10am so the traffic backs up waiting and you will be in traffic jam instead of taking a nice leisurely ride.  Now for my bear story:

When we bought property in Maggie Valley, we became friends with one of the locals, Jerry.  He is one of 14 children and his family had lived in the mountains for generations, hunting for food, including bear meat.  Jerry stills hunts and eat bear during the hunting season, but he also respects them for the beautiful creatures that they are.  He and his wife offered to take us to Cades Cove.  During the loop, we saw a Mama bear with 2 cubs across a tall field of grass.  Wanting a closer picture, Jerry and I grabbed our digital cameras and walked across the field, which was up to our waists.  Jerry, who knows bears and how they act, told me, "If I tell you to run, then run."  We got to what Jerry felt was a safe distance, but Jerry couldn't get his new camera on, so we worked on that.  When we looked back up the bears were gone.  Disappointed, I said, "Where'd the bear go?" and about that time, Mama Bear popped up out the grass about 25 feet in front of us!  I was so shocked, I stood there with my mouth open and never raised my camera.  Jerry raises his camera - 'Click!' - and Mama Bear let out a huge roar.  Jerry softly says, "Run!"  We turn to run, but unfortunately, we turned into and slammed into each other, falling into the grass on our backs.  We jumped up and the bear was gone.  I'm screaming "Where's the bear!  Where's the bear!" and again she stands up out of the grass about 10 feet in front of us!  We lit out towards the van, (I haven't run that fast since elementary school) to the tune of our significant others screaming, "RUN, FOREST, RUN!!!"  They were rolling in the van with laughter - said we looked like something out of Keystone Cops out there.  I turned to look and Mama Bear and the babies were walking back into the woods.  I never got my picture, but Jerry got a good one and he printed it off for me.  Definitely one of my  more memorable days!

I spent 3 weeks in the Smokey Mtns in the 80s.  It was all great to see.  Gatlinburg is a little *commercial* but still fun and they have a ski lift in town and you get your picture taken as you go on it or come off it (can't remember which order).  Camped out in the Smokies - they are great - they had a not so primitive campground with real bathrooms and showers.  Cades Cove in the early mornings with all the early morning fog is just gorgeous! 

Then don't forget DOLLYWOOD!  WOW, a tribute to the 1800s, owned by Dolly Parton and everyone who works there who is a Parton from Pigeon Forge TN is a relative of hers. 

HAVE FUN!!!!  We sure did! 

Absolutely love that area -- Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, etc.  We have been going there for years and I just love it, from the peacfulness of the mountains to the fun of the towns, definitely worth it!