Smoky Dump: Rolling On!
Well, it’s time to close out this chapter of our adventure! This has been the perfect, first major destination on our journey. We both love the woods and nature, and the Smoky Mountains has been a soul-feeding paradise. We have certainly encountered some unique challenges along the way, which will be covered in future posts, but we wanted to share as much as was reasonably possible about one of our favorite known places in the United States, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, before diving too deep into the craziness of life on the road. So, let’s dive right in to the last couple of items, shall we?
Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Loop
We had to front load with an amazing discovery that we made while exploring around the North side of the Smokies. Just three miles outside of Gatlinburg, starting on Glades Road, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community is an independent organization of highly talented artisans. Several artists on the 8 mile loop (designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail) have a family history of artisans occupying this area for many years, passing down skills and wisdom for selling handcrafted goods and relaying stories of the Smoky Mountains. Over 100 artists contribute their skills of handcrafted pottery, silversmithing, brooms, baskets, paintings, etc. There are also plenty of quaint restaurants, cafes, fudge making facilities, tea rooms, etc.
If you are without a vehicle, this mecca of gifts and mementos can be reached via the yellow line Trolly from downtown Gatlinburg.
We spent our last full afternoon in the Smokies exploring the arts and crafts loop and wish we would have visited sooner. We loved talking with the shop owners, who were eager to share about their craft and provide more background on the area and why they love the Smoky Mountains. We purchased postcards, fudge, oils and vinegars, jewelry, and a broom (not just any broom, a magical broom - you’ll see what we mean at the end of this post). There were so many cute shops and too many great conversations to mention; we had an amazing time.
The balcony overlooking a portion of the arts community from the Red Oak Bistro was the perfect place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine before finishing the loop. Of course we had to check out the covered bridge on the way out!
Scotty sipping on some drink at the Red Oak Bistro.
A covered bridge on the Arts & Crafts Trail? Yes please!
View from the bistro.
Shopping it up at Ogle’s Broom Shop. As a 3rd generation broom maker, David Ogle certainly knows how to make a quality broom. Did this broom work for the RV? Nay! Too small! We upgraded to a hefty, magical broom that carries a curse that is now sweeping across the country. Oh yes. There will be puns.
We highly recommend getting off the main path and exploring this Arts & Crafts Community. This is the place to go if you are in or around Gatlinburg for any amount of time and are looking for a place to shop.
Things got really crazy when Traci and friends decided to hijack a train in Bryson City!
Fun in Bryson City, North Carolina
In our Smoky Quest: Waterfall Hunt post we included details about a few of the waterfalls we visited in North Carolina. Due to the many distractions we encountered on our way, we ran out of time to explore Cherokee or Bryson City on that trip. Therefore, we decided we would make a return trip. That time came when our friends Bob and Anna came for a visit.
After hiking on a couple of quiet walkways and exploring the Kephart Prong trail on the Newfound Gap Road (you can read more about those trails here), we were ready for food. Anthony’s Restaurant in Bryson City, NC did not disappoint. Both the food and service were great. We did a bit of shopping at a couple of stores on the main strip and closed out our visit with a trip to Mountain Layers Brewing Company. The rooftop patio was the perfect place to sip a tasty brew before returning to our home in Pigeon Forge.
Rolling On to the Next Adventure!
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