I just finished writing this and noticed the length…apologies in advance, but we did so. many. things. I couldn’t bear to leave very much out!

Growing up, when my family went on vacations, we packed them completely full of activities and sights. In fact, we often came home “needing a vacation from our vacation!” Frank’s family took a different tactic. They usually selected a couple of excursions, but for the most part, they utilized vacations for the purpose of relaxing. After Frank and I married, we discovered this difference of style during our honeymoon. We maxed out our time (and spent a small fortune) having the kind of vacation I was used to, with two waterfall hikes, zip lining, horseback riding, sailing on a party boat…I could go on, but you get it. I learned afterwards that Frank’s preference would have been to primarily lounge in the pool and drink at the swim up bar, eating jerk chicken and french fries (with the most delicious ketchup-I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the dang ketchup). Perhaps the zip lining and one waterfall hike too, but mostly just relaxing.

Fast forward five years later; we have learned to compromise! With all of the adventures and shenanigans we have shared, we finally figured out how to vacation OUR way. This Smoky Mountains trip exemplified that perfectly. Ahead of time, Frank took the lead on researching the perfect cabin for us. He found about a dozen potential options, and together we whittled them down to two. One cost a significant amount more because of a jaw-dropping view, but we still wanted to consider it. We reached out to both and, lo and behold, the (technically) cheaper version had an exorbitant pet fee (oh yeah, we brought Augustine!) that made it roughly equal in cost! The answer was clear, and we booked it! Our departure date arrived; we drove eight hours and reached our destination, Sevierville, TN!

First Impressions

I cannot wait to share how charming, cozy, and flat out ADORABLE this cabin was! No lie, the sigh of peacefulness that left my lips as I finally saw that view in person let me know how great the week ahead would be. The first floor of our two-story cabin had: a spacious living/dining room, a fully-functional kitchen, a comfortable bedroom (though the bed didn’t quite match up to our mattress at home, but oh well), a jacuzzi tub (which we never used), a shower and bathroom, and an upstairs wraparound balcony with a grill (which we did use!). Downstairs, we briefly enjoyed the provided pool table, washer and dryer, second bathroom, the swinging bench on that wraparound porch, and most especially, the hot tub. Almost every night, we took the time to stop and relax in that most excellent hot tub.

Not too long after we all got settled in, Frank left to go grocery shopping while I did a workout and kept Augustine company. That night, Frank grilled our dinner for us and we enjoyed our second getaway from the responsibilities of parenthood. (We had done a test trip to Chicago a few months ago to see how Victoria would handle the separation. She managed it better than I did!) 

Knoxville

We spent our first full day in the Smokies on a quick day trip to Knoxville. We had breakfast at the cabin, then drove almost an hour to attend Mass at a lovely church named Holy Ghost Catholic Church (BL ✅). That day, several children received their First Communion, so many people congregated outside beforehand for pre-Mass prayers. As we walked up, a young father very warmly welcomed us with his adorable little girl in his arms. We didn’t catch his name, but wherever you are out there sir, thank you again for making us feel SO welcome at Holy Ghost! Mass was divine, and we lingered to capture a few pictures of the beautiful high altar.

After Mass, we drove 15 minutes to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart (BL ✅) for a little extra prayer time, and to see gorgeous Renaissance-revival architecture. We prayed for some special intentions, then headed back to the cabin. After some quick grocery shopping, we watched a show we love, ate dinner, enjoyed the hot tub some more, and went to bed. We wanted to be refreshed for our upcoming adventures the next day!

Cades Cove

Frank proposed we spend our Monday driving through and exploring Cades Cove, a necessary stop in any Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) trip. Cades Cove has an 11-mile loop to drive, with pull-offs and stops to see historic Appalachian buildings such as houses, a grist mill, several churches, and their respective cemeteries. We stopped at pretty much every possible pull-off, Frank felt very strongly about seeing Everything. It also boasts an abundance of wildlife and the glories of nature! Wildlife-wise, we were rewarded with sights of a herd of horses (which we fed grass that was just out of their reach), a fox, a few deer, birds, trees, the mountains, and oh yeah, six black bears, including a mama and two cubs! We heartily recommend taking the time to linger in Cades Cove, and when others around you pull over, join them. You’ll likely see something very special!

Star Wars Day

Depending who you ask, our Tuesday might have been somewhat of a “waste” (though I sure don’t think so!). In the middle of the night, a massive thunderstorm shook our cabin and woke us out of a deep sleep. Lightning flashed all around us and scared Augustine into jumping in bed with us, poor thing! The storm simultaneously thrilled us and caused anxiety, as big storms are wont to do. 

We had looked ahead and saw that the weather would be less than ideal that day, so I proposed we stay in and watch the Star Wars movies instead! Frank begrudgingly allowed it, and he planned to work on building a website while I watched the movies and blogged. However, disaster struck with all of that storming and lightning. The cabin’s beautiful position far up the mountain meant it had satellite cable and internet, which = no internet in big storms. Thus, our morning proved rather uneventful as we waited for the internet to come back. We soaked in the hot tub again while it lightly rained, and by early-ish afternoon, we had internet! 

When all was said and done, we watched Episodes 1-4 and paused them just long enough to get take-out barbeque from Bennett’s Pit BBQ in Pigeon Forge! I told you, compromise! At least one of our days of our trip, we spent lounging and relaxing indoors while the inclement weather raged on. This is how you’re supposed to vacation, right?

Gatlinburg

Day Four of our trip started with the intent to hike. After a slow morning and breakfast, we drove to the Laurel Falls Trail. Yet, on the way…it started downpouring. We pulled up to the parking lot and looked at the forecast. After deliberating, we decided it just wasn’t our day. Instead, we drove into Gatlinburg to check off a few things on the list I had made for the trip. First stop-lunch! 

Actually, I lie; we parked and walked around for a little while. We then paused in an insanely cute area called “The Village,” a collection of shops that could probably be mistaken for a village in Germany. (Those who have been to/are in Germany, let us know how right or wrong we are!) From there, we chose a nearby restaurant for lunch, before we headed to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! Friends-this restaurant, and the food we consumed within it, deserve their own subheading and paragraph.

Mountain Edge Grill

After a brief wait, our ridiculously fantastic waiter Ron led us to our table. Frank and I quickly looked over the menu and selected for ourselves the bison/elk burger, with sides of fries and bbq baked beans. This may seem like a rather inconsequential meal, I grant that. But HEAR ME OUT: the burger patty, grilled to perfection, with our preferred toppings and condiments? Best. Burgers. Of. Our. Lives. The beans? As a rule, I personally do not care for baked beans, and these beans proved a remarkable exception to the rule. And THE FRIES!! Ron shared the secret ingredient with us when we raved about the meal. At the distributor for the fries, they chop the potatoes to a size in between fast food fries and steak fries, then season them with sea salt and cocoa powder(!). Following that, they freeze the fries and ship them to Mountain Edge Grill. From there, when someone orders fries, they pop them in the fryer and serve them to the guests. This meal stood head and shoulders above every other meal we ate in the Smokies. SO. GOOD.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

After lunch, we beat the rain and headed over to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Ranked in the Top 5 Things to Do in Gatlinburg on Tripadvisor, and voted one of the best aquariums in the country, our curiosity was piqued-and it did NOT disappoint! We saw a myriad of fascinating fish, amphibians, crustaceans, rays, and sharks. Oh, and the penguins! The penguin exhibit had a crawl tube for children to get practically within the exhibit itself, which my small stature made possible! Also, we spent a good deal of time in the “Shark Lagoon,” on a 340-foot long glidepath in a tunnel with all kinds of sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and fish swimming overhead! When we left the tunnel, we stumbled upon the Japanese spider crabs, which we watched for Ages. We highly recommend visiting Ripley’s Aquarium on any Great Smoky Mountains trip!

Hiking Laurel Falls & Fun in Pigeon Forge

Hiking, Take 2! Thursday struck an amazing balance of tons of fun activities and resting. After another delicious breakfast in the cabin, we went back out to the Laurel Falls Trail and tried again. A quick 1.3 mile hike later (packed with people on the trail, as the day was glorious and the trail is easy), and we found the falls! We snapped a few pictures, then looked down and noticed some people had gone down to a lower level of the falls. We noticed how less crowded it was, so we located the “path” down to the lower part and did some very light downhill rock climbing. Given my amateur photography skills, we lingered down there for ages as I attempted to take a long exposure shot of the falls. Then, we meandered downhill back to our car, taking the time to appreciate the amazing views.

Old Mill Restaurant

We consulted several loved ones who had visited the Smokies (somewhat) recently on where to eat. The Old Mill Restaurant consistently made people’s lists of can’t miss food. Thus, on Thursday, we finally made it there for lunch. We nearly stuffed ourselves before our meals arrived on scrumptious corn chowder and corn fritters with homemade maple butter. Frank had their chicken pot pie lunch with mashed potatoes and green beans, while I had a BBQ pulled pork plate that just kept on giving. 

After our meal, Frank ordered one of everything on the dessert menu for us to take back to our cabin. These included: a blackberry cobbler (which he devoured), a slice of pecan pie (which I devoured), banana pudding (which Frank also loved), and a slice of chocolate cake (which we forgot to eat). This meal closely contended with Mountain Edge for our best meal in the Smokies, and we will join the chorus of those who insist The Old Mill cannot be missed!

Alpine Coaster Face-Off

Every time we drove into Pigeon Forge, we passed two alpine coasters: “Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster” and “Goats on the Roof.” They seemed exhilarating, affordable, and fun, so we set aside time to try them both. For those who don’t know, an alpine coaster includes a cart, a roller coaster track that takes you up the side of a mountain, a seat belt, brake levers, and gravity. Through the use of the brakes (or not), you control your speed as you careen down the mountain track while the wind whips your face! 

We stopped at Goats first, which we both enjoyed immensely. Frank compared it to a fun ride at a county fair, with friendly, “mountain men” type guys who quickly taught us the mechanics and sent us on our way! Not fully trusting that I wouldn’t topple over the side of a curve, I braked a few times, but Frank chose not to and had a ball! We did not think anything could top it, yet SMAC was even better! SMAC had a longer track, screens explaining how alpine coasters work (we heard “Push to go, pull to slow” over and over and over again…), and this time, I also did not brake. What. A. RUSH! Such a fun way to end the night!

Cheers to Five Years!

We packed the day of our anniversary with tons of fun as well! Yet, the day did not quite start as intended. We expected to start another day with hiking, but…one of us struggled with a slight chafing problem, and we agreed that another hike would only make it worse. This was determined after the already very lengthy drive to Grotto Falls Trail. Whoops! Thus, we drove out of the park and instead, we enjoyed the immense beauty of that drive. Along the way, we stumbled upon another old grist mill and stopped for pictures! 

The afternoon also happened to move at a slower pace. Lunchtime came and went, and we selected a restaurant with a 3:00 opening time. Long story short (I have rambled plenty already), lunch was eh, and we looked ahead to the activities of the evening!

Hillbilly Golf

From the beginning of planning this trip, Frank INSISTED on Hillbilly Golf. He assured me I would love it as much as he did, and he was right! Nestled on the side of a mountain, Hillbilly Golf provided intense, downhill, mini golf fun! Each hole included some form of farming equipment as the obstacle, and a small lift brought golfers up and down the mountain. No matter what he says, Frank beat me by 13 strokes. I stink at mini golf. Nonetheless, it entertained us to no end, and together, we heartily recommend it!

Sugarlands Distilling Company

When doing the initial research on things to do in Gatlinburg, Sugarlands Distilling Company topped Tripadvisor’s list, by A LOT. As a matter of fact, it actually is the top rated distillery in the entire U.S.! In general, moonshine tasting is incredibly popular in the Smokies, and there are many distillery options. Yet, we wanted to experience the best, so after Hillbilly Golf, we headed over to Sugarlands! The verdict-it DOES live up to the hype! A hilarious and engaging “expert TasteMaker” led us through a tasting of 13 delicious and varied types of moonshine. We ended up going home with six bottles, as they were just too dang yummy! Also, I almost never drink, so they made me feel all warm and silly. Frank felt nothing, but still thought they tasted good!

Gatlinburg SkyLift Park

We finished off our night in Gatlinburg at the SkyLift Park with a sunset stroll across the SkyBridge! The SkyBridge has the distinction of being the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, at 700 feet long. It also contains six glass panels in the middle of the bridge, about 150 feet above the valley below. For all my thrill seekers out there, a pause in that center space really spikes the adrenaline! Also, SkyLift Park, and the bridge in particular, offers gorgeous panoramic views of the town of Gatlinburg. I know I have said it maybe a dozen times already in this post, but SkyLift Park and crossing the SkyBridge are also MUST DO’s when visiting the Smoky Mountains!

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for hanging in there! As you can see, we had a marvelous time in the Smokies, and we CANNOT. WAIT. to go back with Victoria someday!

Next up: A (hopefully) brief synopsis of the rest of Victoria’s first year and the celebration of her first birthday!