Smoky Mountains

After all the excitement of Halloween and Luke's 4th Birthday had passed we went on a nice extended weekend vacation (planned by Jay!!!). I was very thankful, since our trip to the beach this year didn't happen. He rented a very luxurious cabin in Pigeon Forge, Smoky Mountains Tennessee. It was great! We left Saturday morning and returned Tuesday afternoon. It's only a 4 hour drive from us. Even though we missed the Indian Summer up in the Mountains, the valley was still beautiful and colorful. The cabin was in a nice and secluded Resort. Luke loved the hot tub!!!! We drove up the mountains on Sunday. It was cold, but no snow (which was actually very okay with me). I did see some snow in a pile on the side of the road though. After a stop at a Mountain Farm Museum we went to eat and headed back over the mountains towards Gatlinburg. Luke was arguing with us that he wasn't tired at all. It wasn't but 2 minutes later (at the most) I turned around and he was sleeping. Lani of course wouldn't! We discovered a place called Clingmans Dome. It is the highest point of the Smokies (6643 feet high). We parked, Luke awoke and hiked up the steep hill. It was hard work to get two tired kids up there, but it was so worth it. Beautiful - just breathtaking.

Monday was more of a kid day. We saw the sharks at the Ripley's Aquarium, went up a Tram to Ober Gatlinburg where the kids got to see some bears and rode a Trolley, besides other minor things. At night, after Dinner, we went to a Christmas shopping place. It was huge and I got lost among all the trees, garlands, balls and what not.

It was a awesome! There is so much to do, we are looking forward to our next trip up there. I can highly recommend a trip up there.

Beautiful, isn't it?

On the way down from Clingmans Dome

On top of Clingmans Dome

View from our front porch