Leaving tomorrow morning for a week long trip to the Gatlinburg/Bryson City area. Was looking online to set what can be with sound our visiting. Found a must see and do location, the Salt and Pepper Shaker museum, how did I not know this existed? Holy shit, I cannot wait to leave now! Also found that there is, well was Christ in the Smokies museum. It closed. Jesus Christ goddamn it... is that blasphemous? So even though I'm still excited about the Salt and Pepper museum, I'm only half as excited as I was earlier.
It's a bit of a drive from Gatlinburg, but Cade's Cove is pretty cool. Kind of timely too. If you check out the graveyards of the churches there, you'll see that a lot of young people died between 1918 and 1920. I'm not saying it was the Spanish Flu, but it was probably the Spanish flu. Even in a place as isolated as that.
There's a small grave yard about 10 miles from here, I've been to it's few times. It's at the front of a park, the parking area is just off it. I never gave it much thought, but I think it also has some graves for young kids from around that time.
We rent a cabin in that area, for a while we went every year. There's quite a bit to do. Bryson has the Harrah's Cherokee Casino if you want adult fun. The Gatlinburg Ripley's Aquarium is damn good. There's skiing though likely not in season now, and some great camping areas in the Smokeys. Take 321 North from Gatlinburg and you'll be in Pigeon Forge in 10 mins. That's basically Christian Vegas. Not much nightlife, but hundreds of restaurants, song and dance, comic clubs, Dollywood, a water park, luxury cabin rentals. The Island has a ferris wheel and various outdoor activities, good restaurants, a 4D arcade and an escape room. The Smokey Mountain Opry puts on a great Christmas show. Our favorite restaurants are the Old Mill, the Local Goat, and the Bear Tavern - the last serves some great German food. That area is really focused on family fun, so it may seem tame depending on your tastes, but there's a lot to do in that regard. Lots of go-carts as I recall. And randomly a Titanic Museum. We went one year when the rain shut down all the outdoor stuff, it was actually pretty interesting. https://www.mypigeonforge.com/things-to-do
Oh, and they really like their moonshine! The Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine Distillery on the Island is a big attraction. There are several local distilleries nearby, and there's an arts village tucked in one of the Hollows.
Nope. But did see an ambulance, police vehicle, and a fire truck flying towards the Deep Creek area. I'm guessing someone took a tumble down some rocks or had a tubing mishap.
