On my first birthday in quarantine never thought I’d be saying that. But, it is what it is and we all have to make the best of it. My significant other and I decided this year to head to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for my birthday weekend. Let’s just start by saving, my 27th birthday was full of sunshine, mountain views, and a whole lot of hiking.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
I will start by telling you all, that not only will I always remember this birthday because I possess the memory of an elephant, but it started with a real POP. ( literally) Like all the great travel adventures, mine began with a lovely flat tire. As we walked to the car ready to begin our three-hour drive, we were halted by the sight of a rear tire flat that sadly changed our original plan for the morning. However, thanks to the fine folks at Firestone (Shout to you Randal) we enjoyed a brief walk and some classic North Carolina BBQ before hitting the open road at 2 2-o’clock. I admit I was sad and angry, but that’s life, right?
We stayed at a lovely cabin just twenty minutes outside of the downtown Gatlinburg area called In Green Pastures owned by Cabins For You. The cabin was named, “In Green Pastures” and was nestled in a cozy mountain landscape. Access to the cabin was very easy and it was incredibly clean. That was something I wanted to make sure of due to COVID-19. We did bring a ton of sanitizer, wash all the dishes, and wipe down all the major areas as well, but the management did a great job of cleaning and making us feel safe.
Where We Stayed
There was a lovely creek in the front, a hiking trail up the mountain and it was just perfect for our getaway. I loved the porch and hot tub, and we made good use of the charcoal grill that came with our cabin.
When we arrived on my birthday, we decided to visit the grocery store, open friends, eat some cake, and just relax! The closest grocery store to the cabin was this interesting establishment called “Food City” which was pretty clean but a tad crowded. I packed us a ton of snacks and protein bars for hiking, but the major food we had to pick up there. I recommend and will most likely do this next time we visit the area, PACK YOUR FOODS BEFORE. It would have saved us some trouble and though they had everything we needed, the grocery store was out of some items since it’s the only one around.
After making some steaks, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and roasted potatoes; Ethan decorated the car with a birthday streamer and fun confetti balloons so, of course, I had to have a birthday shoot. I must say, my $6 Urban Outfitters romper I got from the outlet store made those balloons shine.
I month or so before this trip, I wrote a blog about some waterfalls to see near the Gatlinburg area. Out of the six, we were able to see two. (more for next time) On our first day of adventure, we decided to take a hike to Rainbow Falls. This waterfall is known for the beautiful colors created by the light passing through this waterfall’s mist. Sadly we weren’t able to see a rainbow due to the cloudy weather, but this 80-foot waterfall was still breathtaking. The hike was around 5.4 miles roundtrip and a moderate hike.
The Adventure
I felt like the stirs, in the beginning, were the hardest part, as hiking the rocks around the waterfall because they were slippery. There were a great number of hikers on the trail, but for the most part, everyone had a great amount of distance between us. If not, everyone was friendly and respectful to move over for passing. P.S. Once we got back to the cabin and showered, that hot tub felt amazing on our sore muscles.
The next day, we took a stab at hiking Baskins Creek Falls. Let me just start by saying…this is a DIFFICULT HIKE. Especially if you just hiked a good six or so miles the day before, man this trail is a workout. You go up to go down, so the hike back is a bit harder than others. During our hike, we saw our first snake of the trip (Black King Snake) but you best know we ran past that bad boy. During the hike, we only passed around 6 other hikers which was great because I love being alone on a trail. It’s always much more peaceful and I recommend this trail if you are aiming to avoid the crowds.
Once we made it to the 40-foot waterfall, it was amazing. I liked this waterfall better than our first adventure. It is one of the biggest waterfalls located in the Smokies and it truly was an off-the-beaten-path type of adventure. My legs still may be feeling those steep inclines though. (Just saying)
Hikes & More
After our hike, we hit up some fly fishing spots and river tubing watering holes. Ethan caught a few trouts but since my butt was in the tube, I only managed to snag a photo of one. There are tons of places you can fly fish within the Great Smoky Mountain Park, just be careful of slippery rocks. I recommend wearing some padded shoes made for slippery surfaces or water shoes.
Hiking, Adventure & More
Later in the evening, we visited downtown Gatlinburg which was WAY TOO CROWDED and had far too many people wearing no masks for our taste. Parking was easy, but the traffic downtown was insane. I recommend finding the closest lot, paying the $10, and calling it a day. We made it a quick visit, walking the streets in our masks, and visiting a few shops. We did get to visit the Ole Smoky Moonshine distillery for a moonshine tasting which was something new for me. I enjoyed it and we even bought some moonshine pickles which were damn good for the home.
On Sunday we had to say goodbye to our cozy cabin and head home. Since we were headed back, we took it easy and decided to drive the long way home through the Great Smoky Mountains Park. BUT FIRST Hillbilly Mini Golf. #YeeHaw I remembered this place when I visited as a child many years ago and to be honest, I had no idea it was here. All I remembered was riding an include to a mini-golf place as a kid and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. And then…I found it! It was so much fun.
We went around 10:30 am so we wouldn’t hit the crowd and everything followed CDC protocol. I 100% recommend going to this minigolf place if you ever make the trip because it is such a unique experience. You ride the incline 300 feet straight up the mountain and arrive to enjoy an 18-hold mini-golf course. They offer two, so you can even go back up for another round. (No wonder I never forgot)
The Ride Back
On our drive back, we also visited some local shops in the Pigeon Forge area which was less crowded. Since all the shops are spread far apart, I recommend finding your souvenirs and taking home goodies in this area. Fewer people and much safer due to Covid-19. They have some pretty cool attractions and museums you can also visit, but right now we weren’t about to take that chance. We did snag ourselves some cool Smoky Mountain merchandise for cheap, which was a win in my book.
We then had our last hike up to a stunning view of the Clingmans Dome. At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and it is a MUST SEE if you ever find yourself in the area. It is the highest point in Tennessee and the third-highest mountain east of the Mississippi. It is a half-mile hike upward to the observation tower on the summit which provides you with a spectacular 360° view of the Smokies and beyond. This is a hot spot for tourists, so wear your mask! We saw a good amount of people during our visit to Clingmans Dome, but everyone was respectful of their distance.
Final Thoughts
We then popped into the downtown part of Cherokee, did a little browsing and shopping, and got home safe and sound. Overall, it was a great birthday weekend and a much-needed escape. The sunshine, the wanderlust, and being surrounded by Mother Nature can do wonders for your wellness. I can’t thank my love, Ethan, enough for all he did and for spending time with me during our adventure. He is the best travel buddy I could ask for. Be sure to let me know if you had your own Gatlinburg adventure and remember to do it safely!
With Love,
Lex Paige
