Day 3 and 4

Day 3 started by going to take our picture at the entrance to the Park by Gatlinburg. It was a nice day as the previous two days and Mike had read in the Smokies newspaper that a quilt demonstration was running at the Cades Cove tour, right smack in the middle. So, he drove there so I could see it. I have to say that it was really nice of Mike to take us, the quilting was a bit of a let down (not much of a demonstration), but it was nice to go see Cades Cove again.


Cades Cove, Mike was going around with Ari while I was looking at the the quilts hanging by one house. I did manage to take a picture of one that I liked.


Leaving Cades Cove, we passed by Mingus Mill. We had not been there before. It was the best place so far. Beautiful trees, nice weather, the sound of water and birds, very peaceful, and very few people around. Just perfect.


Can't decide which one is better, what do you think?



Now, for this time, this is a great invention. Don't you think?


Mike and Ari all smiles as we are headed back into the house.



The second floor was closed to the public, but they opened it again. You can see the mechanics of the mill. Very interesting. It did say that if vandalism occured, they will go close the second floor again. Let's hope not, but it is a huge problem around some areas like the Ogle's place in the Roaring Fork tour. So many John loves Tiff or some other names, it makes you wonder are you even together now? Do you really need to destroy something? Anyway, hopefully people will get it one day. Respect what is not yours. The second floor was pretty cool.


View from the window upstairs.



Arianna pointing to the fact that there is no light or fan in the ceiling!


Our last stop was to the Greenbrier entrance to the Smokies Park. Mike wants to go through all possibles entrances that are near TN or NC. So, this is one more. It was beautiful and it is one of the less traveled, even though this is the entrance to the nicest falls (or tallest), Ramseys Cascades. We got to the beginning of the path, but we did not do it. It takes 4 miles to get there, with some difficulties. So, you need to go well prepared. Many hikers will enjoy this path. Maybe next time, if the grandparents go to sit Ari for us. The 8 mile round trip is too much with a 2 year old. But, you can hear the falls and has a nice area to picnic.


Then, we went to the outskirts of Gatlinburg to eat. Mike wanted to surprised me by going to eat to my favorite Cuban restaurant off light #3, but it was closed ! So, now we don't know if they went out of business or is closed for the season? It was Wednesday, so who knows. Then, we decided to try No Way's Jose Restaurant. I would just say this, don't waste your money. Only bad meal of the entire trip :(
Finally, after getting home, Mike wanted to shoot some pool, and Ari wanted to help. So,this is the way that daddy plays pool...

Now, I will show you MY way. Isn't it more effective?


Day four was the shopping day. A whole trip around the Arts and Crafts. I shopped mostly for fabric and quilt's materials. I would learn how to quilt. That is one goal I want to do soon. Some candies for Mike's co-workers, and we stopped to some stores we did not do before.


One of my favorite places of the tour is Cliff Dwells. It's just really pretty. They have the famous Marbles the cat. Every time I go, I play with him. They also have paintings about him :)
They have many artists in there. The second floor is a loft with at least 4-5 artists doing their thing and you can talk to them, etc. They have a painter (mostly landscapes). a bird lady- lots of bird paintings, someone that makes baskets, 100% dyed natural wool, dyed paper and now dyed fabric, to name some... Then, you go to the first floor and shop. They have their stuff there, plus many more that are not there. Some crochet, some homemade toys, some wood trucks and cars, jewelry, etc... too many to mention, but it is worth to have a look.


Nice flowers as you are coming down from the loft.

Arianna loved Marbles, and this stuff rabbit (not bunny). She would not let go, so in the car goes...


After the Crafts, Mike went to Cosby. For two reasons: 1. Biggest quilt shop for me (he was making up the fact that I missed my quilting class for this trip- but I think I already said that before- thanks honey.) and 2. Another entrance to the park. So, Cosby..check! (By the way, Cosby has an awesome Orchard called Carve's with a restaurant, but we were too full to eat. It was highly recommend it so another thing to go back for)


Picture taken specially for my grandpa!


Nice picnic area as well. Someone was having a BBQ pit going. Smelled sooooooo good.


Next, our tradition of eating at Howard's Steakhouse. Yummy. It did not disappoint it. It was very good. Sat next to the Creek, good waiter, great steaks, excellent dessert. Just perfect.



Family picture!


When she gets older and we have the good fortune to go back, we will do the lift. Good night!

Day 1 and 2 from our vacation!

We had a vacation plan for this time to Gatlinburg, TN, but since it had been a really strange and somewhat stress 4-6 months, we cancelled it about 2 months ago. But Mike still had the vacation time off, so his last day of work he started to talk about vacation again. If you know Mike, then you know he has wanderlust quite often. He loves road trips as well. So, we found a nice deal for a cabin located between towns (off road 321). Our best location so far. The house was nice. Very homey. Nothing fancy. After all, it was under their quality level (there is still about 3 levels above - the highest called the Premier Silver has an inside pool) Maybe if in a future trip we can have the whole family going then we can rent a bigger premier cabin with all the trimmings. But, we still had a pool table and hot tub, and it was very clean. Very important in my book. Also, Arianna able to go up and down the stairs made it really easy for us. No gate to carry this time :) gives more trunk space.
We left on Sunday and drove to Lexington, KY (about 6-7 hours). We stopped at the Holiday Inn, and left on Monday for the last 2-3 hours of the trip. We usually take 2 days to go for two reasons: 1. Not to be totally tired. 2. Baby gets used to be in the car longer. So, in our way back we come all the way home (about 10 hours).


Here is a shot of the back view from our Cabin. It was located on Buena Vista Road. This road needs a 4-wheel drive during winter, but it is worth it. It is very private.

Our first day consisted mostly of getting to know our Cabin and shopping at the Food City off stop light 2B in the arts and crafts. But, day 2 was more busy. Our first stop we went to Clingmans Dome Trail. I had never been there since it was always closed. (It is closed from November 1 - March 31).

This was the view from the parking area. You still had 0.5 miles to hike. We thought 0.5 miles no biggie. Well, it was really steep, we were pushing the stroller, and the oxygen levels are way different due to the altitude ~ somewhere 6000 ft. We stopped quite often, but we made it. It is really worth it.






This picture was taken just as we got to the top. Ari decided it was a good time to take a nap. From here, you still can go into the tower that is about 2-3 floors high. That will be the highest point.

View from the highest point!


In our way down we saw this tree with lots of cherries. Yummy. Well, there are not for human consumption, but we saw squirrels enjoying them.

The forest is having a huge problem with lots of trees dying. They brought some trees from nurseries in Europe awhile back. These trees had a fungus that native trees cannot seem to fight and that scientist and such cannot destroy so far so the result is lots and lots of trees just dying (same story as the chestnut trees that now are extinct) :(


We made it back. Here is just slightly above the parking area. The house has some restrooms, but we did not use them.

View from the parking area as we were coming back.

Arianna woke up for the next part of our day. We went to our favorite spot, Oconaluftee Farm in the southern part of the park in NC.


The times we went before was on March, and we never saw the corn or any other vegetables or fruit that they grow there (squash, apples, etc). There was someone working on it. The corn was gone, but you can still see how nice it looks.


They also had 2 pigs and lots of chickens and roosters. Ari was having a lot of fun.

We were surprised by the camera. We were walking around the barn looking for the chickens that were in the second floor.


We are home mommy! It always amazes me how old this house is and its great condition. But, I want electricity, water, and gas please!

After here we went to the Cabin to rest and ate some of the food we bought. It was a very nice day indeed. :)