Return trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Good to be back for some exploration and some hiking!

Cades Cove Scenic Loop It had been almost a year since we last visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. My wife and I were wrapping up our 10 week long cross country road trip that would take us to Southern California and back, back to our home in North Carolina. Last time we visited the Smoky Mountains, we chose to stay at a Quality Inn in Gatlinburg . We enjoyed the comfortable room with nice views of the West Prong Little Pigeon River and the Moonshine Mountain Coaster . We stayed out on the balcony, especially during the evenings, watching the aforementioned roller coaster across the street from the hotel, hearing the loud screams of people as the coaster would descend every few minutes. Alpine air was absolutely refreshing during the early February evenings, and we really cherished the sound of the roaring river below, creating a perfect “white noise” for us to sleep well into the Tennessee night. On our second trip the...