2017 in Review - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Friends!

Here is a brief update of our 2017.

It was a “rocky start” for us. The herniated discs in Greg’s lower spine worsened.  He ended up having back surgery in May. We were slow-going for awhile, however, with physio appointments and at-home stretches and strengthening exercises, Greg is much improved. 

Career-wise, I transitioned to working for the local School Board as a Speech Language Pathologist. I'm currently stationed at 3 different schools, and enjoy the variety of working with preschool and elementary/primary aged children.  The School Holidays will be a bonus, too! 😉

Hurricane Irma pummeled through the Caribbean and into Florida in September. We evacuated our house and drove up to Alabama to wait it out. It was a bit nerve racking waving goodbye to our house and not knowing what it would look like when we got back. Fortunately, the storm veered to the right and avoided a direct hit in our area. Our hearts go out to all those who did not fare so well.

We visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee for a second time. This place holds a special place in our hearts.  I also spent one week exploring the beautiful Australian state of Tasmania with my Mum.  We experienced some of the clearest waters, cleanest air, untouched nature and the most diverse geography.  Tassie is bloody beautiful, mate!

Honeymoon Bay, Tasmania, Australia.  Image captured by Maree Richardson.

To top the year off, I officially became a dual Australian-American Citizen. After 4 long years the wait (and paperwork!) has finally come to an end and a new chapter begins.  You can read more about this in my next post. 😊

Have a great week!

Maree

How to Plan a Trip to "The Smokies"

Hey folks,

When planning a trip away, I usually like to explore new places that I have never been to before. However, when hubby suggested returning to "The Smokies", I did not think twice!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee is the only place we have returned to for vacation. We are forever grateful to the Tennessee State legislature for the free entrance to the park. Yes, you heard me, FREE! Here are my tips for planning a trip to "The Smokies".

Sunrise at The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Look how stunning she is...and the view isn't too bad either!
 Image captured by Maree Richardson.

Accommodation:

We have stayed in Kear's mountain cabins near Gatlinburg for both of our trips. After extensive searches on many accommodation websites (AirBnb.com; HomeAway.com; Hotels.com, etc.) we came to the conclusion that these are the best "bang for your buck". For a little over $100 per night, you can stay in your own private log cabin with spectacular views of Mt. Leconte, perhaps the best views in the area. Many of these cabins also have a hot tub on the balcony to soak in after a long day hiking. Most amenities are included such as a washer, dryer, and full kitchen so you can save $ by cooking at home and enjoying dinner with world class mountain views.

Kear's Mountain Cabins. All images captured by Maree Richardson.

Hiking:

There are a tremendous amount of hikes available in "The Smokies". So many, that it is impossible to accomplish them all in one trip. It is best to hike in the early morning or late afternoon when there is less foot traffic. Here is a list of the hikes we have completed so far in order of preference:

1) Porter's Creek Trail - follows a beautiful flowing stream with large boulders and small waterfalls; spectacular creek views and sounds; lots of wildflowers and butterflies; lesser known = minimal people on the trail (quiet); moderate hike due to long distance and unpaved trail; ~ 4 miles round trip.

Porter's Creek Trail. Footage taken by Maree Richardson. 
Press "play" and turn your sound on!  

2) Grotto Falls - the only waterfall in the park that you can walk behind; popular = lots of people on the trail; easy-moderate hike due to short distance and unpaved trail; ~ 2.6 miles round trip.

Grotto Falls. Image captured by Gregory Richardson.

3) Abrams Falls - waterfall with large volume of water; less people than Grotto Falls but more people than Porter's Creek Trail = not many people on the trail; moderate hike due to long distance and unpaved trail; ~ 5.2 miles round trip.

Abrams Falls. Image captured by Maree Richardson.

4) Laurel Falls - 80-foot waterfall; paved footpath; very popular hike = lots of people on the trail; easy hike due to short distance and paved trail; ~ 2.3 miles round trip.

Laurel Falls.   

5) Noah "Bud" Ogle Nature Trail - view a historic farm house and barn, and learn about how people lived in this area in the 1800's; easy hike due to short distance; ~ 1.0 mile round trip.

Noah "Bud" Ogle Farm. Image captured by Maree Richardson.

Other Attractions Worth Seeing:

A) Clingman's Dome: This is the highest point in "The Smokies" and the highest point in Tennessee. From the parking lot, it is a short 0.5 mile, although very steep, hike to the top. If weather permits, the views are mesmerizing! If not, you cannot see past 100 meters or so. The picture below shows our view in August 2015 versus June 2017, the difference being pure luck with the weather.

Clingman's Dome August 2015.

Clingman's Dome June 2017.
Both images captured by Maree Richardson.

B) Moonshine Tasting: In Downtown Gatlinburg your will find Sugarland's Distilling Company. You can sample different flavors of moonshine and purchase your favorite/s to take home.  

Sugarland Moonshine. Image captured by Maree Richardson.

If you are planning a trip to "The Smokies", I hope you found some of the above information helpful. There is no guessing why it is America's most visited national park.

Sometimes all you need is to adjust your altitude. 😊


Happy Hiking,


Maree