First Timer's Impression of Smokey Mountain National Park

A common scene through the park

We love our national parks. 

So when an opportunity presented itself 

to visit The Smokies, 

we took it.  

Little River Gorge Rd.

Wow, it was not like the other National Parks 

we have visited. 

It was soooooo crowded.  

And everyone was in their cars! 

?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Another common scene through the park. 

We approached from the east 

via a small section of the 

The Foothills Parkway 

and arrived into honky-tonk Gatlinburg, TN  

which was very crowded also. 

View from the Foothills Parkway

Our 4 night stay was in the 

Holiday Inn Express 

which was free if we sat through 

a 1 hour time-share sales pitch. 

My husband almost took the bait but   

I kicked him back to reality. 

Can you find the bear?
Cades Cove Loop Road

We started out with the go-to attractions:

1. Roaring Fork Motor Trail 

(We did this early to avoid traffic.

We hiked along one of the trails.)

View From Roaring Fork Motor Trail

2. Cades Cove Loop 

(My advice, drive there early or later, 

and instead of doing the whole loop, 

take one of the two other roads off the loop. 

Rich Mt. Rd. or Parson Branch Rd 

to the Foothills Parkway 

and explore.  

We did not do this 

but I wish we had. 

I am sure there would have been a lot less people 

and a lot of beauty.  

View from Cades Cove Loop

After spending a lot time stuck in traffic - 

and god forbid someone sees a bear...

because then the traffic is standstill for miles - 

we found an off the beaten path section of the park

 that WAS off the beaten path. 

But yikes...the potholes! 

It was good we had our Pilot 

and not the Accord. 

Ramsey Prong Road

Our off the beaten spot took us down 

*Ramsey Prong Road*, 

across a couple bridges to a parking location. 

From there we decided to explore...

we heard there was a waterfall. 

The early trail was easy going 

and that was all we planned to do.

But the call of the falls beckoned us on 

and we went despite having no water with us. 

After hiking up an very steep and rooty trail 

and over lots of boulders 

we arrived at 

Ramsey Cascade Falls.

Ramsey Cascade Falls

  

What a beautiful and refreshing sight. 

Photos do not do this 100 foot cascade justice! 

In person, it was beautiful. 

Hike to Ramsey Cascade

The trail is 16 miles round trip and 2,000 feet uphill from the parking location. 

It took us over 3 hours up and 2 hours down. 

When we got back to the car, 

I was exhausted. 

We guzzled our water, 

showered the dirt off our tired bodies, 

and went to Bennet's BBQ for dinner. 

I ordered a blackberry sparkler 

after which my husband said I 

was basically sliding off the chair 

into a puddle on the floor. 

Smaller cascades along the trail.

My recommendation is to spend a day in this section of the park. 

It is located in the Greenbriar area, 

6 miles east of Gatlinburg.

 The 4.5 miles drive to the parking area is scenic 

but also on unmaintained roads 

so it is slow going. 

You will find others there 

but nothing like the main section of the park. 

There is a picnic area with restrooms. 

(If this hike sounds too strenuous for you, 

check out the 4 mile round trip hike to 

the 50 ft. Fern Branch Falls.)

 

Cades Cove View

A one time visit to Gatlinburg 

was enough for both of us 

so we probably won't be going back, 

but at least now it is off the bucket list. 

More photos are stored here. 

Have you been to the Smokies?

Tell me what I SHOULD have done. 

Day Trip to Historic Bellefonte: Home of Governors

Seven governors have called Bellefonte their home 

and this is a source of pride to the residents there. 

Governors: 

Packer 

Beaver 

Bigler (x2)

Walker 

Packer 

Curtin 

Their names adorn the streets here 

as well as the campus of Penn State University 

just 12 miles to the southwest. 

Bellefonte is the county seat 

of Centre County, Pennsylvania. 

I guess all those governors 

were inspired by local government.

Another draw to Bellefonte  

are the 296 Victorian era buildings 

that fill the historic district. 

Talleyrand Park, 

walking distance from the Historic District,

 is definitely worth a visit 

while you are in town. 

It is beautiful, 

with the Spring Creek,  

paths and bridges. 

We were staying in State College 

and made a day trip to Bellefonte. 

You can easily walk the historic district, 

enjoy the park, 

make a stop at Big Springs Distillery, 

(great for cocktails)

and visit the local art museum 

in one day. 

If you have extra time 

take a walk along the 

Spring Creek Canyon Trail.

6.3 mi out and back.  

But what I didn't know about until after we left

was Eagle Ironworks at Curtin Village

which is just 9 minutes out of town. 

I think we would have liked a visit there. 

Let me know how it is if you go! 

There are more images in my gallery here: 

https://www.rebeccahaegelephotography.com/Travel/Pennsylvania/Center-COunty/Bellefonte

Fantastic Views From the Ridge in Shenandoah National Park

In about 1 hour from the southern boundary of Pennsylvania 

you can be in Shenandoah National Park. 

The highlight of the park is Skyline Drive, 

105 mi of curvy tree lined road 

which navigates north - south along the 

ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. 

I tried to find a view with the most ridges. 

Approximately every 1-2 miles there is an overlook, 

a place to pull over and take in the view. 

The overlooks on the north end of the park 

are better maintained than on the south end

where many trees were overgrown 

and now block what was once a view. 

Sunset View from Big Meadows Lodge

You can be obsessive, 

like we were,

 and stop at each overlook. 

But no need, 

the view is very similar from most of them. 

Our drive, 

with stops 

and 2 hikes 

took a full day. 

An afternoon 

-with an overnight in the park-

and the following morning. 

The waterfalls we encountered were pretty but small. 

You'll need to get a pass 

to drive along Skyline Drive. 

This is easily obtained at any of the 

4 Entrance points. 

We paid $30 for our vehicle 

and the pass was good for one week. 

Tips:

1.  Autumn leaf peeping is the most crowded time.  You will enjoy the colorful leaves but be surrounded with traffic. I went at the very beginning of color and there was hardly anyone there.

2.  Pack a lunch and eat at an overlook.  There is dining in the park but you will save time and money this way. 

3.  Park accommodations are easy from Skyline Drive.  We did not need to advance reserve but depending on when you go, you may have to.  Accommodations are rustic but clean and have dining available.  

We picked up Skyline Drive at the Front Royal entrance.

If you love scenic drives, 

outdoor hikes,

and fresh air 

visit Skyline Drive 

in Shenandoah National Park.

Here is the related photo gallery: 

https://www.rebeccahaegelephotography.com/Travel/Virginia/VA-Shanandoah-National-Park