It has been just over a month since my last post. Much longer than I had planned, but life has been busy. Good, but a tiring busy. Since that last post we spent a week in Sevierville, Tennessee and then returned to our home in Virginia. And a blur of activity after returning back home.
Recap of Home Purchase
Just as a quick recap, we bought a house near two of our kids this last fall in southwest Virginia. Due to the many travel restrictions at that time we decided it was best to go the part time RV mode by establishing a home base.
The home is a classic mid-century built in 1956 with the last updates from the 1980’s. So, it will require many remodeling plans to make it our own with some more up to date features. So, we have only had a couple of “days off” since our return from our wintering in Florida. It has been non-stop clean and paint. Our high level plan is to work on the house for three months and then enjoy it for three months over the summer. More on that in another update. Now, back to the usual travel blog!
RV Park
The last stop on our travel back home from Florida is the small resort town of Sevierville, Tennessee. We wanted to explore the area and needed to wait until April 1st for the home remodeling to be about completed. That gave us just over a week at Two Rivers Landing RV Resort. LINK
This is a new RV park, expensive, but close enough to the interstate that we did not have to wind our way in through the always present traffic. It was a very nice park with a pool, laundry, and club house. I would probably stay here again, but might price shop some other parks that are nearby.
Great Smoky Mountains
This is a very popular vacation spot from our area of SW Virginia. Either here or Myrtle Beach draws the crowds. During our week, we got out and explored every other day. With a day to relax in between.
Let’s see, what did we do there? Before I forget to mention it, the national park itself was very busy since it was spring break week. The issue was finding parking nearby the hiking trails. We did a couple of hikes, drove a loop through the park, took in a dinner show, walked downtown Gatlinburg, drove the art/craft loop outside of Gatlinburg, toured the world’s largest knife shop, and did some target practice at a new indoor range.
The park was established in 1934, and, with over 11 million visits per year, it is the most visited national park in the United States. The highest point in the Smokies is Clingmans Dome, which rises to an elevation of 6,643 feet. The mountain is the highest in Tennessee and the third-highest in the Appalachian range.
Harrisburg covered bridge that is still in operation 
The Smokies still have that hazy looked as they are supposed to 
The parking lots were all full requiring some cruising looking for someone ready to back out. 
Trish leading the way on a downhill hike. The trouble was it was a one-way requiring a tough trip back up. 
Gatlinburg for lunch and a walkabout 
Gatlinburg is a pretty German themed touristy town. Too touristy for us. 
Trish at a nice Mexican place 
Knife shop. 
Our dinner show was the Hatfield vs McCoys. Quite good food, music, dancing, and comedy 
Wrap Up
We were both ready to get back home to the project house. The winter travels in Florida were a very good time. Quite diverse activities, some new places and some old haunts. But, we are ready for the beautiful Virginia spring time and to dig into that project list!
Thanks for following along! Take care and God Bless.
It’s been 24 years since being in the area. We last were in the National Park 27 was years ago and enjoyed the visit then. Have to get back through there again. I would have to find an off season time to go. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Good luck with the house projects.
Robert
Great photos and we always love the detail you provide on your travels. We loved this area as well!