This past Fourth of July weekend we traveled about an hour and half up the road to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. Some might have said we were crazy to venture into this crowded area on a holiday weekend, but Gatlinburg has the distinction of having the first Independence Day parade in the nation since it starts at 12 a.m. on July 4. It was a late night but a great parade with close to 100,000 people in attendance.
While we were there, we ate at a few of our favorite places. The Best Italian Cafe and Pizzeria is a new find within the past few years, but a great bargain. The meals are fresh, delicious and plenty, and you'll probably ask for a take-home box. One of my family's all-time favorites is the Pancake Pantry, which has been around since 1960 and serves breakfast all day, but we prefer their gourmet sandwiches at lunch. They also have a restaurant in Nashville, but I was told by the manager one time that they ship their pancake batter to that location since they don't want to give up the secret recipe. The Peddler is also a great place for fine dining, and we dined there on July 4 for dinner before the fireworks.
On a rainy Saturday morning, we drove up into the mountains to Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the Smokies and Tennessee. It was rainy and cloudy, and the higher you climb, the lower the temperature drops. It was a chilly 54 degrees on top, and we even got to see a black bear...well kind of. It was a great weekend!
1 comment:
That bear looks scary!
Especially his bowtie....
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