Road Trip Day Three

We started day three in Roanoke, Virgina and headed off to find the Smoky Mountains.  We drove for about four hours and landed in a place called Gatlinburg, TN and stopped there for lunch.  It was an eclectic place.  They have all sorts of go carts, water slides, dinner shows and themed buildings.  If you don't know what you are driving into, it is quite startling.

This is also the home of Dollywood and lots of Ripley's attractions so it is quite a sight.  The roads are packed with people.

Some of the most interesting things we did:

A moonshine factory.  You get to taste the moonshine.  Some of it is 100 proof.  It was shockingly yummy and they had flavors such as apple pie, pink lemonade and blueberry.

There was a beef jerky factory.

Signs for a talking pig.

The Hatfield and McCoy's dinner show.

We then drove to Clingman's Dome.  It is part of the AT and you can drive up the mountain.  The road is steep and beautiful driving up.  You park the car and then walk up a half mile "trail" (it is paved), to the top.  The trail was called steep on the website.  It should have been called vertical.  At the top there is a unique observatory that marks the highest part of the AT and a beautiful place to see for miles.

We then hopped back in the car, headed to Chatanooga but stopped to see the University of Tennessee on our way through.

Our hotel was another amazing Priceline deal....we slept in and we're now on the road again!  More to come!