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Burr...was it cold. The temperature was a mere 42 degrees when we woke. However, I checked the weather and it was suppose to be a high of 80 by noon. We layered accordingly. We thought this would be a good morning to have breakfast out. Peter's Pancakes in Cherokee was the place to go we were told. Bob and Walt loved the pancakes. After breakfast, we headed for the Oconalufee Visitor Center.
We were in for a rude awakening. We have been visiting National Parks in the off season. Well, this time of year is Great Smoky Mountains high season. The number of people was overwhelming. We knew it would be busy, but we thought by getting an early start, we would have the park to ourselves. How foolish was that thought process. Everyone decided to get an early start, too.
We left the Oconalufee Visitor Center and headed to the main visitor center, Sugarlands Visitor Center, where they had another exhibit including a film on the Great Smoky Mountains. The turn off to take the drive up Clingmans Dome at an elevation of 6643ft was on the way. So we thought we would take the drive first to catch the morning light. Big mistake. The traffic was bumper to bumper and no place to turn around. Barb and I took all the cameras and got out. We took pictures while Walt and Bob continued on around. They picked us up on the way out.
Inspite of the traffic, we were all facinated by the scenry and the palette of colors emerging where ever you looked.
We arrived at the Sugarlands Visitor Center around 11am. Again, it was bumper to bumper, traffic. We were fortunate to get a parking place right in front of the center. We viewed the film and checked out the exhibits that we could among the hordes of visitors. By the time we finished, it was lunch time. Luckily, we brought our lunch. We went looking for a table and found the only one tucked behind the visitor center. Enough with the crowds. We decided to check out Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg on our way to Walmart to get a walkie talkie set. The set that we have used for the last three years finally pooped out.
OMG...It was bumper to bumper traffic through Gatlinburg and gads of people walking down the main street. Where did all these people come from? We hoped Pigeon Forge was going to be quaint and not so busy. How wrong we were. It was a countrified version of Orlando FL with a Hard Rock Cafe no less! I almost missed this one. There was every conceivable ride and there was even King Kong hangin' from a roof top. Unbelievable. And there was Dollywood. I am sure it had its share of people, too.
We looked for an alternate route to skirt around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. There actually was a way to bypass part of Pigeon Forge, but we still had to run the gauntlet back through Gatlinburg.
We were so glad that we stayed in Cherokee. It was so low key and access to the Park was close by. Another benefit, Harrah's Cherokee Casino was only 10 minutes from us. Brio Tuscan Grille, one of the restaurants at the casino, was where we planned on eating, but the wait was over an hour. Bob checked out the buffet and said it looked pretty good. Buffet it was. We all found our favorites and tried a few new things like cajun style Crayfish, fried okra, pickled corn and few other delicacies. After dinner, the boys played a little blackjack and came away winners..enough for a tank of fuel or two.
Tomorrow, we have the pleasure of driving back through the Great Smoky National Park on our way to Russell Springs KY.
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