2018 Road Trip – Smokey Mountains and Auburn U.
1) In September, 2017 we decided to KYLE, by taking another epic road trip across America in 2018. We will be driving from Texas to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. We were going to enjoy some of our favorite things…hiking, the outdoors, and sightseeing.
Since we are going to visit the most popular National Park in the United States (11 million visitors per year), during the peak of Fall Foliage, we started booking now (a year ahead of time)-SECRET. We want to travel during the Fall of 2018, when it is cool and the foliage is at its peak. We don’t want to stay in a typical hotel….we want to stay in a cabin on a stream. We are going to start looking at Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
2) Gatlinburg it is! It’s closer to the major hiking trails-SECRET. If you are looking for more family fun and entertainment, stay at Pigeon Forge-SECRET. We found a cabin, on a stream, in the woods, just 5 miles from Gatlinburg. We are staying at the Greenbrier Campground (www.greenbriercampground) in the Flint Rock Cabin. It’s a recently renovated wooden cabin on the Pigeon Forge River. All modern appliances and a fire ring outside. Now, we need to decide when to get there and how long to stay.
The quickest, shortest route takes us through Auburn, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. Since Uncle Mike went to Auburn University AND the trip is in the fall, its football season. October is peak foliage time and Auburn plays Tennessee on October 13, at Auburn…therefore, we have the date for our trip. Plan vacations around special times or events-SECRET.
The football game is on a Saturday, so we will leave Houston on Friday and stay in Auburn on Friday and Saturday night. We will leave Auburn on Sunday morning and drive to Gatlinburg, arriving on the afternoon.
Friday October 12 Houston to Auburn 700 miles stay in Auburn
Saturday October 13 Auburn, Alabama 0 miles football game@ Auburn
Sunday October 14 drive to Atlanta 100 miles
Drive to Gatlinburg 200 miles stay at Flint Rock cabin
3) Now we are arriving in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on Sunday night, so we are ready for some major hiking in the Smokey Mountains, starting Monday. We are planning on 3 major hikes. The first is the Alum Cave Trail to Mt. Le Conte. A 11-mile hike with 2,763 feet of elevation change. Mt. Le Conte is the 3rd highest point in the Smokey Mountains. The second hike is to Clingmans Dome. This is a short 1-mile hike to the top of the observation tower which is the highest point in the Smokey Mountains. This trial also intersects the Appalachian Trail and we will do a 10-mile out and back on the Appalachian Trail. Finally the third hike will be to the Rainbow Falls Trail. This is a 6-mile hike to the tallest waterfall in the Smokey Mountains.
Monday October 15 Alum Cave Trail to Mt. Le Conte
Tuesday October 16 Clingman’s Dome Trail and Appalachian Trail
Wednesday October 17 Rainbow Falls Trail
4) Now for the trip back to Houston. The trip back to Houston goes through New Orleans, so its Mardis Gras time for Uncle Mike and Aunt Patti. Bourbon Street is great for people watching. Beignets and Beads on Bourbon Street, Thursday, October 18.
5) Finally, back home in Houston on Friday, October 19. This gives us the weekend to recuperate and get ready for work on Monday. This looks like another Epic Road Trip to keep our life exciting.
Additional SECRETS (and reminders from the 2017 trip)
• National Park pass is not needed
The entrance to Great Smokey Mountain national park is free. It is one of the few National Parks without an entrance fee. – SECRET.
• Take hiking/trekking poles
• Take hiking/day packs with hydration
• Take hiking food
• Buy Sirius radio
• Take proper clothing on the trail
• Get the car ready ….wax, RainX, car wash….snacks