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Covered Bridge - Cades Cove


Last week, I was able to go with my mom, my daughter, and a dear friend, for a day trip through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, TN. A big part of our day was spent enjoying an 11 mile scenic loop through a section of the park called “Cades Cove”.

You know how much of a romantic that I am! So… you can probably guess how I responded when our friend Candy shared a little known tidbit of information with us, just as we were entering the park.

She said… that this was the very place where they had filmed the movie series “Christy”! It’s a heart-warming romantic tale of the life of young Christy (played by Kellie Martin), as she ventures off into the backwoods to teach the Appalachian people to read & write. She encounters various & sundry obstacles along her journey, and has to lean heavily upon her faith and courage as she starts her new life in “Cutter Gap”.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch it, I highly suggest picking up a copy from Amazon or your local movie store.

Anyway… as we drove around the cove, I started to recognize many of the mountains, open pastures, babbling brooks, and historic buildings from the lovely tale, which made being in those gorgeous surroundings that much more romantic!

Here is a glimpse into our special day.


There are approx 1,500 black bear in the Smoky Mountain national Park – and many live in and around Cades Cove

Black Bear - Cades Cove


I LOVE the mixture of stone, moss, and rocks while walking through the forest

Stone Wall - Cades Cove


You can spy many different waterfalls around the park. Wouldn’t you just love to spend the day in the pool beneath this one!

Waterfall - Cades Cove


There’s something so heart-warming about seeing a farmer “putting up” provisions for the upcoming winter months

Landscape of Cades Cove


I love the workmanship of this log & stone home

Historic Building - Cades Cove


This tree was begging for some attention ;)

Porch Historic Building - Cades Cove


Steps Stone Wall Historic Building - Cades Cove


The historic mill is still in use, as they demonstrate the ways of yesteryear

Historic Mill - Cades Cove


Tools of the trade

Moss Covered Mill Stones - Cades Cove


I love the workmanship on this stone chimney!

Historic Farm - Cades Cove


The little settlement in the cove

Historic Farm - Cades Cove


Farm Building - Cades Cove


I just had to get a closeup of this moss covered shake roof!

Shake Roof - Cades Cove


Historic Farm - Cades Cove


I love the way this creek flows right over the crossing!

River Crossing - Cades Cove


Another cute little guy ;)

Black Bear - Cades Cove


There’s no cost to enter the park, so it makes for a nice family day trip! Here’s a link with some more information – Cades Cove


Here is a video, so you can take the tour with me :)





The next time you watch Christy… be sure to think of me ;)

Pearl

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16 Comments »

Comment by Suzie Button
2009-09-19 18:19:10

That is just so peaceful and amazingly beautiful! I will have to look for the movie now! I recently visited Colorado for the first time and was in awe myself with the beauty! I once drove through TN and just could hardly keep my eyes on the road because it was so beautiful! I’d love to visit Gatlinburg! Suzie

 
Comment by admin
2009-09-19 18:50:50

Suzie,

There are so many wonderful places to look at in our beautiful country! I live in Upstate, NY & the beauty abounds everywhere we go! We are truly thankful that God has given us such beauty!

Pearl

 
Comment by Leslie Anne
2009-09-19 19:17:15

I just love the beauty of God’s earth! What a lovely, lovely place to have visited! You obviously enjoyed it thoroughly – the moss, the rocks, the mill, the waterfalls – everything! I’d love to go there someday! Thank you for sharing!

 
Comment by michele
2009-09-20 07:19:03

Pearl,
Thank you for sharing your trip. It was beautiful. Thankfully we still have so much beauty to look at because it seems we don’t sometimes. Nature at it’s best is the hand of God.

 
Comment by alice hanson
2009-09-20 09:14:20

What a beautiful place. Thanks so much for the tour. Wish I was closer.
smiles, alice

 
Comment by sherri
2009-09-20 09:18:30

We have been there thank you for the reminder of how great it is. We saw no bears tho think they were hibernating. Our hike back to the waterfalls was fantastic abd beautiful. It is so neat to drive out of bustling Gatlinberg into the peace the Smokys offer.

 
Comment by Kat
2009-09-21 09:30:15

Isn’t it lovely! Cades Cove is one of my favorite places. We have driven the loop with plenty of stops for hiking on several occasions. Did you see the charming little churches? One in particular has a lovely little churchyard attached. Very peaceful. Glad you enjoyed. I enjoyed reading someone else’s comments and looking at your photos.
Kat

 
Comment by Charlotte
2009-09-21 10:38:52

As a Tennessee girl living in rainy Georgia, I appreciate the photo’s of Cades Cove. Thanks for sharing.

 
Comment by Janean
2009-09-24 15:50:05

been to the smokies several times. we stayed once at andy’s trout farm & a bear had bitten on our door knob. yikes!

 
Comment by Annabelle
2009-09-24 18:59:34

I just found your blog because I was looking for painted pumpkin ideas…thank you for those. Then I found your most recent post. Gatlinburg is one of my favorite places on earth. I love Cades Cove & Christy! Lucky you to get to go there. I’m from Mississippi & have gone to Gatlinburg numerous times…always late in October. What a perfect place to be in the fall. Unfortunately, I’m stuck in Illinois at the present time. Aren’t the bears are so sweet. Thanks for the post & I’ll be back to read more of your blog. :)

 
Comment by Michelle
2009-09-26 15:50:36

What a lovely trip and thank you for sharing it!
I really enjoy that Movie too.Been awhile since I saw it, time to see it again.
Before my Mother passed away she and my Dad used to go to the Smokies.It was one of her favorite places in the whole world. I have never been, but hope to go someday soon.

 
Comment by Pearl Maple
2009-09-26 16:51:47

Fabulous nature photos, looks like a lovely place to unwind. Thanks for sharing a peek into this pretty place.

 
Comment by Chesh
2009-10-08 19:31:53

Gosh! This place is gorgeous! I really want to go. . .

 
Comment by Terri Pollhein
2009-10-24 06:53:51

When I was a girl, a big “treat” was to be the one that got to honk the horn as we went through the underpasses. Some of them were so small, that only one car could pass through at a time and up in those hills, the underpasses were often on a curve, so you couldn’t see what was coming at you up ahead!

People drive so fast now days, though. I wonder how that warning system works now??

 
Comment by Tiffany
2009-10-26 21:24:29

Wow, Gorgoeus Photos!!!! The waterfall and landscape is jsut amazing!
Thanks for sharing :)

 
Comment by pat zennario
2010-02-06 13:12:32

i stumbled upon this site looking to make cinnamon applesauce ornaments. i had bought unsweetened apple sauce by mistake and decided i could use it to make ornaments for valentines day. as i went thru the site i found it really is a good site and so many pretty things to see and do. i really like it and look foward to the emails to come!

 
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