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
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
I LOVE the mixture of stone, moss, and rocks while walking through the forest
You can spy many different waterfalls around the park. Wouldn’t you just love to spend the day in the pool beneath this one!
There’s something so heart-warming about seeing a farmer “putting up” provisions for the upcoming winter months
I love the workmanship of this log & stone home
This tree was begging for some attention 😉
The historic mill is still in use, as they demonstrate the ways of yesteryear
Tools of the trade
I love the workmanship on this stone chimney!
The little settlement in the cove
I just had to get a closeup of this moss covered shake roof!
I love the way this creek flows right over the crossing!
Another cute little guy 😉
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
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
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
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!
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.
What a beautiful place. Thanks so much for the tour. Wish I was closer.
smiles, alice
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.
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
As a Tennessee girl living in rainy Georgia, I appreciate the photo’s of Cades Cove. Thanks for sharing.
been to the smokies several times. we stayed once at andy’s trout farm & a bear had bitten on our door knob. yikes!
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. 🙂
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.
Fabulous nature photos, looks like a lovely place to unwind. Thanks for sharing a peek into this pretty place.
Gosh! This place is gorgeous! I really want to go. . .
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??
Wow, Gorgoeus Photos!!!! The waterfall and landscape is jsut amazing!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
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!
Wonderful site. Lots of helpful information here. I’m sending it to some buddies also. And naturally, thanks to your effort!
wonderful and refreshing photos!
Thank you Crissy! It’s such a dreamy place to visit!