Author Topic: North Carolina & Tennessee (Smokies & Blue Ridge)  (Read 3000 times)

Offline Naftali

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North Carolina & Tennessee (Smokies & Blue Ridge)
« on: August 07, 2018, 10:27:32 PM »
A brief road trip. In southeastern USA; North Carolina & Tennessee. Paid for travel expenses (flight, car rental, lodging) – how anti-DansDealsian = הרבה דרכים למקום. Many hours of driving, many hours of audiobooks, many stunning vistas. Hey, it isn’t Antarctica, or even the Arctic, but Nothin’ Fishy about this vacation. 

Day #1: Flew into Charlotte. Drove to Asheville. Brief stop at Chimney Rock State Park. There stands a flag flying high, though flag was lowered prior to sunset. In Asheville, spent evening hours at Biltmore Estate, a big house. Mr. Vanderbilt planted a big garden around his big house. Mr. Chihuly adorned that garden with glass (now available for a limited time… ends in October). Night in Asheville, NC.

Chimney Rock State Park








Chihuly @ Biltmore Estate
























Day #2: Drove through Great Smoky (not to be confused with the bear whose name is Smokey) Mountains National Park. Rolling hills upon rolling hills. Newfound Gap Road (+ many scenic overlooks), Clingmans Dome (it’s a long walk up, and followed by another walk up to the observation tower), hiked the Alum Caves Trail (not a cave). Later in the day, met Smoky (or is it Smokey?) Bear with her cubbies in Cades Cove. Night in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Scenic Overlooks











Clingsman Dome




Cades Cove
















Day #3: Drove back to Asheville. Someone colored on the city walls, ‘tis art they say. Place is drippin’ with Good Vibes. Rest of day on Blue Ridge Parkway heading north. Craggy Gardens area is nice, as is Linville Falls for a driving break. Grandfather Mountain has (for a fee) an elevated pedestrian walkway to nowhere that gently is blowin’ in the wind (“Mile High Swinging Bridge”). Night in Blowing Rock, NC.

Asheville Foundation Walls











Blue Ridge Parkway Views










Offline ludmila

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Re: North Carolina & Tennessee (Smokies & Blue Ridge)
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2018, 10:31:16 PM »
Thanks, nice TR and beautiful nature, I did the same trip 3 years ago.
I was the Best,still the Best, and will always be the Best.
Pele Good,Maradona Better, George Best.

Offline nafnaf12

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Re: North Carolina & Tennessee (Smokies & Blue Ridge)
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2018, 02:03:46 PM »
Beautiful! Those Chihuly Pics are incredible!
Thanks for taking the time
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: North Carolina & Tennessee (Smokies & Blue Ridge)
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2018, 03:13:16 PM »
Nice report!

Offline Naftali

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Re: North Carolina & Tennessee (Smokies & Blue Ridge)
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2018, 05:51:08 PM »
Day #4: Drove from Blowing Rock, NC to Charlotte. Some views of downtown, and then the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Learned that NASCAR stands for “National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing,” and that NASCAR is a private family owned company. Also learned that early NASCAR drivers were bootleggers who tinkered/improved car engines in order to beat cops in high speed police chases. Their bragging to each other about their car speeds led to auto races. Kyle Busch’s M&M car… awesome. Strolled around Freedom Park. Two Presidents spoke at the park commemorating the spurious Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (GIYF). Two hots dogs w/ fries at Gleiberman's Kosher Deli rounded out this trip. And that's all folks.

NASCAR Hall of Fame









Freedom Park





Offline luv2trvlwithfam

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Re: North Carolina & Tennessee (Smokies & Blue Ridge)
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2018, 05:21:27 AM »
awesome pics. thank you
when was this?
how many people? kids?
what did you do for food?

Offline Naftali

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Re: North Carolina & Tennessee (Smokies & Blue Ridge)
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2018, 11:28:31 PM »
awesome pics. thank you
when was this?
how many people? kids?
what did you do for food?

(i) August 2018,
(ii) Solo,
(iii) Cold cuts, traditions soups, etc.