As is always when i do my travel blogs, I get to the last couple of days, get home, work and real life takes over and i forget to complete them.
So, a little late but eventually getting around to updating the last couple of days of our epic trip.

The previous night when had arrived at the Bear Necessities lodge which nestled in the Smokey Mountains between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg we were far too knackered to head out exploring so we had grabbed a Subway and some shopping on the way in and relaxed in the hot tub with a few beers as the sun went down. Today was our first venture into the actual towns.

Motor vehicles are discouraged in Gatlinburg so we headed to the Tourist Information/ Welcome Centre where there was a free shuttle bus into the town. We had been told to expect a “Blackpool” type experience but on the drive down all looked nice, log cabins nestled in the hills, lovely river etc. We got dropped off in the centre next to a shopping mall and went for a wander around that first. All seemed ok, quaint sweet shops, a guitar shop, some tourist tat shops but nothing to horrendously tacky

We then headed out onto the main street. It wasn’t horrendous, but it wasn’t “us” so too speak. shop after shop selling unfunny T shirts or over priced confectionary, Lots of gimmicky museums and attraction, LOTS of people (though we had chosen to be there on Memorial day so that was expected). It was all what we call “Disneyfied America”. As lovely as some of the buildings were everything was there to get money out of tourists and it didn’t feel like an organic town if that makes sense.

We had a wander for a couple of hours, bought a fridge magnet for oz, had a coffee etc and then headed back to pick up the car and see what Pigeon Forge was like.

Pigeon Forge was no better, actually it was worse. If you have ever been to Orlando and found yourself on International Drive it’s a bit like that. A very straight long road with 3 or 4 lanes going in either direction with Tourist rubbish either side. T shirt and tat shops where you can see a live Shark/Alligator/Bears/Hillbillies, chain restaurants, Haunted houses, fairgrounds, roller coasters, just meh! We continued along the road up to Sevierville so that we could get some food from Walmart for the evening and then took the scenic route to the cabin via the back roads.

Overall, the towns were disappointing but the area was lovely. That evening we cooked pizza and ate on the veranda watching the wildlife and finished the night off in the Hot tub with beer …. very relaxing!