Aight, after Laurel falls we headed for Cade's Cove and it's 11 mile loop of views, animals, and old rustic cabins.
While there I took girls on hike number two. This one was 2.5 miles in to Abram's Falls.
By then it was 5pm and the girls were beat so we headed back to Gatlinburg for dinner. We decided to try Calhoun's.
Have to admit it was really good. Salads are large. The ribs had good flavor as did the chicken.
Then it was walking the strip. On the way we did the Sky Lift up the mountain. This is where I got my shock of the day. During the big fire it burned this entire mountain side including some very large cabins. Along with those it also burned the gift shop and lookout point at the top of the mountain where the Sky Lift goes.
This before
They had to completely rebuild the lift all the way up but ran out of time before they could build the lookout . So, you ride up and come right back down.
From the lift you get really close to what burned, and it was far more impressive up close. Just bare rock now where there used to be trees. You can see old cabin sites and burned out buildings. What was worse is when you reach the top and come back down you see all the larger mountains behind Gatlinburg and they are just covered in brown dead spots where the fire went. Just tears me up to see it. I didn't get any pics as I wasn't about to pull out my phone and risk dropping it.
For now it's shower time and tomorrow gonna go to Dollywood and the watermark. There will be no pictures or report from there as it would be against my better judgement to put pics or info on another theme park here on the Dis.
Night all.
P.S.
While in the park there is no phone signal so I didn't check the boards until we sat to eat around 5pm. I had something like 28 likes on this thread. Wow!