Waynesvile, NC: Smokey Mtn Ntl Pk, Asheville

Saturday, September 22, 2007
Waynesville, North Carolina, United States
Pride RV in Maggie Valley - 7 days
Campsite (G12) on nice creek with swing right across the street.
Wonderful place to sit out in the evening.
Put up a lighted palm tree since everyone on this row is from Florida.
                                        WAYNESVILLE 
Wonderful historic town. Mast General Store is a must. Bought "ice cube" chocolate that Randy had as a kid.
Thrilled to be here during the Maggie Valley BBQ Festival:  WillyT's was the best pulled pork we've had. 
Places we Ate
Grizzly Grill--chicken and ribs great; good smokey flavor.  Talked to cook who gave a sample of the ribs.
Butts on the Creek BBQ--ribs just OK (sort of dry), squash casserole great!
The carved wood table with marble tops are really nice and great price.
Elk Herd in Smokey Mountain National Park was not far.
One evening drove to Cataloochee on Cove Creek Road. Warning about the road: dirt for quite a bit, narrow, sometimes one lane, zigzagging around edge of mountain. Luckily, no cars  came the opposite direction.
At dust, the herd feeds in the meadows of Cataloochee valley. One buck had a group of about 8 females. Rutting season so males were bellowing. One male chased another male out of his area. Ranger told us all about the elk, which are monitored by GPS and satellite. Fabulous standing on the edge of the meadow seeing this nature show!
                                     Smokey Mountain National Park - day trip 
Beautiful drive through Maggie Valley on Ridge Parkway to Cherokee
Oconaluftee Visitor's Center just north of Cherokee.
Walked through the old farm that was there.

Clingman's Dome: walked trail to dome; very steep; very smokey but great views.
On way out to main road walked Spruce-Fir Trail--short, only half mile; pretty. 

Newfound Gap: drove up 321/73 through Gatlinburg.
Saw hotel where we stayed on our honeymoon. The bear is still out in front. Stopped at little shops outside of Gatlinburg.

Foothills Parkway across to Interstate 40. Absolutely beautiful drive--trees starting to change; great views.

Drove down 40 through Cherokee and Pisgah Nat'l Forest--really pretty. 
                                   ASHEVILLE (about an hour drive) - 2 days.
Problems with the jeep; spent about five hours getting it fixed. 3:00 so a few hours to do some sightseeing. 
Biltmore Estate:  (Ingles card saved us $10 each on admission, which was for 2 days) 
Will see a little today and come back again tomorrow.
Winery--cooking demonstration; wine tasting and tour.
Drove to Photo Spot where Biltmore is reflected in pond.
Back to winery for chocolate tasting but it was full--signed up for next day at 5:00.
Gardens--walled garden and gift shop. 
Next day did an Audio Tour of the Biltmore House.
Lunch Buffet at Deerpark--great buffet, especially the bread pudding with caramel sauce.
River Bend Farm-watched movie, churn butter demo.
Walked side Gardens at Biltmore House. Gift shops by house.
Wine/chocolate seminar--great! Learned color, legs (how wine slides down glass), clarity, rim color (purple if newer; orange or brown means older wine), smell (if musty it's not good).  
ElChapala exit 44 on interstate 40 for dinner.
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