Anakeesta.....

Anakeesta...They advertise it as a theme park, but it's really not.



It's situated at the top of a mountain overlooking the ski town of Gatlinburg, Tn. It's beautifully landscaped and has some incredible views.








They also have a single rider rollar coaster called the Rail Runner. It's the first of it's kind in the United States because it rides on a single rail. My daughter and her friend rode it, but I passed. She enjoyed it, but said they could've cleaned up all the construction stuff they left lying around, which was in full view as they rode down the mountain.






They also have a really cool swinging bridge trail that takes you through the tree tops.



On our way down we got a really nice view of Gatlinburg. All in all, it was a nice trip and the food at the top is very good, but be prepared to wait in line. There's just not enough restaurants for the amount of people that are up there. Other than that, I would definitely recomment it, even if you just go for the scenery..:)

{{hugs}}

Trista

Camping time...

Before my daughter headed off for college we took one more camping trip. This time to Wears Valley, which is right outside Pigeon Forge in Tn.



Check out the view of Wears Valley from the top of the Parkway. It's gorgeous up there. Not so fun pulling a camper, though...lol



Once we got the campground, it was time to set up and enjoy the view.



The campground is called Honeysuckle Meadows. It's a small campground. It does have a pool, but no showers. The lots are really big, too, as you can see from the picture. It has lots of space and it's very quiet.



Our dog loved it. As you can see, she was in heaven...:)




Had to put the beauty shot in there, of course...:)



The girls enjoyed it, too. We grilled burgers for dinner and just enjoyed the scenery.

We did lots of other stuff as well, including miniature golf and Anakeesta, which I'll post pictures of in the next post. Hope you enjoy!

{{hugs}}

Trista

The perfect camping trip

Okay, maybe not from my perspective, but certainly from my husband's..lol. As you all know, my husband loves to fish. Being on the lake in his boat is his happy place.



I can tolerate the boat for a while, but with my fair skin, the sun gets to me after a bit. Which is why you'll usually see me in long sleeves and a hat..:)



And nope. Still will not hold the fish..lol

For this trip, we took the camper to Blue Water resort in Dayton, Tn. It's a really nice campground on the lake and one of the only ones I've found so far that will let you keep your boat on the campsite with you. They cater to fisherman and I really like that. It makes it so much easier when you have a big 5th wheel and a boat.



The view from our campsite was pretty nice too. Even our dog, Nay-Nay liked it..:)

I especially liked the swing. I sat in that thing every morning and enjoyed a cup of tea watching the boats go by.



And of course, there were also the sunsets on the lake.



It was a fabulous few days and I'm actually looking forward to the next trip, even if it is a fishing trip..:)

{{hugs}}
Trista

Camping life...

Earlier this week me, my husband and our 24 year old son took the 5th wheel to Cloudland Canyon State Park for a short camping trip.



Cloudland Canyon is a nice campgroun situated at the top of a mountain. The hill going up was a nail biter, at least for me, but then I'm a nerveous personality. After a steep climb and a couple of hairpin turns, and a few gasps of "oh my god, we're gonna die or roll off this mountain, I just know it," we made it to the top. Above is out campsite. I loved all the trees and can't wait to see it in the summer. If the weather had been just a tad warmer, I would've had the hammocks out.

Despite being chilly, the weather was nice enough to walk a few of the trails. The overlook trail was very nice and offered a view of the canyon below, which is what gives the park it's name.



Here are a couple of chairs to enjoy the view..:)




There is a trail along the rim of the canyon where you can see the waterfall below. The trail is paved and level, so it's an easy hike.



You can also hike to that waterfall, but my knees weren't up to the 600 stairs you have to climb down in order to get to the bottom. Maybe next trip.



There are lots more pics to follow, so check back for more details of our trip to Cloudland..:)

{{hugs}}

Trista