We took a fantastic vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains. The scenery was spectacular and the wildlife spottings were amazing. In the morning and evenings we took a drive around Cades Cove where we observed deer, horses, bear, all kinds of birds and even a panther. One day, as we were traveling through, we saw a bear at the top of a tree. We watched for a while and he slowly but meticulously chewed the branch right off the tree. When it fell to the ground, he came barreling down to claim his prize. He proceeded to chow down on the berries and did not much care that he was sitting in the middle of the roadway. When a spectator tried to remove the branch, he was met with a loud, roaring, growling, drooling “mad-bear.” Of course, those of us watching thought this person a “mad-man” to even tempt the bear. Aside from that scare, it was quite an intriguing sight to watch this 300 pound wild animal so close but yet free.

Walking the trails brought us face to face with deer, and once, a small shy bear watched from behind a tree as we chose our path carefully. The vacation ended up being a truly rejuvenating, adventurous time. Besides the restaurants and nearby, lively Gatlinburg, we kept busy hiking and exploring the mountains, streams, falls and the surprises that came around many corners.

Though it was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable vacations we’ve had, it might have been perfect if we had not stayed at a bed and breakfast. Two lesbians showing up for breakfast with Tennessee Christian couples was not our ideal morning ritual. It would have been nice to sit out on a couple of rockers that we could temporarily call our own.

Instead, we felt like we were intruding in someone else’s home, swimming in someone else’s pool, forced sometimes to whisper because of the quietness of the home and we weren’t feeling like our hosts considered us the ideal guests. So though we highly recommend the Smokies, we also recommend that you rent a cabin or cottage of your own so you can relax full time and fully experience the natural beauty of this area.