The Mountains Are Calling... Part 2

Did you read Part 1?

Smiling at you from the corner of

Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia

When last I blogged, we'd started our vacation adventure by spending the evening in Lexington, Kentucky, and we were headed out of town toward our rental cabin in the Smoky Mountains.

Although you can make it from Lexington to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (where the cabin was located) in around 3 1/2 hours, I routed us the scenic way to ensure we didn't miss two very important local landmarks/attractions.  On the way to our first stop, we made a brief and unscheduled pause at the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea; we needed a bathroom break, and the Center more than fit the bill.  Not only were the restrooms clean and handy, but the Center itself was full of amazing arts and crafts for purchase from local makers.  While it wasn't open when we breezed through (and we had other lunch plans - spoiler alert), there was also a café on site, so you could take care of all of your needs in one place.  Although we didn't originally plan to stop there, we highly recommend it, should you be in the area.

Another short drive brought us to our lunch destination in the town of Corbin, Kentucky.  When I was mapping out our route for this trip, I saw that Corbin had a branch of the globally dominant poultry enterprise KFC.  As I clicked a bit more, I learned that this wasn't just ANY Kentucky Fried Chicken.  Oh no, my friends, this was the VERY FIRST KFC, and it had a working restaurant inside the old motel/gas station where Colonel Harland Sanders first started selling his 11 herbs and spices.  Well, we surely couldn't miss this!

There's still a fully functional KFC inside the building,

and there are tables set up in several different rooms.

We chose the original dining room for our lunch.

Ultimately, our lunch offerings were just like any other KFC - mediocre fried chicken with good coleslaw (which they still sell, unlike some other chicken chains I'll mention - f you, Chick Fil A, for many reasons) and flaky biscuits.  We finished up lunch, wandered around to look at more memorabilia, and hopped back in the car.

That's one of the original dining tables and hutches,

as well as a portrait of Colonel Sanders

from an up and coming artist

named Norman Rockwell.

Colonel Sanders is also ribbing Chris

for wearing an Auburn shirt

Our next stop was Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, a beautiful place.  As I mentioned above, Cumberland Gap wasn't on our way, exactly, but it didn't add too much time to our wanderings, and it was more than worth it.  Although there are many amazing things inside the park, one of its main features is the windy road you can drive to the Pinnacle Overlook, where you can see into three different states: Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.  After a quick stop at the visitor's center for stickers and snacks, it was up to the Overlook!

Heading under the bridges to the tunnel - 

we'll visit that in a bit

Said snacks - official NPS animal crackers!

Walking the paved trail to the Overlook

Go that way!

Virginia, I think?

Tennessee, maybe?

More Kentucky?

Ah, look!  Thumb came on vacation with us!

I strolled back down to visit the restroom, and while I did, Chris wandered up another trail in the area, to see what he could see.

We were here a bit too early to see true fall colors,

but a few trees were starting to turn gold and red.

Once we made it back down from the Overlook, we headed out of the Park through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel.  It's not a long tunnel, but it was fun all the same.

Heading in!

We're almost done!

And now we're officially in Tennessee!

Just a bit more driving brought us into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and our home for the next four nights, an adorable cabin we rented off Airbnb.  After checking in, unloading the car, and seeing what the kitchen layout encompassed, it was back into the car for a five-minute drive to the nearest grocery store - a Publix!

On the way into town, we passed the Bush's Beans

Visitor Center, café, and store.

I didn't even know this existed, otherwise,

it would have obviously been on the itinerary.

Sadly, it was closed on Sundays,

so we just stopped for a picture.

Next time!

In case you didn't grow up in an area with Publix,

allow me to tell you about the best grocery store

in the history of the entire world.

Yeah, I know Texans love H.E.B.'s and all that,

but you can keep them.

Publix is my jam.

They're based in Florida, and I grew up in them,

so I was more than stoked to find one here.

The stores are always clean and well lit,

and they have amazing sub sandwiches.

And also, this:

PUBLIX CAKE!

Did I order a cake online for in-store pickup

for the two of us to eat while we were in the cabin?

Yes, I did.

Did I make Chris take the leftovers with us

when we drove back to Lousville?

Yes, I did.

I am not ashamed.

With groceries in tow, it was back to the cabin to sit down and relax for a while.  Although the kitchen was small, it was well stocked with cooking utensils; an almost exact replica of our grill at home was parked on the front porch, which we put to good use, making burgers for dinner.

The grill master at work

Please note the trash can with the bungee cord in the back - 

that's for the raccoons and bears!

The instructions for the cabin gave us several warnings about wildlife in the area, including the neighborhood's resident raccoon, Smoky.  While he didn't appear as we cooked, someone else did.

Yes, honey, I see our new cat friend

I'll take my burger medium rare, please!

Dinner proceeded without further incident, and before indulging in some cake and heading to bed, we tried out the cabin's hot tub, which was delightful.  While we soaked, the motion sensor lights on our neighbor's cabin came on, and we clearly saw two raccoons dart past our rental car.  Wildlife, indeed!  Before too long, we called it a night, full of delicious food and happy to be in Tennessee!

Up next, we spend some wonderful time with family and survey our land!

Later!

Amy