Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

A Perfect Fall Day in Wears Valley, Tennessee

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I’m thinking of phasing out Photo Fridays by the end of the year—mainly, because I think they’re getting a bit stale, and freeing up my Fridays would make room for other posts—but until then, I’ve still got a handful of photo essays to share from recent travels, starting with our recent long weekend to the Great Smoky Mountains with SVV’s family.

Smoky Mountains

Now, the Smokies are no new destination for me. I grew up just three hours east of the country’s most visited national park, and both my grandparents grew up in this neck of the woods (in Knoxville, but close). It is, truly, the loveliest place in Tennessee, wouldn’t you agree?

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

SVV and I were just outside of the park when we visited Blackberry Farm this past summer, but prior to that Jade and I made our base in Gatlinburg on our Smokies sojourn last spring; this time around, the VVs and I booked a three-bedroom cabin off of Highway 321, somewhere halfway between Townsend and Pigeon Forge.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

This particular visit was different, though, as we had a toddler in tow—meaning, no late nights out and no visits to moonshine distilleries.

Lucy in the Smokies

It also meant limiting the time we spent in the car, which proved particularly challenging on a weekend during peak foliage, as everyone had the same idea to head to the Smokies as we did. The drive out to Cades Cove? FORGET ABOUT IT.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

So rather than braving the bumper-to-bumper conditions and spending hours in the car, we took my friend Marci’s advice and drove just 15 minutes from our cabin into Wears Valley for a leisurely hike.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

And when I say hike, I should actually say a “walk-for-two-minutes-then-sit-for-five-as-Lucy-picks-up-ever-rock-and-stick-on-the-path stroll.”

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Who, me? Trouble? Never! Just look at that innocent face.

Lucy in the Smokies

It was actually a perfect afternoon activity with a toddler. Wide, open spaces for her to explore, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Smokies-7

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

And beautiful colors for us adults to enjoy.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

On the flip side, mere days after we left, the Smokies had its first snow! Not that I would have minded seeing this vision in white. But still, I’m more of a warm weather kind of gal.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

I definitely recommend the Smokies during the fall months, but would advise anyone traveling there in September or October who wants to keep their sanity to go during the week rather than on the weekends if possible.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Lucy said to tell y’all she agrees.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

What’s your favorite place to see fall foliage?

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

COMMENTS
  • November 7, 2014

    Never ever seen such stunning fall photos before! And that little one is sooooo cute. 🙂 In India, we don’t get to see such beauty during autumn. But this is just too amazing!

  • November 10, 2014
    Helen

    Aw, I’ll miss photo Fridays from around the world!

    • November 10, 2014

      Oh my posts will still be as photo-heavy as ever 😉 Trying to figure out new ways to do photo essays as some people have said they tire of Photo Fridays (and also just sprinkling them throughout will give me Fridays open for more wordy posts if I have any).

      Thank you for always being so kind!

  • November 14, 2014

    Really that nice pic with nice place.
    Thanks to share with us

  • November 14, 2014
    M

    Wow, such pretty photos! Lucy is such a cutie!

  • November 15, 2014

    The Smoky Mountains are quite possibly one of the most lovely places to go on a fall hike in America. You are lucky to live where you do!

  • November 26, 2014

    Incredible photos – such a gorgeous place! Lucy is such a little cutie! 🙂 x

  • November 27, 2014

    Great shots especially with lucy (the pics looks more beautiful)…

  • December 8, 2014

    amazing

  • February 11, 2015

    You have very technical stuff and it gives me information. Thank you

  • February 17, 2015

    Wow! These photos are truly stunning, I had no idea leaves could look like that… In England it just tends to be, well, wet!

  • February 26, 2015

    One more amazing article on this blog. Thanks for sharing.

  • March 5, 2015

    Awesome pics of Wears Valley. I thought of my daughter when I see Lucy. Makes me want to go home right away.

    Thanks for sharing Kristin

  • March 31, 2015

    Nice post dear . I like your post thanks for sharing .

  • April 22, 2015

    Thanks for this great and informative article, It’s very helpful for peoples. I’ve bookmark this post.. Thanks for sharing this….

  • May 16, 2015

    Its informative i like it. It’s a good article. Its more attractive and effective for people.

  • June 18, 2015

    I like the photo quality. It makes the article more interesting.

  • June 29, 2015

    Awesome.

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