If you wander past the restrooms in the Reagan Plaza on the Gatlinburg strip, you'll see a paved driveway leading up a hill. A short walk up the driveway and you'll see the oldest cemetery in Gatlinburg. This cemetery is part of the Gatlinburg ghost tour and goes steeply up the hill with graves dating back to 1830. One of the more interesting headstones has the first name "Mourning" on it, which is strange to say the least. Some of the other headstones are hand carved. The cemetery isn't noticed by many, but is hardly a stone's throw from the busy main street.
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Roadside attractions are known for using hyperbole and strange gimmicks for getting people to stop and spend their money. One of the strangest in Pigeon Forge is Gatorland, known as the souvenir store with the giant alligator over the entrance advertising "live alligators" inside. The truth is there is one caiman inside the store. It's a big caiman, but it is definitely not an alligator and there is definitely only one. On the other hand it's a free animal exhibit and Gatorland's prices on souvenirs isn't terrible. Just keep in mind "live alligators" translates to "one live caiman".
Hiking Meigs Mountain Trail is a little harder than I originally anticipated. It's a steady uphill that plunges sharply down into the Kings Branch Camp at about 3 miles. The issue is you have to turn around and climb back up that 500 foot descent.
Being in the Elkmont area this is a good wildflower trail in the spring. Lots of violets, some Fraser's sedge, and the only place I've seen trout lilies in the park thus far. Trout lilies are so slow growing they take seven years to flower, so finding large areas of them is nice.
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AuthorA librarian who likes to travel and experience life. CategoriesArchives
June 2022
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