The Smokies surpassed my expectations! Beautiful, green, scenic – and less traffic than I first imagined. After a slow morning (binge watched all available Season 2 episodes of Ted Lasso last night!), Addie and I headed over to Great Smoky Mountains.

We drove up to Clingmans Dome and, while Addie rested her tired bones, I hiked to Andrews Bald. There is something about hiking in a forest, my friends, that fills my soul and lifts my spirit.

After that five mile hike, I headed up to Clingmans Dome, a steep climb. Surprisingly, the only people to pass me on the climb were four twenty-somethings (and they hadn’t just finished the Andrews Bald hike!). Years ago, a wooden tower allowed visitors to partake of a 360 degree view. Now, a concrete tower looms over the highest point in the park.

Although I seriously considered a hike to a waterfall after Clingmans Dome, a sign on the road to the trailhead said narrow, single lane, no RVs…and it was already after 5pm…so I made the choice to come back to my campground.