The Smoky Mountains

The Smoky Mountains. It’s the most visited national park in the US and yet, I’d never heard of it. The variety of flora and fauna in the park is exceptional and this vegetation is also the reason the area is (almost?) always covered in a blueish smoky haze.

You’ll find over 800 miles of hiking trails in the Smokies, including a part of the Appalachian Trail. Several road close during wintertime, so ask the very helpful Sugarlands Visitors Center (near Gaitlinburg) about current conditions.

Keep your eagle eyes open for black bears. We didn’t spot them unfortunately, but 1500 are living in the park so you could get lucky. Besides bears, there are plenty of deer running around and some wild turkeys (those guys are big!)

Smoky Mountains: Cades Cove

An 11-mile road takes you past historic buildings like log houses, churches and barns. They were established in the 1800’s and this drive surely offers you a glance into the past.

Gaitlinburg

Gaitlinburg: a charming winter wonderland. Part of the Pigeon Forge Winterfest, this city is everything you’d imagine when hearing ‘a cozy, pituresque Chrismassy mountain village’.

Gaitlinburg is as diverse as it is snug and there’s something to find for everyone. Whether the little streets and squares, fun attractions (like minigolf, laser tag, escape rooms and many more), the outdoor stuff like tubing, ziplining or hiking, restaurants, wineries and breweries, or a good Ole Smoky Moonshine tasting interest you: you’ve got it!

So, what’s definitely fun to visit in Gaitlinburg?

Ole Smoky Moonshine

Early moonshiners, trying to turn their corn into profitable unaged whisky, distilled this alcoholic drink illegally (and therefore secretly at night). Lucky us: It’s now openly available in some parts of the Appalachian area.

My absolute favorite: buckeye.

Also good to know: for $5 you get 12 (very delicious) sample shots of Moonshine and a $5 coupon you can use at checkout!

Dick’s Last Resort – where sarcasm and dicks rule

The guy at the door was grumpy, the waitress chased me away from my table because I was apparently sitting at the wrong one (She: “Not here, THERE!” Me: “Excuse me for being alive, gosh”) and the floor was messy. I was just about to tell my travel buddy that they sure are particularly unfriendly in this place, when he got back from the bar with the message ‘Sarcasm and being a dick is their thing’. Although you gotta toughen up a little (warning: strong language), it sure makes for some laughs.

Treasure Quest Minigolf

18 holes, 1 treasure quest, glow-in-the-dark coolness and 1 terrible loss for me. Isn’t minigolf dated? Yes. A bit cheesy? Sure. Did we love it? Absolutely.

Price: about $10 per person.

Read more:
New Orleans and Beignets

Yes, beignets are in the title. Not Bourbon Street, or the fact that jazz was born here, or voodoo. Or that New Orleans is the place where Mardi Gras is held. No, beignets.

Ever since Chef (if you haven’t seen this feelgood movie, it’s about time), the one thing that stuck to my mind were its signature deepfried dough balls.

So, you’re in New Orleans. What’s there to see?

Bourbon Street

This street, ruled by party people and fluorescent green colored cocktails named ‘Hand Grenades’, feels a lot like the American Khao San Road to me. It smells a bit like horses – Mounted Police is present – and puke. The neon lights, live music and occassional jazz bar in the middle of buildings with music blasting out, give this Rue Bourbon its particular charm.

French Quarter

The French Quarter undoubtedly has good and not so good areas. Especially Royal Street and its side streets are so so pretty. And yes, the holiday lights do indeed give it that little extra.

Jon Liong provided all pictures in this post. A full time traveler, skilled photographer, dedicated boyfriend and Po’boy lover. Jon also still owes us his review of Johnny’s Po-Boys, where he ate a drippin’ roast beef po’boy and found the cheapest ATM ever.

Also read:
Santa Fe

By 9am we’re on our way, with Triple J’s Smokehouse on the GPS. After a quick search for top Houston BBQ we found this authentic place for some extraordinary Texas food.

” If your face and hands don’t get messy eating BBQ.. You’re doing it all wrong.” 

– That Texan guy from that BBQ place

Our order of ribs, brisket and something called a Ravens Bowl (fries, chopped beef and cheese) is not disappointing and húge! While Dutchies say ‘Evertyhing is bigger in the US’, Americans claim that ‘Everything is bigger in Texas’. So you can only imagine…

Tomorrow more about N’erlins, NOLA, Paris of the South, The Big Easy, .. and its yum yum beignets! 

Read more after Houston:
New Orleans

You’re in San Antonio. And then? What’s there to visit?

The Alamo

This is where the well-known Battle of the Alamo took place, and is basically the beginning of Texas as we know it.

River walk

The second must-do in San Antonio. We were the lucky spectators of the over 100.000 holiday lights, which gave this 2-mile walk a magical feel. You’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants, with the greatest views 🙂 And bonus: You can take your beer to go along on your walk.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Tomorrow’s an 8-hour drive to New Orleans, where a warm Marriott will be having its kingsize bed ready for us. That’ll be 2 relaxing nights of no setting up camp.

& we’re very excited about a barbecue lunchstop in Houston – we’re talking Texas here!

Also interesting:
Santa Fe