Huge post ahead!
December 20-24 was spent in Pigeon Forge, TN. Sometime in September the idea started being tossed around to go to the mountains for Christmas. Next thing we knew, we had a cabin booked in Pigeon Forge. My brother’s girlfriend Logan knew someone who owned it so we were able to rent it from her. Our crew consisted of Mom, Dad, Cole, Logan and myself. David didn’t join us this trip. Boo!
We left Friday the 20th and drove the 8+ hours to TN. It was a tight squeeze with the 5 of us in my Dad’s truck but we made it!
Cute travel attire optional.
The cabin was called ‘Awesome View’ and it lived up to its name. We overlooked Pigeon Forge and loved getting to see the lights at night.
The house across the street looked like it was going to just topple over!
I was on vacation but that didn’t mean I was off from the ‘gym’! I made use of my surroundings!
Saturday was spent exploring Cade’s Cove. It’s basically a couple hours tour through the Great Smoky Mountains. We went on a short hike and ended up getting to see a bear tucked up on a hill!
No zoom on these deer. They were that close to the truck!
It was so beautiful in the valley. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
We ate lunch at the Pottery House and it was sooo yummy!
We hung out at the cabin that night and had some fun games of foosball.
Sunday we got up and tried to figure out what to do because it was rainy and yucky out. We trekked over to Sevierville Bass Pro so Cole could buy a head strap for his Go Pro camera, which he’d be needing for skiing the next day. Our original plans were to go hang out at WonderWorks for a lack of a better idea, but after stopping by the information center for the National Park, we decided to go exploring instead. This was way more Dad’s speed (he loathes amusement parks/crowds) and I’m so glad he wanted to go because IT WAS AN AWESOME DAY.
In order to get to the Smoky Mountain National Park we had to drive through Gatlinburg. Such a cute quaint little town. Much better than downtown Pigeon Forge, which was like the Panama City strip. Too many lights and arcades.
We had so much fun driving through the park. We saw wild life, raging rivers, and got to stand in two states at once. You know, just your average Sunday activities!
Once we got to the top of the peak, it was time for a snack break. Boiled peanuts, cheese, crackers and meats were on the menu. Yum-o! Oh, by the way, it had been unseasonably warm up until this point in the trip. Mid 60s was the typical high the previous days. It still was about the same on this day however when we got up the mountain, it finally dropped into the lowers 40s, upper 30s. It was soo cold but it was about time! Who wants to go on a mountain Christmas trip and it be warm? Yuck.
It drizzled off and on all day but it didn’t stop us. We forged on!
We spent the afternoon/early evening wandering around Gatlinburg.
Monday was our last day and the one we saved for skiing since it was supposed to finally be cold. And cold it was! We drove to Ober Gatlingburg to ski. It was a high tourist place with blown snow because it wasn’t cold enough for the real stuff, but we still had an absolute blast. It misted nearly all day and was in the mid-30s but we just pretended it was snow and made the best of it!
Go Pro wearers!
Cole wore his Go Pro camera for most of the day and my Dad and I took turns wearing it too. He compiled a great video of clips from the day but at 21 minutes long, it had to be posted to YouTube. If you want to watch some hilarious falls and goobers on skis, check it out!
Gray Christmas Vacation // Skiing at Oberlin Gatlinburg
I am proud to say I was the only one who didn’t fall all day! For only my second time skiing I did pretty darn good!
I had so much fun and I really want to go skiing again soon. Maybe next winter. Who knows!
Monday night we went out with a bang with Dad treating us to dinner at a restaurant called Bullfish. It was absolutely delicious. I had a salmon and avocado salad (don’t be fooled…I didn’t eat healthy at all the other part of the trip) and it was divine as well!
Oh and how about a perfect ending of a little snow flurries? Barely!
Thanks Dad for chauffeuring us around the whole trip and Mom for footing the gas! I had so much fun and loved making the memories!
Wooo!! I love Gatlinburg-- my family has had a cabin there since the 50s (obviously I didn't get in on the action til the '80s, but I've enjoyed it since then)! Seeing your pictures was like catching a glimpse of 'home.' PS. For the record, I've spent practically the last 24 hours (except the hours I was sleeping) reading the entire archives of your blog. So now I'm all caught up on your life and we can be even better Instagram besties and now I'll stay current on your blog, too, so we can be blog besties as well. Just FYI! ;)
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