Cade’s Cove (Smokies, part 3)

Our last day in the Smokies was spent at Cade’s Cove. This is an 11-mile loop that can be driven or biked, and where you can see a lot of beautiful scenery. I wouldn’t recommend taking this loop if you are in a hurry, as traffic often moves very slowly, especially if there is some interesting form of wildlife making an appearance. This was at one time a settlement, and there are a number of old houses, churches and other buildings as well as cemeteries that can be seen. You can pull off the road and get out of the car to tour some of them. This is a corn mill that is still in operation. They run it while you watch and then sell the finished product. There are several hiking trails through the woods that you can take (most of which don't allow pets, as we found out when we got stopped in our tracks by a park ranger). There was one area where we were able to get the dogs out and take a little hike into the woods, though. As you drive through, you are likely to see some of these. If you are lucky, you might see one of these. We were lucky. Blessed, rather. Not only to find ourselves just a few feet away from this apparently-friendly fellow, but with two days of nice weather, being surrounded by some of God’s most breathtaking handiwork in every direction and a generally fantastic trip.