Townsend, TN
The third and least known entrance to the Smoky Mtn. National Park
7/7/08 - 7/7/08
91 °F
Russell was feeling better this morning and didn't want to go to the doctor. After showers and tylenol, we were on our way to Townsend. It is about 15 miles west of Maryville and like an undiscovered paradise. After the bumper to bumper traffic and overdone tourist commercialism in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Cherokee, I could hardly believe this place still exists. There is not a spot in the small town (255 permanent residents) where you don't have a horseshoe view of the Smokies. There are several quaint eating cafes, a few antique shops, bank, post office, laundromat, real estate offices, lodges, grocery store, etc. They are so spread out with green areas in between that you hardly know you are in a town. There are several RV parks along mountain streams and several all day tubing operations in the rocky mountain streams. I can't wait to go back to stay and spend a few days floating down the streams. It is only 5-6 miles up a back road to our favorite Cades Cove so would be perfect here for a longer visit.
We stopped at Walmart on our way back to the RV park for a couple groceries and Russell is now napping while I compute. We drove back through Maryville on our return trip. It is such a beautiful (just-right size, too) town that we feel sure we will spend a lot of time here in the summers.
I shared the driving on the way up here from Florida, but Russell has been doing most of the mountain driving. I would be glad to help but I think he feels it is the MAN thing to do. Ha I helped with the hookups when we returned so I would know where everything was located in case I ever need to do it all. Russell generally hooks up the outside and I set up the interior. I used to do all the hookups when I full-timed in the Bounder so know the principles involved just need to know the locations on a different unit.
Cleaning house is about a fifteen minute process-30 if a major housecleaning. This is definitely my choice of a way to live-new scenery frequently and a lot of togetherness with Russell. We have such a great time together---must have been twins in a different life since we are so much alike and love all the same things.
Tonight we will probably just take a short walk after dinner and have a quiet evening. Tomorrow we leave for the Green Mountain RV resort in Lenoir, NC. We have reservations there for 4 days but will try to get an extra day when we arrive.
Posted by Gypsylog 7/7/08 15:57 Archived in USA Tagged tourist_sites
Hi Shirley... like you blog! Good going. Hope Buck is feeling better by now. Glad he decided he was well enough to avoid the doctor. Tell him hi for Gini and I.
Sounds like the Maryville/Townsend part of Tennessee is a beautiful place and also the kind Gini and I like so much.
Have fun on your way to North Carolina today (I guess it is
). Keep on blogging! George
7/8/08 by SeaRay33