When to See the Leaves Change in the Smokies

Travel & Leisure magazine, REI sporting retail store, and Smoky Mountains - what a great combination!  As a Travel & Leisure subscriber and a REI member, I was excited to see an online article by Travel & Leisure choose the Smoky Mountains as a Top 12 Best Affordable Adventure & quote an REI employee.  The article "Go biking, hiking, and boating among the fall colors -all for a great price" by Diane Mehta (Sept. '09) describes the Smoky Mountain autumn beauty:

"The reds, yellows, and oranges of the Great Smoky Mountains explode all around you as you hike the Appalachian Trail up Clingmans Dome, then ridge-walk through hardwood forests, emerging on top of treeless mountains.  Fog floats among the trees and settles in the valley, adding a mystical feel without diminishing the powerful colors.  Says Tim Loftus of REI Adventures, which operates several fall hiking trips in the area:  It's like a fireworks show out there."

So when should you book your cabin rental at Lightning Bug Lodge to see the "fireworks"?  According to NPS.gov (National Park Service), it depends on the elevation:

Highest elevation:  mid Sept.
High elevation (above 4,000 ft):  early to mid Oct. - drive Clingmans Dome Rd
Mid to low elevation:  mid Oct. to early Nov.

For the full article, visit Travel & Leisure website:
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-affordable-fall-adventures/1

Catch your own meal in the Smokies, An easy fishing adventure

According to the NPS, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park has 2,115 miles of streams and protects one of the last wild trout habitats in the eastern US.  Fishing is permitted with license except in Bear Creek (NC) and Lynn Camp Prong (TN).

However, if you have young children and want to be certain to catch a fish and eat it too, check out English Mountain Trout Farm.  A friend who stayed at Lightning Bug Lodge (LBL) recommended the experience.  Go for the experience, delicious fish, and friendly service.  Don't go there for fancy facilities or a fast or cheap meal.  Their slogan is "you hook em'. we cook em'".

The kids had a blast, so proud of their catch.  All the cameras came out.  The kids even had interest in watching the fish be prepared for cooking.  It's a great lesson that food comes from our natural environment (vs. a plastic container from Wal-Mart).  Plus the owner Charlie and his wife Angie took the time to sit down with us at the dinner table and teach us about the benefits of fresh fish vs. frozen imports.  Now that's edutainment the kids will remember.

It's difficult to find English Mountain Trout Farm online except for it's #1 rating on tripadvisor.com.  So give Charlie a call (865) 429-5553 and get off the beaten trail to 291 Blowing Cave Road, Sevierville, TN 37876.  Consider making it a day trip and tour nearby Tuckaleechee Caverns.  Search "caves" for my article on Tuckaleechee.

Smoky Mountains, Average Weather by Month

My friends would like to find the ideal time to visit the Smoky Mountains National Park.  It's an ideal place to visit, no matter what the season.  Determine what activity you want to do the most then pick your month.  This article will help give you direction with average Pigeon Forge, TN temperatures per month, thanks to weatherchannel.com.

1.  Go skiing & enjoy the peaceful snow covered mountains - Choose Winter

Smoky Mountains National Park is nearby the Ober Gatlinburg ski resort, offering skiing, ice skating, and tube riding.  Check out the LBLodge Smoky Mountain channel on You Tube for video.

http://www.youtube.com/user/LBLodgeSmokyMountain#p/c/E240D6EF56DF9040/1/SMn4iRxN69E40/1/SMn4iRxN69E

If you would rather watch the snow from a cozy indoor cabin, rent our cabin and enjoy the fireplace.  Just don't forget your boots, winter gear, and can food:

Dec.  27 - 50 degrees (average low/high)
Jan.    25- 46

Feb.  27-51

2.  Enjoy nature's flora, waterfalls, & less crowded hikes - Choose Spring

According to National Parks Traveler, "As Yellowstone National Park is to wildlife, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is to flora", check out the full article for hiking ideas to see spring flowers 

http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/04/where-look-spring-wildflowers-great-smoky-mountains-national-park; The LBL cabin has quite the variety of plants & birds in the backyard, enjoy it from our wrap-around porch.  Bring a jacket & umbrella, May has more precipitation than any other month on average.  Consider indoor activities too like Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.

March 34-61 degrees

April   43-69

May   53-77

3.  Get wet & wild in the sunshine - Choose Summer

The most visited season of the year when all the roads in the National Park are open and vacationers play in the rivers.  It's a natural playground offering white water rafting and tubing (check out links on right to "Tube down the river" or "Raft down the River").  Also, you'll have more amusement park options including Dollywoods Splash County water park.  Temperatures cool down as you ascend up the mountain, so take a break from the heat in our mountain cabin.  Bring your sunscreen, hat, picnic supplies, and water.

June  61-84 degrees

July   65-87

Aug   64-86

4.  Photograph the foliage & learn mountain history - Choose Fall

Looking for gorgeous pictures?  Shoot the changing leaf colors in Cades Cove and throughout the National Park.  Learn more about the mountain history and culture through local festivals including 1) Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival, 2) Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival, 3) Townsend Fall Festival & Old Timers Day, 4) Sevier County Fair, 5)Old Mill Square Heritage Day, 6) Trout Tournament, 7) Woodcarvers Festival and multiple car shows http://www.smokymountainharvestfestival.com/

Sept. 57-81 degrees

Oct.  43-71

Nov. 35-59

What is your favorite season in the Smokies and why?

I'm Not a Frog, but I'm Thankful & Green

In such a beautiful world, we have so much to be thankful for and opportunities to recognize others.  This article recognizes the employees at rental management companies and hopes to inspire green action. 

We wanted to choose upscale cabin rental management company, so our guests would have the best service nearby.  Cabin management employees manage Lightning Bug Lodge and Indigo Moon Lodge on a daily basis.  Besides reservations, they have a full-time office and maintenance staff, so you can get help any day of the week.

When giving a gift, I also think about how I can help the environment or society.  Our gift this season was re-usable water bottles.  Perfect for hikes and keeping plastic botttles out of the landfill. 

Did you know that only 27% of plastic bottles get recycled in the US (according to Earth911.com)?  And the number of bottles we use keeps climbing.  In 1976, the average American drank 1.6 gallons of bottled water.  By 2006, it increased to 28.3 gallons!  You can make a difference, choose a re-usable water bottle.  For other recycling facts, visit Earth911.com.http://earth911.com/recycling/plastic/plastic-bottle-recycling-facts/

Mingo Falls & 7 More Waterfalls Near the Smoky Mountains

The power and peace of the waterfalls, perhaps that's what draws us to visit them.  If you only go to the waterfalls within walking distance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park visitor centers or the ones on all the postcards, you might miss the peace.  Seek the trail less traveled. 

One I'd recommend is Mingo Falls.  It's a bit difficult to find the entrance to the trail (small country roads & few signs), but once you arrive, you'll note that there's less than a dozen parking spots and there's still room for your car (especially small crowds if during the week).  Once at the Mingo Falls Campground on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, you only need to hike 0.4 miles.  It's considered moderately difficult because it includes 161 rough steps built along a creek, sometimes wet and muddy.  But when you get to the top, it's worth it.  Watch 120 ft. of water cascading down while standing on bridge.  Hear the peace.  Smell the fresh air.  Feel the breeze.

There's many waterfalls near the Smoky Mountains, here's 8 more to add to your "to see" list:
1.  Mingo Falls (as pictured above)
2.  Juney Whank Falls- moderate 0.8 trail to 90 ft. falls, from Bryson City drive to Deep Creek Campground
3.  Abrams Falls - moderate 5 mile hike to a 20 ft. waterfall, short but powerful with its large volume of water, near stop #10 Cades Cove
4.  Ramsey Cascades - difficult 8 miles, but rewarding with the park's tallest waterfall (100 ft), 4.7 mile drive first from the Greenbrier entrance (TN)
5.  Meigs Falls - 0 hike, drive along Little River Rd and stop at the pulloff 13 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center (TN)
6.  Hen Wallow Falls - moderate 4.4 mile hike from Gabes Mountain Trail, park at Cosby Picnic area
7.  Indian Creek/Tom Branch Falls - easy 1.6 mile hike, 2 falls for 1 hike special, Indian Creek Falls = 25 ft. tall, also from Deep Creek Campground
8.  Mouse Creek Falls - moderate 4 milke hike, includes Midnight Hole, a picturesque pool below a 6' falls; exit I-40 at Waterville Rd. (#451) turn left after crossing the Pigeon River and proceed 2.3 miles

Tip:  See photos before the trip to choose which one you want to visit.  I've added a photo gallery of each of the 8 falls on flickr for you http://www.flickr.com/photos/krenda/galleries/

Smoky Mountains Featured in 1,000 Places to See

If you attempt to visit all 1,000 places in the book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patrica Schultz, then you'll be taking a trip to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  She describes the diversity and popularity of the park, plus she adds a connection to a poet named Sgt. Joyce Kilmer, "From the inn's lofty perspective one understands how such magnificent landscape has long inspired religious communities and the local poet Joyce Kilmer, who wrote the simple ode "I think that I shall never see / a poem lovely as a tree."

"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
An lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear,
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bossom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
The book also notes the amazing number of tree species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (120), even compared to other National Parks (Yellowstone = 20).

You can connect with the poet & trees by visiting the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest:  
     Where:  part of the Nantahala National Forest in NC, near Robbinsville, NC
approx. 75 miles from Pigeon Forge, 60 miles from Townsend, or 40 miles from Cherokee, NC. 

Plus 6 Smoky Mountain Hikes Under 1 Mile

Travel & Leisure magazine list the Smoky Mountains as one of America's Best Family Getaways.  In the article "15 Can't Miss Adventures from Sea to Shining Sea" (March '10), author Kathryn O'Sha-Evans gives easy hikes as an example of why the Smokies is a great family getaway.

Here's 6 family friendly hikes, each 1 mile or less:

1.  Clingman's Dome Tower, 1 mile, easy
+ paved and accessible with wheelchair or stroller
+ climb to TN highest peak (6,643 ft) for view

2.  Cosby Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN, 1 mile, easy loop
+ virgin forest

3.  Cove Hardwoods Nature Trail, Gatinliburg, TN, 1 mile
+ old growth hardwood forest and flowers

4.  Elkmont Nature Trail, 0.8 mile
+ changing landscape
+ clues to human activity from long ago

5.  Noah Bud Ogle Trail, Gatlinburg, TN, 0.7 mile loop
+ easy access to historic structures
+ connects to streamside trail

6.  Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN, 0.5 mile
+ easy for persons in wheelchair
+ interpretive plaques
+ tactile exhibits & audio tapes (available at visitor center) for visually challenged

Of these 6 trails, which one is your family's favorite and why?

For more information on the trails, read Falcon Guide Best Easy Day Hikes:  Great Smoky Mountain National Park Guide Book by Randy Johnson.

What are your favorite hikes in the Smoky Mountains and why?  Please leave a comment.  For full Best Family Getaways article, visit Travel & Leisure website:
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-family-getaways-2010/10

For Nature Lovers, The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is a great place to enjoy wildflowers and teach children about them.  My child's alphabet book S is for S'mores, a Camping Alphabet, recognizes the GSMNP for it's wildflowers.  It specifically calls out an annual event, "Each spring wildflowers cover the land with a rainbow of color depending on the area, elevation, precipitation, and other conditions...The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual event of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park."  It made me wonder whether the week long festival still exist since the book publishing (2007).  In 2011, The Spring Wildflower Pilgimage will celebrate it's 61st year.  Past events included a variety of flora & fauna programs:

wildflower photography, wildflower walk,

big trees walk, fern walk

birding for the experienced, beginners photographic workshop, organic gardening, black bear & wild hog walk,

salamander foray, aquatic insects walk, spider walk

http://www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org/wildflower/index.cfm

Visit the website for more details or better, yet, go visit the 2011 festival in April.  Most programs are located within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  If you've attended the festival, please comment and let everyone know what you liked best.

Memories at Mingus Mill

We met "Flat Lauren" at Mingus Mill, a two dimensional paper doll cut out with the picture of a very loved granddaughter.  We met her grandfather carefully taking photograph after photograph of Flat Lauren proped along the 200 ft. wooden flume, so she could be a part of the mountain memories.  My kids showed interest and so he took photos of the kids with Flat Lauren.

You can be a part of the mountain memories, bring you whole family to Lightning Bug Lodge and visit Mingus Mill.
Interesting facts:
*Historical grist mill built in 1886 located at it's original site
*Cost $600 to build it within 3 months
*Largest mill in the Smokies, serving approx. 200 families
*Able to grind more than six bushels (approx. 350 lbs.) per hr.
*Uses a water power turbine instead of a waterwheel

Last year it was in operation.  This year a part broke and the Mingus Mill volunteer eagerly awaited a government bill to pass for the funding to fix it.  You can still buy corn meal at the mill and help support the non-profit.  We all enjoyed listening to the mill history and walking along the water flowing down the miltrace.
Tip:  Watch for the signs.  The mill is not part of the Mountain Farm at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, but it's only a half mile north.

Which park is known as the "Wildflower National Park"?

Yes, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known as the "Wildflower National Park".  And the GSMNP is listed as one of 501 must visit natural wonders in the whole wide world.  My 2007 edition of the book 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders recognizes the park's unique wildflower diversity, "The park is noted for the wealth of its wildflowers, including spectacular meadow flowers, orchids, rhododendrons, and azaleas..."

Why does the GSMNP earn such recognition for wildflowers?  Because more flowering plants are found in GSMNP than any other North American national park (over 1,660 kinds). 

The variety in elevation and rain helps the diversity and can determine when you will best see a variety, for example:  The flame azalea peaks in April & May in low elevation, but at higher elevation, look for them in June & July.

I took this wildflower photo during July.  If you know the names of these flowers, please comment.

8 Easy to Moderate Hikes in the Smoky Mountains

Sitting on a tranquil beach outside our Club Med cabin in Moorea, we were used to being surrounded by happy honeymooners.  However, one afternoon, we clearly heard yelling.  Turns out our happy couple in the cabin next door just returned from a bike ride...a much longer than expected one around the island.  According to the groom, he just wanted his bride to have fun, but half way around the island she was hysterical that she was tired and wanted to turn around.  He was caught in a no win situation. 

Laurel Falls

Many newlyweds choose the Smoky Mountains for their honeymoon.  My advice is to choose an easy to moderate hike if you both haven't been hiking in awhile.  I read advice to choose a trail 5 miles or less considering the average Great Smoky Mountain National Park hiker walks approx. 1.5 miles per hour.  When I arranged our first trip to GSMNP with my extended family of various ages, we followed the advice and choose the easiest waterfall hike (Laurel Falls).

Here's 8 easy to moderate hikes:
1.  Laurel Falls:  2.5 miles, easiest access to waterfall, paved trail, reward - 60-75 ft. waterfall + see small white galax flowers in July; trail built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935
2.  Clingman's Dome Tower:  only 1 mile, wide paved and cool temperature (10-20 degrees cooler than the lowlands), reward - reach the 3rd highest mountain eas of the Mississippi (6,643 ft.) and gain a panoramic view with 20 mile view
3.  Baskins Creek Falls:  3.8 miles, peaceful since less visited than others (especially Laurel Falls)
30 ft. hollow below the bluff
4.  Andrews Bald:  3.5 miles near Clingmans Dome, old creek bed trail adds a challenge to staying steady, reward - the view, ends at the highest bald (high elevation grassy meadow) in the Smokies + hike in 2 states in one day (TN & NC), +azalea and rhododendrom in late spring
5.  Abrams Falls:  5 miles close to Cades Cove, mostly level course, reward - one of the largest falls in the park + see 2 historic houses along the way (Elijah Oliver House, John Oliver House) + cool stream along the way, trail named after Cherokee Chief Abram
6.  Alum Cave Bluff:  4.6 miles, gradual path up, reward- multiple landmarks including 1) natural arching "Arch Rock", 2) Huggins Hell, 3) Inspiration Bluff (view of Little Pigeon Rivers Upper Basin), 4) Alum Cave - not really a cave, but rather a massive ledge of black slate
7.  Rainbow Falls:  5.4 miles, climbing up with switchbacks over Le Conte Creek adds a challenge, reward - takes you to the highest waterfall (80 ft)
8.  Grotto Falls:  2.4 miles, easy slope and close to Gatlinburg, reward - only trail where hikers can walk behind the falls

Cabin Review #2: Niece Weekend in the Smokies

To Billy, Trisha, Shelli, Allison, Damien, and Rylie,

Thank you so much for being guests at Lightning Bug Lodge.  Your story of your Nieces Weekend warmed our hearts.  What a great family to spend quality time together in the Smokies. 

We love our nieces too and have great memories of spending time with them in the cabin; we are so glad you had a fun time too.  Here's what Billy, Trisha, Shelli, Allison, Damien, and Rylie had to say about their experience at Lightning Bug Lodge:

" Feb. 18 -20, 2011

Niece Weekend Getaway

What a great place to spend the weekend watching movies by the fireplace, playing pool and foosball, big family dinners, and taking lots of pictures.

Great way to connect with the kids and get away from home for a couple of days.  Beautiful and cozy."

Billy, Trishia, Shelli, Allison, Damien, and Rylie, we wish you the best and welcome you return to Lightning Bug Lodge to build more memories together.

Walk through History at Mountain Farm Museum

Even if you stay in TN, you can be in NC and back in the same day.  I'd suggest visiting the NC entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, especially the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.  It's only 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC.

You can walk through the history, numerous buildings built in the late 19th century:
1) John Davis Cabin - constructed with the rare chestnut timber
2) Enloe Barn - only moved 200 yards from its native site, includes 16,000 hand split shingles

3) Messer Applehouse - originally partially underground to help insulate the apples

+ meathouse, Baxter/Jenkins Chickenhouse, Blacksmith Shop, Springhouse (for refrigeration), corn cribs, and a sorghum press.

The Mountain Farm Museum is free and located near the scenic Oconaluftee River.  The Cherokee considered the waters of the river sacred.  If you have the time, take the Oconaluftee River Trail, an easy 3 mile trail along the river.  It is especially recommended to hike during the spring, the time in which hikers have identified over 40 species of wildflowers.

Tip:  Consider timing your trip for the 3rd Sat. of Sept.  It's the Mountain Lifestyle Festival and you'll be treated to seeing people make cider and lye soap.  Plus you can visit a working blacksmith.

Cabin Review #1: Cabin Love

One of our cabin guests created this picture and testimonial.  I love the beauty and simplicity of the message.  This note means so much to our family; we really cherish this note.

According to the thesaurus & dictionary, love means so much:  admire, adulate, be attached to, be capticated by, be crazy about, be enamored of, be enchanted by, be fascinated with, be fond of, care for, cherish, choose, delight, dote on, fall for, fancy, glorify, hold dear, hold high, lose ones heart to, prefer, prize, think the world of, thrive with, treasure, wild for...

We hope you will fall in love with Lightning Bug Lodge and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park too.  Give love a chance, escape to the Smokies with your loved ones.

Bunk Beds at Your Smoky Mountain Cabin

 Lightning Bug Lodge is designed to be family friendly.  As owners with children, we understand the desire to both create family memories with the kids and find time as a couple.  Sometimes four or more in one hotel room doesn't always match the vision of a relaxing vacation. 

Come to Lightning Bug Lodge.  We had two bunk beds custom made locally, so you and your spouse can choose "Mountain View Serenity" (upstairs bedroom) or "Forest Life" (downstairs bedroom) bedrooms and have the kids sleep close, but outside your room.  The upstairs has a bunk with a twin over a Queen.  The downstairs has a twin over a twin.

The kids think it's cool too. When my kids have their cousins, they always head to the bunk beds and it's always a bunch of chatter and chuckles.

4 Swallowtails in the Smokies

When you are near the Smoky Mountains, you learn to look all around you.  Because when you submerse yourself in the forest and look up, you might find a delightful scene or animal, not just another traffic light.  I took this photo of the Spicebush Swallowtail in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, but I saw one resting on a branch near our cabin too.  The iridescent blue makes me believe this one is a female.  The males are bright green.

 

The Spicebush Swallowtail is found only in the Eastern US and extreme southern Ontario.  While it is the state butterfly for Mississippi, I felt surounded by them in TN to my delight.  The Tennessee official butterfly is the Zebra Swallowtail, a black and white striped butterfly.  TN recognizes 2 other insects, the firefly and ladybug and a state agricultural insect (honeybee).  The firefly was designated the official state insect in 1975.  The importance of the firefly, commonly called lightning bug, to the state was one of the inspirations for our cabin name Lightning Bug Lodge.

Swallowtails are the largest butterflies in the United States.  There are 33 species in the US; besides the Spicebush and Zebra, there are four other swallowtails found in the Smokies:  1) Pipevine Swallowtail, 2) Giant Swallowtail, 3) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, and 4) Black Swallowtail.