My Smokey Mountain Experience

I thought my family was past the whole road trip stage once we moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But my thoughts proved wrong this summer when we decided to take a road trip to our family reunion in Tennessee. At 4:30 a.m. we were in route to the Chicago airport to pick up my auntie flying in from Michigan. With our destination plugged into the GPS we began our now ten hour trek. This trip stuck out more than most based solely on the fact that we passed an unusual number of Cracker Barrels. Every time my mom or aunt saw the logo they had to blurt out "Cracker Barrel." Please believe it got really old really fast!

When we hit Pigeon Forge, Tennessee we realized it was packed tihtly with tourist attractions everywhere! Close you eyes and imagin the Vegas Strip for kids. There were tons of hotels, go-kart tracks, mini amusement parks, and laser tag games. One of the major things that stuck out was indoor skydiving. I couldn't imagine how you can sky dive indoors?

Immediately when leavin Pigeon Forge the scenery becomes extremely green and woodsy. To add to some of our family's apprehension of traveling in the mountains they have this enourmous blockade that is holding back falling debris from the mountain side. As well as a sign warning to 'Watch for falling rocks.' The tires began to grip the road for dear life as my mom whipped the car through the mountainside. From there it was only up. It felt like I was in the throes of death with every twist and turn. Usually the twist and turns of the mountain would cause people to slow down. Not my mom, she accepted the challenge head on! Upon arrival we realized the cabins were built on the incline of the mountain. It felt as if you pushed one, it would be a domino effect and they would all tumble.

The vacation did have a really steep downside. Our cabin was not only away from the rest of the family it was on the middle of the biggest hill on that side of the resort. We always had to go up or down to get anything. Our cabin had an appropriate name 'Views Forever.' The mountains looked like large dunes of trees that continued for as far as the eyes could see. It was a wild, beautiful, and natural entity undisturbed by man. Looking at the view made me get lost in the greatness of the Smokies, but, I was quickly brought back to reality when i realized how hot and humid it was! The air was so thick with moisture I felt as if it was choking me. Being from Wisconsin, the air conditioning was immediately turned on. Looking at the beauty of the Smokies while being cool and comfortable in an air conditioned cabin was the best of both worlds.

Finaly we convinced my aunt to conquer the mountain with us. After driving twenty minutes, we reached the top of one of the mountains. Never before have I seen something so amazing! My blood vessels were pulsating with the appreciation of nature. The view made me feel like I was on top of everything. Being able to look out an dsee the sky above and with nothing else in the way. I truly felt unstoppable and on the crest of greatness. I learned nature can give me just as much of a sense of power than anything created by man. Then my mom's voice pierced the crisp,quiet air, "DUNCAN!!! Let's go…"