We packed everything up and hit the road toward Athens, Georgia — but not without a few key stops along the way. First up was the obligatory photo at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sign. We hadn’t managed to grab one earlier in the trip, and we weren’t about to leave without it! There was a bit of a queue (clearly everyone had the same idea), but it moved along fairly quickly.
From there, we continued on to Newfound Gap, with a couple of scenic stops at Chimney Tops and Ben Morton Overlook — both boasting gorgeous panoramic views that made us grateful for the invention of the camera. Newfound Gap itself was stunning, perched right on the Tennessee–North Carolina border, and notably where the famous Appalachian Trail crosses the highway. Naturally, we had to walk a little section of it and snap a few photos to make it look like we’d done the whole thing.
Climbing higher, we reached Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingman’s Dome) — the highest point in the Smoky Mountains, sitting at 6,643 feet (2,025 metres). The signs promised a “short half-mile walk” to the lookout tower, but let’s just say it felt significantly longer thanks to the steep incline and thinner air. What a difference a season of rowing has made though — Miss G, who once would’ve needed a bit of dragging to the top, was now leading the charge and first up there! The 360-degree views from the observation tower made the uphill trek completely worth it. A true high point — literally and figuratively!
Back in the car, we wound our way down to Cherokee, North Carolina, where we visited the Museum of the Cherokee People. It was an interesting stop, full of information about Cherokee history and culture. One particularly interesting fact: the Cherokee society is matrilineal — meaning a child’s clan affiliation is determined by their mother’s clan and they inherit their mother’s clan’s identity, property, and social standing. Girl power, historically embedded!
By now, stomachs were rumbling, so we carried on to Franklin, North Carolina for a quick and classic American combo — Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. Not exactly fine dining, but it hit the spot and gave us a caffeine boost for the next leg of the journey.
Our next adventure stop was Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia. We set off on a walk to view the waterfalls and found ourselves descending the 600-odd steps down to a suspension bridge across the gorge — and, of course, back up again. Legs were burning, lungs were heaving, and just when we thought we’d conquered the best views, we discovered the first lookout point (right by the car park!) was arguably the most photogenic. Classic. Still, at least we earned our dinner.
After another hour and a half on the road, we rolled into Athens and arrived at our next Airbnb — much to the kids’ delight, it had a full-on games room. Mark squeezed in a quick work call while the rest of us showered and regrouped, then we headed into town for dinner.
We had a bit of a wander through the charming downtown area before landing at Trappeze Pub — which proudly touts itself as Athens’ premier craft beer bar and gastropub. The food was surprisingly good, the atmosphere relaxed, and we left with full bellies and happy hearts. Back at the Airbnb, we dove straight into games. A long day of road-tripping, sightseeing, and stair-climbing well spent.
