ASHEVILLE

  We traveled over the Smokey Mountains on Hwy 441 and drove just a very short distance on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Enjoyed a day touring The Biltmore. Very pricey but we (well I) wanted to see it. There’s the house, the gardens and the village. It all takes most of the day.

They don’t allow any pictures inside the house. The next day we climbed Chimney Rock. It was 982 steps to Exclamation Point which is about 400 steps higher than the rock in the picture. The good news is you can take an elevator to the top, its about the same as 26 stories. When it was built in 1947 it was the highest elevator in NC.

PIGEON FORGE/GATLINBURG

We’re in the Great Smoky Mountain area of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. We are camping at Douglas Dam at a TVA campground, much like a COE park. Located half way between Knoxville and Pigeon Forge.  Pigeon Forge reminds us  of Branson, not really a walking town,  spread widely apart are theaters, restaurants, motels, elaborate miniature golf courses.   I love this upside down building. What a hoot. We went to Terry Evanswood Magic show here. Very good show.

The next day was double packed , a breakfast show featuring the Singing Underwoods. Then at 4:30 The Hatfields and McCoys dinner show.

 

Gatlinburg is a walking town, several blocks packed with every imaginable tourist attraction a town can offer. Fudge, taffy, ice cream, frozen bananas, free samples of moonshine, novelty shops, old time photos, gift stores, etc, etc. all tucked into the Smoky Mountains.

NASHVILLE

 STATE CAPITAL

 GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE

 TOURING THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM

 Not country music fans but still thoroughly enjoyed the history of the Ryman.

 Broadway street was hopping even on Sunday. Bars all open with live acts. Of course the pedal tavern. Never saw that before!.

 We enjoyed going to town on the weekend. Free parking in the state employee parking lot, little traffic, great area to park. Next to the Farmers Mkt, State Capital, close by the State History Museum, and Military Musum, and a nice walk to the Ryman Auditorium and Broadway. Unforturnately the Grand Ole Opry House is across town.

AKRANSAS

 

 FORT SMITH was a nice stop. Nice grounds, good museum and short film on its history.

 

 I was disappointed the ferris wheel was not open midweek. I really wanted to ride it. This is in downtown Fort Smith AR

 Van Buren is a Historical District in Van Buren AR

 Nice end to the day. A COE park in Ozark AR

OUR ROUTE

 YUMA TO PHOENIX

 PHOENIX TO ALBUQUREQUE

 FOLLOWED I-40 THRU TEXAS TO OKLAHOMA CITY THEN WITH A LITTLE DETOUR TO FORT SMITH ARKANSAS

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Cowboy Museum is absolutely wonderful. It doesn’t lack for anything. From art to every facet of cowboy life. Also including a replica of a western town. Don’t miss it. Do plan on a day. We spent 6 hours there.   

Off to the stockyards next. To late in the day perhaps as we didn’t see any cattle in the pens. Went into one of the stores in town. Boots boots everywhere.

Then on to Jim’s birthday dinner at the Cattlemen’s Cafe. Another DDD experience.

Oklahoma National Memorial & Museum. What can one say. It breaks your heart. So many lives lost in such a senseless attack. The museum was well done. Every hour accounted for on the timeline through the hours and days that followed. The grounds beautiful. The tree is called the Survivor Tree. It was remarkably still standing among all the devastation.

Traveling I-40

Traveling along I-40 takes some of us down memory lane as it parallels HWY 66. We remember the TV show, Do you?  Yes get your kicks on Hwy 66!

Murals on old buildings, histori c district   s in small towns now full of antique shops and restaurants.

Cadillac Ranch

Who can not stop to check this out. One can bring their own spray paint and become an instant artist.

ALBUQUERQUE NM

We visited Sun City Cultural Center in Acoma NM with its unique historical distinction as the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America. It sits 370 feet above the desert floor. The Pueblo dates back to 1100A.D. There are over 300 structures made of adobe and sandstone. This area is about 15 miles off I-40 east of Albuquerque about 40 miles.

The tour guide was excellent, learning the history so informative. We rate this as a must see.

After the tour we had a very tasty lunch at the Cafe. Chicken stuffed frybread smothered with green sauce, side of rice & beans. Oh Yeah!

Then watched a film and went through the museum.

 

Onto our next destination, The Petroglyph National Monument. As it was getting late in the day we opted for the 3 shorter trails still seeing plenty of Petroglyphs .