April 16,2006 - Gastonia, NC - Smokey Mtns, TN

We left Gastonia very early in the morning, so we could get to the Smokey Mountains to spend our Easter Sunday. The Smokey Mtn range is in two states, TN & NC, we were in the northern part which is in TN. On our way to the Smokies, we stopped at the Biltmore Estate so I could buy a bottle of the estate wine. The most visited winery in the United States isn’t located in Napa Valley. It’s at Biltmore Estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where fine food and wine paired with elegant entertaining have been traditions since the turn of the 19th century. Much to my surprise I was told they could not sell me any wine till 12:01pm. Well, its 10:30am, guess I’ll have to find my wine elsewhere. Guess we will just have to come back some other time.


Entrance to Biltmore Estates

Tasting Room and Gift Shop

We arrived at 12:00 at the Crazy Horse RV Park, just 15 miles east of Gatlinburg. After we settled Taylor into his spot, we drove into Gatlinburg. Much to our surprise the town is like a summer playground for families. They have water parks, miniature golf, aquariums, and tons of gift shops. It seems like a lot of the business names were “…… in the smokies”. Like “Ripley’s believe it or not in the Smokies”, Adventure park in the smokies, etc…

Gatlinburg, TN




We at lunch/dinner at Gondoliers Italian Restaurant, which has excellent pizzas. After we ate, we drove around the outskirts of town and located Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course. WOW! It was very expensive to play a muni course. The town is over rated for what it has to offer. We think it’s so expensive here because it’s in the Smoky Mountains.