Must Take Roadtrips This Fall

If you’re in desperate need of a little getaway but don’t know where to go, you’re in the right place. Weekend trips keep me sane. Whether it’s driving to Bryson City, NC or camping in Cades Cove, having a little retreat is so good for the soul. All of these destinations are awesome, each offering something a little differnt than the last. All of them make awesome weekend trips and some could be considered day trips from Knoxville. If you visit any of these places, tag us on social media so we can see you making memories with us!

chattanooga, tn

Everything. Simply put, Chattanooga has everything. Do you like being in the city? Check. Do you like being outdoors? check. Do you like good food? Check. Do you like being in nature? Check. Do you like awesome aquariums? Check. Do you like pretty rivers and watersports? Check. Do you like drinking coffee in a pretty park? Check.

Chattanooga is the East TN Mecca for outdoors lovers because there is literally anything and everything you could want. You can hike. You can camp. You can take scenic drives. You can rockclimb. You can paraglide.

I know this is a bit repetitive, but it’s just that simple. Chattanooga offers a great night life and some of the best food in the area, while being close enough to nature that it doesn’t feel like you’re sacrificing either part of the experience. More information on all to do in Chattanooga can be found at www.visitchattanooga.com.

Fall Creek Falls State Park

There’s not a magazine big enough for me to talk about how amazing Fall Creek Falls is. If you could wrap an outdoor experience in the perfect present and give it someone for their birthday or Christmas, it is Fall Creek Falls. If you don’t know, Fall Creek Falls State Park is in Spencer, TN. Althought their is over 200 campsites availble. the Fall Creek Falls Lodge offers a different experience for those who don’t want to sleep under the stars. There’s a swimming pool, adult and child sized ropes course, horseback riding, 6+ waterfalls, watersports, hiking and more. This is a great place to take your family or even for a couple’s weekend getaway. Fall Creek Falls offers an oasis for outdoor lovers, and this is only a small fraction of what it offers. More information can be found at tnstateparks. com/parks/fall-creek-falls.

BRYSON CITY, NC

Bryson City became my favorite place to visit the first I went. There’s great food, breweries and cute shops for gifts and hiking essentials. If you’re interested in history, there’s a museum dedicated to the city’s history as well as a few more historical buildings you’re able to visit. For the outdoorsy people, there;s hiking, whitewater rafting, camping, waterfalls, fishing streams, and the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. The train depot and museum sits in the middle of Bryson City offering rides to Nantahalla Gorge. This is by far my favorite thing to do in Bryson City. Once you’ve arrived in Nantahalla Gorge, you have an hour to grab lunch if you didn’t eat on the train and explore. It’s a must do if you’re planning a trip to Bryson City, but tickets sell out quick so reserve them ahead of time! This is only a tiny bit of what all Bryson City has to offer, for more information visit www.greatsmokies.com

CHIMNEY ROCK, NC

If you’ve never visited Chimney Rock, you need to. It’s the perfect fall weekend trip. The hike, consisting of 1.5 miles and 500 stairs to the top, is considered difficult on travel sites; however it is worth it. If you don’t want to climb to the top, you can forgo the hike and drive to the stairs. On a clear day, you’re able to see 75 miles of gorgeous scenery, including Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. Chimney Rock is also a very quaint town with cute shops, a few good dinner spots and the gorgeous Rocky Broad River running through. A few movies have been filmed in the area, like Dirty Dancing at Lake Lure and Last of the Mohicans at the top of Chimney Rock. Even if you aren’t huge fans of the movies, it’s still cool to see some of these spots. Take a guided boat tour on Lake Lure, rock climb with Fox Mountain Guides and Climbing School or sit by a fire and enjoy some moonshine, Chimney Rock has something for every outdoor lover, even if it’s just the fall scenery.

HOT SpRiNgS, NC

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

In 1886 when the Mountain Park Hotel was built, a natural hot spring was found, which prompted the Southern Improvement Company-the company who owned much of the area at this time-changed the town’s name from Warm Springs to Hot Springs. Here, you an find a little bit of everything. For those searching for a little bit of romance and a lot of outdoors, Hot Springs is the place. Enjoy beautiful mountain views, explore the Appalachain Trail, kayak down the French Broad River, take a break by listening to live music at Big Pillow Brewing and finish the night soaking in a natural hot spring. Stay at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa for a fully relaxing escape or at one of the many VRBO or cabin rentals in the area! When you visit Hot Springs, there is no time to be bored! There’s something to do all week long. More on what to do: www.hotspringsnc.org.

828-520-1423

Shop with us this Fall & Holiday season for decor, clothing, gifts & more! Lots of handmade items to choose from.

Hours: Tue-Fri: 10-5 Saturday: 10-4 Closed Sunday Closed Monday

Ingredients

Crust:

1 stick melted butter

About 2 cups gingersnap crumbs

2 tblsp sugar

Filling:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 can pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

4 packages of 8oz cream cheese (softened)

1 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup granulated sugar

5 eggs

Directions

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 9 in. springform pan. Mix melted butter, 2 tbsp sugar & gingersnap crumbs. Press crumb mixture into springform pan. Wrap the outside of pan with foil to prevent drips. Bake 8-10 min. Let cool completely.

In another bowl mix flour, pumpkin spice & pumpkin. Set aside. Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in one egg at a time on low speed just until blended. Gradually beat in pumpkin mixture until smooth.

Pour filling into cooled crust. Bake 1 hour 15-25 minutes or until set. Center of cheesecake should still jiggle slightly when moved.

Turn off oven and open door at least four inches. Leave cheesecake in oven for 30 min.

Remove cheesecake and run knife around edges to loosen. Let cool 30 min. Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.