Our Tennessee vacation—part 7

Thursday…

                I loved every day we were in the area, but one of the ones I want to repeat is this day. 

                There is a special place in Gatlinburg that I think you could do again and again and again and it would be different and entertaining each and every time.  Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community Trail is an 8 mile trail, not really a circle but you will come out where you started if you follow the map.  BUT we didn’t.  We would find some little side jog and head that way.  We found many, many places that we will one day return to and investigate a little more.

                Thursday we started out at the cabin and drove down to the main road we come in on.  That road is a part of the trail.  Shop after shop after grouped shops and other cabins and businesses.  All artsy fartsy and just what I like. 

                First stop was at Santa’s Claus-et, a place we passed every single day and I just had to explore.  OH DID I LOVE IT!!  And yes, we did buy things.  Now only part of this store would be considered at all artsy.  The food area.  We left with 2 jars of apple salsa, one of corn and bean salsa and 8 packages of dips and cheese ball mixes.  The very nice lady had us tasting all of it!  Even the tortilla soup mix if we wanted.

               

We also left with a few little gifts for people and, so that my grandchildren KNOW I’ve got a straight line to Santa, Mr. Claus posed with me!

                

                From there, we went on down the road a piece and came to the sign that said we would find the broom man.  I’d seen that sign every day and was intrigued.  I had to go see what it was all about.  We found it up a twisty, winding hillside road.  We almost turned around thinking we’d missed it.  Then when we did find it, we weren’t sure there was even anyone there.  I’m so glad we didn’t turn around and give up on finding it.  What an interesting stop!

                We learned that it is a business that had been handed down and down for generations.  They had newspaper articles, pictures…a museum of sorts.

               

                I was very interested in bringing home a handmade broom even before we learned anything about them.  Once we learned, it made it an even stronger desire.  The owner told us that he does grow his own corn.  It’s actually a type of corn that has no ears.  Just the stalks that he turns into his craft. 

               

                For the fancy, more decorative brooms, they use a special variety.

               

                I asked him to please pose with his work and he was more than happy to oblige. 

               

                I wanted so badly to buy one with the carved Santa in the handle but opted for a more plain one.  I settled to bring home the picture of the bell pull with the same carving.

               

The gentleman’s very awesome truck was something to behold. I brought back some special memories of our next door neighbors when I was growing up. Yep. One of the fellas who used to come spend time there had a truck very similar to this.

                                      

                            

                And see the church in the background?  Religion is very important in these parts.  There are churches around most any bend.

                Down that hill we went, a twist, a turn, a steep, steep hill. 

               

                So many little cabins and things.  All weren’t the touristy cabins for rent.  Some were homes to the local folks.  All were most interesting.

               

                Next stop, Visions in Art with artist in residence, HC (Cliff) Jones.

               

                We weren’t quite sure what was up with these awesome cabins.  Cliff made us feel very welcome.

               

He took us inside and happily showed us around.  He had lived there just a short time.  The cabin was home to him and his dogs, it was his workshop and it was his place of business.

               

And after I chose the Santa, we went on outside and he explained how he did some of the art techniques then signed and dated my Santa.

                

He walked us to the car and we heard stories of his dreams and plans before we head out to find a place for lunch.

               

                We wanted to go back to Apple Valley for a few things so we decided to try the restaurant at the other end of the area.  The Applewood Farmhouse Grill proved to be just as good as the first we’d eaten at.  It was set up a little different, but the cook was just as fantastic.  I love the double rocker that was on the porch.

               

                After eating another delicious meal, we started down the walkway towards the shops.

               

First stop, the Christmas store.

                

                From there, we headed to the winery.  They had a bit of a sale.

               

                And so we brought a few home.

               

First kid to fix us a spaghetti supper complete with an awesome salad and garlic bread…or lasagna…we will share the first bottle with.  No not GIVE the bottle…SHARE it.  Lol

                And we hit the gift shop again to pick up what I’d wanted from there and after that, the candy store.  Again.  That would be the close of our visit to the apple barn.

                                  

                When we finished there, we still needed to find a few gifts to bring back.  Nothing at all major, but little gimme gifts for all the kids.  We went to a regulation tourist trap place first.  Cliff went in and found some things for some of the kiddos and I stayed outside giggling at some of the signs the wood guy had outside.               

I think the guy thought I was nutty for taking pictures of his crazy signs.  Lol

             Looking for a little place to buy some goooooood fudge.  I just felt like the trip couldn’t be complete without it.

               

              Next stop, 3 Bears General Store.  Now THIS tourist trap was neat!  Entertainment and decent priced souvenirs all in one place.  The sign made ME laugh.  Not that Jesus Saves, but that He HAD to from them there bears! 

 Lots of cool stuff in here                    

              Outside there was a big, big Santa I wanted a picture by but forgot, a gem mining joint, and somewhere I saw a sign for ice cream and candy.  Somewhere inside they had live animals.  Fun place.

                We had spent a good part of the day shopping and exploring but only ate that once.  We knew the show we were going to wasn’t going to be a dinner show.  Soooo we decided we should probably eat something before we went.  Next door was a very interesting looking place.  The Happy Days Diner.  You can see it there right beyond the Comedy Barn, our evening entertainment.

               

I liked it right away.

                 

                       

And the food?  Mmm Mmm Mmm.  Good ol’ burger covered in mushrooms and onions and loaded fries.

                        

                The Comedy Barn is fantastic.  Cannot recommend it higher.  Another family centered clean comedy show.  Great fun!  From comedians

               

to music

to audience participation

               

to more music and a little dancing

 to very talented rescued dogs              

to juggling

the comedy goes on and on the entire show.             

Oh and don’t forget the ventriloquist!

Then up to the stage with the wee ones.               

  They round out the show with a big laugh finish.   Those...would be panties.  lol            

             

                And we rounded the night with a quick ice cream cone at the nearest Baskin Robbins.