Take a 30 second trip to the Smoky Mountains!

 

I saw that Dave from www.smokymountaintower.com posted this 30 second video of the views from the tower.  Those are basically the same types of photos we've taken when we've stayed there.  It's a great quick trip to the mountains.  Click the link below to his blog with the video... Enjoy!

http://www.smokiesrentdirect.blogspot.com/

Video from this week’s celebration of the park’s 75th anniversary at Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

I’ve been “out of touch” for a week or so.  My dad and step-mom rented a beach house on Folly Beach here in the Charleston area.  I’ve spent the last week walking to the pier, searching/digging for sea shells, swimming, body-boarding, chatting, drinking coffee (something I rarely do,) eating, relaxing and just having a good time catching up with family.  I intentionally didn’t do anything with the blog (didn’t even bring my laptop on the trip.)  I’m catching up with the blog today with a video from this week’s 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Check it out.  This is from knoxnews.com…

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/sep/03/majestic-moment-rededication-celebrates-parks-lega/

***While we were at the beach, I talked to family/friends about the Smoky Mountains, our favorite place to vacation.  The house we stayed in was nice, almost like www.smokymountaintower.com by the sea.  I’d like to stay in this beach house when I’m at the beach, just like we stay at www.smokymountaintower.com when we’re in the Smokies.  Check it out!***

Great Clingmans Dome article…

 

I know this article was originally posted a couple of weeks ago, but I just found it, and I thought it looked like a great detailed account of a day-hike to Clingmans Dome.  This is one of the must see places in the Smokies.  As a matter of fact, if you only have one day in the Smokies, or perhaps you are just driving through, and want to spend an hour or two exploring before continuing on your way to some other destination, you really should go to Clingman’s Dome.  It is the one place that we almost ALWAYS visit no matter how often we go to the Smokies.  It is also a wonderful “taste of the Smokies” if you don’t plan on visiting the park, but are planning on visiting Cherokee.  It’s just about 7 miles off the road to Cherokee from Gatlinburg.  I also added a video from Clingmans Dome from Youtube. Check out the article, you’ll enjoy it!

http://www.examiner.com/x-15048-Knoxville-Day-Trips-Examiner~y2009m7d1-Clingmans-Dome-starting-at-the-top

Raymond

**************************Please visit www.smokymountaintower.com to see the place we stay when we’re in the Smokies.  It has the best views of any cabin/condo we’ve ever stayed in, and it’s right between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  Best of all, you deal directly with the owner.  Tell Dave or Angie Raymond said hi!******

ACTUAL VIDEO of Roosevelt at the Groundbreaking of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I just found this from Holly at “Friends of the Smokies.” This is an excellent blog with information on this weekend’s events remembering the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is also actual footage of FDR coming into the area, and speaking at Newfound Gap. Take a look at it. Great stuff! Click below for full info…

http://www.examiner.com/x-4661-National-Parks-Travel-Examiner~y2009m6d6-Great-Smoky-Mountains-National-Park-75th-Anniversary-weekend

***** Please visit my sponsor, http://www.smokiesrentdirect.com to find the home we stay in while in the Smokies, “The Mountain Tower.” Located between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, it has some of the best views of the mountains anywhere.  Check it out!******

New-born calves are adding to the Elk herd in the Smoky Mountains BONUS:Video

 

Sorry I haven’t posted many updates the last few days. I’m actually NOT working right now. I took the week off. My wife is also off this week, and we have been doing a “staycation” here in Charleston. You can read more at what we’ve been up to this week my “work” blog at http://www.counton2extras.com/index.php/owensBlog . We decided to cancel the quick trip to Charlotte to visit Carowinds. We’ll do that later this summer.

Anyhow, I saw this story, and I thought you guys would like to check it out. Looks like 7 new baby elk are living life in the Smokies. They are the newborns. Additional babies are expected soon. The herd could soon hit 100! I’ve STILL never been to Cataloochee to see them myself. Will do soon:) I added a video of Elk in the Smokies as a bonus:)  Click the link below for more!

http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=10517421

*******PLEASE visit my sponsor, http://www.smokiesrentdirect.com to view “The Mountain Tower.” We’ve stayed there several times. I highly recommend you do the same. They have some great specials. It is located right between Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. It has the best view of the mountains of any place we’ve ever stayed. Check it out!***********************

Catch a trolley to see the fireflies work their light magic in the Smokies

 

I don’t know if the above video is actually from Elkmont.  From reading online, there may be only 2 places where the fireflies sync like this.  Somewhere in Asia and Elkmont.  I don’t know where this video was shot, but it shows you what they look like in sync:)

This has been a VERY popular story, since I posted the original a few days ago. I thought I’d post this update. If you are in the area, beginning tomorrow night, you can catch a trolley from the Sugarland’s Visitors Center every night from 6-11PM to see the light show the fireflies at Elkmont put on. They only perform for a week or two, so the trolley rides will take place from June 6th-14th. Only $1 per person round-trip. I REALLY wish we could make it up there (the sad news is, I have next week off, but no extra cash for a trip out of town:( If YOU get a chance to go, please shoot a few photos and email them, or better yet, shoot some video and send it to me. I’m sure my readers would love to see those.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090604/NEWS01/90604067/1119

Raymond

******Please help me by visiting my sponsor, http://www.smokiesrentdirect.com. You can stay where we stay in the mountains, at “The Mountain Tower.” It is located between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The Tower has a fantastic view of Mt. Leconte and Ober Gatlinburg. You’ll love it!******

VIDEO: Hike to the newly rebuild Icewater Spring Backcountry Shelter

This is a great video that takes you to the Icewater Spring Backcountry Shelter.  It also has some info you might need on backcountry hiking. Thanks to @FIRExNECK for sending me the link.

Please visit my sponsor, http://www.smokiesrentdirect.com. Stay in the Mountain Tower on your next visit to the Smokies. It is located right between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

EXCELLENT Video Blog from the Smokies

I don’t know how it took me this long to find the Great Smoky Mountains Association’s video blog.  It is excellent.  I’d love to do videos like this on my blog, but quite frankly, I’m just not in the Smokies often enough:)  Check theirs out though, it is fantastic!

http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/video_blog/

3 Minute Video trip to Dollywood

This video from @AshvilleNews on twitter. A great little 3 minuts trip to Dollywood. Enjoy!

VIDEO of Elk sparring in Cataloochee

 

Thanks to the folks over at Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine (www.blueridgeoutdoors.com) for putting this video on their site…