Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 18)

This entry is part 18 of 30 in the series Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah

April 18, 2024

Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 18)

By Simon J. Lau

This morning we visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the park covers more than 500,000 acres, making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States. Its name comes from the “smoky” mist that often drifts over the mountains, created by dense vegetation and high humidity.

A friend of mine once rode through the Smokies on his motorcycle and told me it was some of the best riding in the country. Although I didn’t have my bike with me, I can see what he meant. The park is full of winding, meandering roads that look perfect for motorcycling, with countless routes to explore. I could easily imagine it being a playground for me.

While the park is best known for its scenic drives and winding backroads, we tried our luck on foot instead. We hiked the Gatlinburg Trail, one of only two in the park that allow dogs. To be honest, it wasn’t great. The path hugged a side road for much of the way, and eventually merged straight into the main roadway. Still, I appreciated that there was at least some dog-friendly options that let us explore a piece of the park together.

When we left the park, it was absolute chaos. The Spring Rod Run 2024 was in full swing in Pigeon Forge, an automotive gathering that had taken over the whole town. In hindsight, I wish I had stopped to check it out, but we had a long drive ahead.

Beyond the rows of hot rods, I also spotted a few souped-up mini motos, which are always a favorite of mine. But the most memorable sights were people of all ages cruising around on motorized scooters usually reserved for the elderly. It was hilarious watching so many people scooter around like that.

For lunch, we stopped at Stock & Barrel in Knoxville. I ordered The Bernie, a toned-down version of their Volcano Burger, a local classic with a fiery kick. I’ve learned to handle spice over the years, but this one still pushed my limits. The only consolation was that I hadn’t gone for their infamous Ring of Fire Burger. 🌶️ Bruno claimed most of the fries, and we shared some of the onion rings.

I also learned today that Dolly Parton is from Tennessee. Driving through, I passed the Dolly Parton Parkway, the entrance to Dollywood, and even came across a mural of her. I can’t say Dolly is someone I usually think about, but today she seemed to be everywhere. Between the roads, the attractions, and the artwork, it was impossible not to feel her presence woven into the fabric of this region.

University of Tennessee Knoxville, for its part, was super hilly. Driving through, I couldn’t believe how many steep climbs there were. They even built a sky bridge just to connect two parts of campus! Pretty wild. I also came across Smokey, their bluetick coonhound mascot who’s been around since 1953. Best of all, there’s a real-life Smokey who trots out at games.

After wrapping up in Knoxville, we rolled into Chattanooga later in the afternoon. By then, all the driving had caught up with me, so I decided to keep it low-key for the rest of the day.

Finally, our route from Asheville, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Knoxville to Chattanooga. (234 miles or 377 km).