Traveling Down - Days 1 and 2

Travel Down, Day 1 - 30 May

Finished work, some last minute packing, and headed off to Beckley, West Virginia. Sandwiches in the car, drove straight through four and a half hours, and we arrived at our lodging for the night. Not that eventful, was dark when we got in.

Travel Down, Day 2 - 31 May

Up at a decent hour, but didn't get good sleep. I used to be able to sleep in hotels so much better when it was weekly for work. I miss those days.

Grabbed breakfast next to the hotel at Chick-fil-A. It was, as usual, just OK.

Then it was off to New River Gorge NP with my mother.

The Sandstone Visitor Center and boardwalk at the falls were nice, but it was time to find lunch.

We found a local place in Hinton, West Virginia called Market On Courthouse Square.

After lunch was the main event for New River Gorge NP, the main overlook at the Grandview Visitor Center.

Next was another four and a half hour drive to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to get ready for Great Smoky Mountains NP tomorrow.

We made a stop at Buc-ee's. It's just a giant gas station, but it's a thing. Passenger car only, no trucks allowed. It's the biggest gas station in the country, 120 gas pumps, 74,000 square feet inside, and noteworthy food options. After everything I've heard, it was worth a stop.

I recommend the jerky counter with unlimited samples. I picked two to buy. Then the sliced brisket sandwich we split was good too.

The view coming over the hill after getting off from Interstate 40 was gorgeous. I didn't realize the Smokys, or any of the Appalachians, looked this way from a distance. Not exactly the way the Rockies pop up suddenly behind Denver, but enough of a view that I was amazed.

That said, Pigeon Forge and even Gatlinburg are much more commercialized than I ever imagined. A part of me felt like I was in Orlando.

I'm excited to get into the actual park tomorrow!