October 24 – November 7, 2023
Upon leaving Pennsylvania we started what we considered the actual homeward bound portion of the trip. We stopped first in Roanoke, West Virginia at a resort that we had enjoyed in the past.
Stonewall Resort
We stayed at Briar Point Campground, part of Stonewall Resort which is situated in Stonewall Resort State Park. The campground is located across the lake from the resort but provides direct access via a boardwalk over the water. Of course, it was a bit of a hike to get to the boardwalk. The campground is rustic, without WiFi or laundry facilities but does have full hookups.
As we checked in at the park entrance, a lady was there complaining to the attendant about being inundated with lady bugs. As it turned out, she was right. These lady bugs were not your garden variety but the malicious, smelly, invasive type. We couldn’t enjoy being outside due to the bugs and battled with them as they managed to get inside. (I had a feeling that we were going to end up taking some back to Florida with us – and I was right.)
The day after arrival we made a trip into Weston (about 20 minutes away) to do laundry and run other errands. Later we enjoyed a late lunch at TJ Muskies in the resort. Their smoked chicken burrito was really good.
We made use of the tennis/pickleball courts on a couple of occasions for some much needed exercise. We also tried the other two restaurants at the resort – Lightburn’s (on the golf course), and Stillwaters (the resort’s signature restaurant). Unfortunately, we were not impressed with either.
Wytheville, Virginia
We left Roanoke, West Virginia on a Sunday morning and stopped for an overnight at the Wytheville KOA. This was a really nice, big-rig friendly campground with lots of amenities and family activities.
A friend who I had not seen in a long time met us at our campsite. We spent time catching up and enjoyed a good dinner at a nearby Cracker Barrel. It was great to see you Sally!! Thanks so much for driving over.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
The next morning, we were on our way to Pigeon Forge. We had stopped in this area on a couple of earlier trips. This time we decided to stay at Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort a new RVC Outdoors park. The resort is located along the Little Pigeon River but within site of the Titanic Museum and other attractions.
We ran into some (for us) really cold weather here. The temperature fell below freezing a couple of nights forcing Bill to bring in the water hoses and water softener. Frozen or busted hoses are no fun. It seemed we were not far enough south yet.
One just can’t come to this area and not go to Smoky Mountain National Park. Consequently, we drove through Wears Valley to Townsend and then followed the Little River Gorge Road. We stopped at The Sinks and a few other spots to take some photos. Due to the amount of traffic, we decided to return to Pigeon Forge via the Parkway Bypass.
Having been to several of the attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg before, we only visited two on this trip – Ole Smoky Distillery Barrelhouse for some whiskey and moonshine tasting and the Old Mill District for shopping and lunch.
While searching for some off-the-beaten-path, less touristy places to eat we discovered two that we wanted to try.
The Greenbrier Restaurant
The Greenbrier Restaurant is a food and spirits outpost situated in the same area of the Smokies that provoked wonder in early settlers. Today, we are dedicated to keeping that spirit alive by providing the highest quality food and service that charms our visitors. Located in the Great Smoky Mountains, The Greenbrier Restaurant is an incredible steakhouse that perfectly balances modern dining and Appalachian tradition.
Greenbrier
The food, drinks, setting, and service were excellent. We even had to go back another evening just for their famous Dylan cocktail (click here for the recipe).
while smoking the other glass
Red Oak Bistro and Caffe
Red Oak Bistro is one of a kind restaurant in Gatlinburg, TN. Operated by a husband and wife team with over 20 years of experience in the service industry, they are both excited to present their vision to all their guests. The dynamic duo is caring, passionate and committed to ensuring that you have a unique dining experience. The menu features shared small plates of authentic and innovative fare inspired by Mediterranean and Eastern European cuisines, unique selection of wine, bourbons and beer.
Red Oak Bistro
We love exploring eateries that offer small plates/tapas as they provide the opportunity to taste multiple dishes. This place was a delight. We shared the Baked Brie, Banitza (phyllo filled with spinach, feta, and a cheese blend), and Kebabche (Bulgarian style pork sausage).
What fun!!
Fleeing the cold
OK, it’s definitely time to head further south. We left Pigeon Forge on Nov. 4 and spent an overnight in Yemassee, SC. The following day we reached St. Augustine where we spent two nights. Naturally we had to support two of our favorite restaurants (The Collage and The Columbia) while we were there. Then it was on to our sunny and hopefully warm “home” in Ft. Myers.
So Long for Now
We had a great time on this trip. We didn’t travel as far this summer as in the past (unless you count the Alaska cruise/tour) but we had a lot of fun and investigated some new areas. We’re already in planning mode for next summer.
