In fact, spring is happening, with color and confidence.

The first shows in Knoxville are the tender greens — sprouts emerging from the ground, poking up to see what’s going on in this world of ours.

But pink quickly takes on a life of its own. Redbuds (maybe they should be called purple buds or pink buds) line the I-40 interstate and push out their color as if to say, “Look at me first.” But we can’t stop staring at them wherever we find them.

Pink cherry trees also bloom early, almost bending with the weight of what looks to be tissue-thin flowers clustered along meandering branches.

But the heart of springtime in Knoxville is the dogwood. Celebrated for 65 years now by the Dogwood Arts Festival, dogwoods even have their own trails. And a drive along any one of them is a spring awakening for residents and visitors alike.

We checked to see if trails and open gardens would be available for touring this year, and, best we can tell, some are. This cautionary statement appears on the website: Due to the spread of COVID-19, some of the Open Gardens listed below may choose to close. Please only enter gardens that have an “OPEN GARDEN” sign in the yard.

One garden we’ve previously shared, the estate of Dr. Alan Solomon, will not be on tour this year, but we remember fondly the elegance of the forested acres and statuary that make it a showplace like no other in town.

If you want a springtime lift, a drive along one of the trails may be your best bet. Check the Dogwood Arts website for a map showing the location of this year’s trails, and then drive along for a color treat. We took the Westmoreland Trail this week, and, as you can see, there’s much to celebrate.

It’s good to know that even when most things we value are shut down across America, Mother Nature still shows her colors majestically. It’s time to celebrate spring — whether in Knoxville or your own hometown — and be thankful for growth, renewal, and color in these tough times.

Stay safe out there.

Rusha and Bert

Life is like a landscape. You live in the midst of it, but can describe it only from the vantage point of distance.

Challenging us this week with the theme of distance, Tina planted the idea of looking more closely at social distancing in Knoxville just as we were contemplating a drive around town to see what we could see.

We took that drive, and here’s a glimpse of what we found.

On Ebenezer Road in West Knoxville, someone or some group installed balloon columns sporting words that inspire happiness in these troubled times — Happy, Faith, Believe, Gratitude, Joy, etc. — making distancing a bit more tolerable knowing we’re all in this together.

Businesses, too, have made signs a priority. Most signs inform that a business is closed, but others, like Ham ‘n Goodys lessen the distance a bit. At this hometown institution, you can still order and take out Ham ‘n Goodys’ famous lemon cookies or maybe even a homemade cake (if you’re still celebrating something). And, get this: they ship!

Bearden Elemetary School, with frontage on a major thoroughfare — Kingston Pike — offered not one but two signs of the times: A date (that could change, of course) and a motto for today — Not Showing Up Is Half the Battle . . .

and the other side with a message about grandparents whose distance from grandkids is oh, so painful to bear!

In Sequoyah Hills, runners seemed to be cognizant of the six-feet apart rule . . .

but not so much at Lakeshore Park where groups, couples, and families walked the paths — sometimes alone, sometimes together.

If you’re driving through Knoxville, don’t miss the campus of the University of Tennessee, although you might not even recognize it if you’ve been here before. The whole campus is quiet, bare, empty. No worries about keeping collegiates an appropriate distance apart — there aren’t any collegiates around. UT called off classes about three weeks ago for the remainder of the semester with completion of work to be done online. So streets on campus that are normally filled with students, professors, and traffic jams are now eerily empty.

But it wasn’t so quiet at the UT Gardens. Couples strolled, families took pictures, and singles (like the girl in the picture at the top of this post) found something to do in the great outdoors.

Mother Nature, as we noted, had little to do with distancing, social or otherwise. Spring blooms were literally bursting out all over, mostly in bunches just as they were planted. Here and there, of course, a single tulip or member of the onion family might be a stand-alone, but for the most part, nature is almost as gregarious as we are.

Downtown, Cruze Farm Ice Cream was open for business — we just couldn’t go inside. Customers now stand at the door, place an order, scan their own credit card into a Square machine (no cash allowed), and wait as one of the famous Cruze Farm girls hands you a swirled ice cream in her matchy matchy mask. Who knew battling coronavirus could be so fashionable?

Finally, it was the Bijou Theatre‘s two-sided marquee that left us with a takeaway image. On the front side, the hope that we’ll all make it to the “other side” and . . .

on the back, the hope and assurance we all need.

So, please, love our city of Knoxville, but keep your distance.

We’re working hard to make life better here, even if social distancing is making us all a little bit crazy.

Rusha and Bert

Check out more posts on the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #90: Distance at Tina’s Travels and Trifles.

A quiet garden path dappled in morning light invites guests to climb and explore.

Although much of the U. S. (especially in the South) is blanketed with snow this week, many of us are dreaming of gardens lush and lovely.  Last spring, in Knoxville, one homeowner opened his garden during the Dogwood Arts Festival garden tour.  It was a chance for those of us who love flora and fauna to stroll quiet pathways and imagine ourselves indulging in nature’s beauty as we paused for a few moments of silence.

Beautiful spring garden in Knoxville, Tennessee offers a silent respite.

A weathered garden bench invites visitors to sit a spell and enjoy the quiet.

More photos reflecting a sense of calm can be seen here: Weekly Photo Challenge: Silence. 

Look closely, and you’ll see the handsome coffered ceiling and classy bar at Clancy’s.

A recent Knoxville event, Chef’s Table Tour, came with a surprise . . . an unexpected one.  After strolling downtown sidewalks listening to bits of history from our guide, we ducked into Clancy’s Tavern & Whisky House ready for good food and a sip of the Irish.  But what we saw redefined this downtown corner for us.  What was now Clancy’s Tavern had been — at least for all the years we’ve lived here — Clancy’s Optical, a venerable establishment known for quality eye exams and glasses.

The way it was: Clancy’s Optical. (Photo from Google Images.)

Clancy’s Optical stood on the corner of Gay Street and Clinch Avenue for 75 years in a building that has a storied history.  Before offering fashionable eye wear, Clancy’s had been the location of a bank, J. C. Bradford’s, The Shamrock, and The Exchange Restaurant.  But it’s been Clancy’s Optical as long as we could remember.

Members of Chef’s Table Tour file into Clancy’s, ready to be surprised!

In 2014, however, owners Danny Clancy and Josh Turbyville renovated and “repurposed” the old corner building for what it is now — the richly appointed Clancy’s Tavern & Whiskey House.

The richness of handcrafted ceilings by Art Clancy at Clancy’s Tavern in Knoxville

The classiness greets you at the door.  You can’t help but notice the rich browns and artful craftsmanship of coffered ceilings and restored wooden floors.  Designed by Art Clancy (family, of course) of Clancy Custom Woodworking, the old-world interior speaks to the elegance of fashionable members-only clubs and taverns known throughout Europe.

It’s a tribute to what’s happening now in downtown Knoxville — a renaissance marked by tasteful renovations and purposeful “repurposings” that are transforming the city into a destination in its own right.

Clancy’s Tavern & Whiskey House, Knoxville, TN

Thanks to new owners with a vision and savvy woodworking crews, the new Clancy’s is Irish done right!

For more “repurposed” locations and things people have posted, check out the DailyPost Weekly Photo Challenge: Repurpose. 

For more information:

Clancy’s Tavern & Whiskey House, 602 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN; 865.219.1266; clancystavernknoxville@gmail.com

East TN Tours: http://www.easttntours.com/

Gathered around the “Rowing Man,” ready for the Chef’s Table Tour in Knoxville: Joel, Mapsy, Lori, Julia, Bert, and Lauren. (I’m taking the picture!)

In one three-hour span, you can tour downtown Knoxville, learn a bit of history, meet new friends and sample East Tennessee fare.  It’s all part of the Chef’s Table Tour, one of the offerings from East TN Tours combining food and fun in this ever-evolving Southern downtown destination.

Tour guide Lauren Quinn holds the door open for Bert Sams at Clancy’s Tavern

Organizer and tour leader Lauren Quinn offers the Chef’s Table Tour several times a week for groups of 2 to 12 with the opportunity to sample regional food from five local restaurants. Coupons to area attractions are often part of the deal, and larger groups (parties, etc.) can be accommodated with advanced notice. Even though we’re long-time residents of Knoxville, we dined at five new-to-us restaurants selected for the tour that day and welcomed newcomers to our revitalized city.

We walked about a mile on the tour all totaled, but movement energized us.  Lauren’s website posted the warning — “Don’t eat too much at any one stop” — but good food is hard to pass up.  So, if you take the tour, know that the 1.2 miles you walk will be an asset.

Showing us the Bijou and the new Knoxville sidewalks, Lauren Quinn relays a little history of the area for our tour.

Lauren carries vintage photographs with her to show you the “way it was” in Knoxville. It was fun looking at old photos and then the urban renewal in front of us. At strategic spots, Lauren shared interesting tidbits — like what these stairs positioned high up on the side of the Bijou were once used for.  (The stairs led to the entrance used by the hired help who were required to climb up to get into the building.)

Stairs high on one side of the Bijou had puzzled us for years.

Lauren included a brief stop at one of our favorite architectural renovations — Maple Hall.  It’s home to Knoxville’s boutique bowling alley as well as a full-service bar where you can order drinks and small plates.  On some nights, live music fills the air.  Floors above the bowling alley and restaurant offer residential space.

The real stars of the Chef’s Table Tour, of course, were the owners/chefs/managers who partnered with Lauren to share the history of their restaurants and samples of what’s made them so popular.

Frussie’s Deli & Bakery

Owner Jay Brandon says, “It takes a special kind of crazy person to come make bread every morning,” but he is just that crazy person.  Jay, who eats half a Frussie’s sub every day, served us his best-selling Italian Sub (AKA The Usual) with homemade dressing. And with one bite of that fresh bread (They have 11 kinds!), house-cured meats, and flavorful dressing, all of us were hooked.

Do you see anything left of those Italian subs?

Lauren took time to show us a grid of downtown Knoxville, and we looked over the Frussie’s menu for what we’d like to order next time we stop by.  No surprise to me, husband Bert had his eye on the Three Little Pigs sub: pork loin, ham, bacon, Archer’s barbecue sauce (local), coleslaw, and cheddar cheese.  But I’m coming back for the Dirty Bird: house-cured pastrami, Thanksgiving turkey, mayo, mustard, and Swiss Cheese.

Clancy’s Tavern & Whiskey House

Clancy’s Tavern had us at the front door:  an Irish tavern in a beautifully renovated historic building.  Owned by Danny Clancy and Josh Turbyville, Clancy’s Tavern has been a bank, brokerage, restaurant, and optical shop (Clancy’s Optical, owned by Danny’s family).  But this is not your ordinary pub.  After noting the craftsmanship of the carpentry — coffered ceilings and all — we focused on the equally noteworthy food.

Emily, our server, gushed (and well she should) over shepherd’s pie, panko breaded and fried mozzarella (table fave) and chicken wings.  We really had to weigh in on what to eat and what to bag up to go.  Clancy’s Tavern may sound like a pub food place, but it’s so much more:  Old World recipes mixed with creative flavors and textures.

The Tomato Head

We were familiar with this Market Square establishment, but who in Knoxville isn’t? Owner Mahasti Vafai was one of the first to use locally sourced foods in her restaurant, a place where she once made her own bread (and maybe she still does) from scratch each day.  We’ve loved her pizzas for years with fresh combinations and interesting blends of flavors (Fresh Spinach & Black Bean with Andouille Sausage; Chicken, Roasted Portabello & Mushroom; Smoked Salmon & Pesto White Pizza), but we were here to try soup.  Oh, my.

Rich, tomato chipotle soup with a little heat!

With two choices, we couldn’t go wrong:  Cream of Cauliflower or Tomato Chipotle.  And so we made our choices, took closer looks at the fresh, light decor of our surroundings, and vowed to return soon.  After all, Tomato Head also does chocolate cookies! Big ones!

FIVE Knoxville

 The words “Prepare to be amazed” should have preceded our entrance to FIVE.  With its ceiling of several dozen chandeliers and an eclectic wall of paintings, the word “dazzling” seemed an understatement.  With only five offerings per menu category, life does get a little simpler here — and quality takes center stage.

Our sampler came from the Dinner Menu under the category of Snacks: Southern style Deviled Eggs topped with cayenne candied bacon, Fried Green Tomatoes with tomato jam, and sweet and spicy Asian Shrimp.  All good.  All gone. In a heartbeat.

Deviled Eggs, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Uptown Shrimp at FIVE Knoxville

If you were wondering if vegetarians are welcome on the Chef’s Table Tour, wonder no more.  With an advanced request, Mapsy received vegetarian alternatives at every stop.  “Very nice” seemed to be her rating du jour.

Sugar Mama’s Knox

With bellies and to-go boxes bulging, we sidled down the 100 Block of Gay Street to Sugar Mama’s Knox, the newest restaurant for owner Hannah McConnell who’s known for her fresh-baked breads and cookies.  It was dessert for us tourists, but it looked more like a basket of goodies at the end of a rainbow.

Owner Hannah McConnel beams when you talk about Sugar Mama’s cookies.

Filled with signature pastries and samples of sweet treats like Hannah’s Amaretti Almond Cookies, we ate what we could and took home the rest. This tiny but busy little restaurant offers a sizable breakfast (now serving Quail Egg & Cheese Biscuits!) , sandwiches made with locally baked bread and cookies — even gluten-free ones — that round out their cold brewed coffee quite well.

With one last tour stop to see Knoxville’s Underground — trust me, there is one — under the 100 Block of Gay Street, Lauren bid us all farewell.

Lauren Quinn, of East TN Tours

We had had that taste of Knoxville as promised — a feast, when it was all said and done. And a glimpse of what’s putting Knoxville on the map.  If you want to be a part of Lauren’s Chef’s Table Tour, go online to register or call her. (For more FAQs, click here.)

So, come hungry.  And come to be impressed.  The lineup of restaurants as well as the food may change, but the quality will stay the same.  After all, you’re touring Knoxville, one of the South’s newest foodie towns.

For more information:

Click on any of these links to find out more about the tours and restaurants featured in this post:  East TN Tours, Navitat Canopy Adventures, Maple Hall, Frussie’s Deli & Bakery, Clancy’s Tavern & Whiskey House, The Tomato Head, FIVE Knoxville and Sugar Mama’s Knox.

In addition, East TN Tours also sponsors Bountiful Brunch Tours on Sunday afternoons.

— Rusha Sams

Even though the show cannot go on, we are grateful that the miniature circus created by Knoxvillian Howard Tibbals will remain a testament to the creativity, hard work, and showmanship of traveling circuses everywhere.  If you haven’t visited The Ringling in Sarasota, Florida, put it on your bucket list.  There’s a lot of greatness in miniature under the Big Top!

At the end of this post, check out the links to articles in The Knoxville News-Sentinel and The New York Times as well as vintage photos from past visits by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in Knoxville.

Lining up for the Big Show — in miniature — at Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling, Sarasota, Florida

It’s not often you get to see a lifetime project laid out as meticulously as this, but when you go to the Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling to stare at the tiny circus — figures, tents, animals, wagons, and more — you become enthralled with the lifetime labor of love of Howard Tibbals.  Housed on The Ringling campus in Sarasota, Florida, the million-piece miniature Howard Bros. Circus Model that Tibbals began crafting in his teens is ready to take you back to simpler times, the years from 1919 to 1938 when the biggest thing to hit small town America was the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Extraordinarily, Tibbals (now in his seventies) created almost all the miniatures himself, fashioned after the old-timey circuses he watched as a kid.  Today, it’s on exhibit daily for “children of all ages.”

Using the scale of 3/4 inch to one foot, Howard Tibbals fashioned animal cages, train cars, people and tents for his miniature circus. Looking at the back side, you can see the behind-the-scenes action in miniature.

The former owner of Tibbals Flooring Center in Oneida, Tennessee, Howard Tibbals financed the development and set-up of this remarkable miniature circus, including a $6.5 million donation for the current installation on the grounds of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.  But when he asked if he could use the Ringling name for his miniature version, he was turned down.  No problem, though.  He just named it Howard Bros. Circus.  

An elephant peeks out the door of a yellow train car belonging to Howard Bros. Circus.

And what a circus it is! The stats alone tell a story of determination and stick-to-itiveness:  over 500 circus animals, 1500 performers, 152 wagons, and enough chairs and dishes to seat and serve over 900 people.  (Source: Florida State University website.)

Just sittin’ a spell before the show starts — Howard Bros. Circus at The Ringling

A sign at the exhibit offered an insight into what a production it was just keeping the workers fed:  “Typical day’s order: 30 gallons of milk, 226 dozen eggs, 285 pounds of butter, 2,220 loaves of bread, 2,470 pounds of meat, 200 pounds of tea and coffee, and 50 bushels of potatoes.”

Feeding the workers: Howard Bros. Circus.

Since we’re from Knoxville, we were surprised to see so many familiar buildings from our city used as backdrops in the first part of the exhibit.  But we shouldn’t have been — after all, Howard Bros. Circus debuted at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville.  The new, more permanent, even larger, glassed-in exhibit at The Ringling measures 1.5 times the size of a football field!

Knoxville warehouse district forms the backdrop for the entrance exhibit to the Howard Bros. Circus at The Ringling.

As you walk the perimeter of the circus (and it’s a long perimeter), you get a feel for every aspect — and Tibbals’ keen eye for what humans do.

1.  Behind-the-scenes work — transporting the animals, setting up tents, hiring workers, and feeding the people who make it all happen.

Workers in action moving crates of produce to feed those who make Howard Bros. Circus come to life.

2.  Here comes the parade! — animals and performers prepping townspeople for what’s to come under The Big Top.

The parade is where you get to know the performers before you see them under The Big Top. And oh, what a show it is!!!

3.  Selling the circus — ticket sales, concessions, programs, and seats.

Popcorn anyone?

Get yer Frozen Delight before the show starts, ladies and gentlemen!

Tall Man? Tiny Man?Bearded Lady? Well, step right up!

4.  Performers — trapeze artists flying through the air with the greatest of ease, lion tamers,  horseback riders, and stars taking center stage in spangly suits.

And, now, ladies and gentlemen, may I direct your attention to the flying trapeze?

5.  Animals — always charming the crowd.

The king of beasts!

6.  Clowns — making us laugh even when in miniature!

In Tibbals’ own words, it’s a “magical world over 50 years in the making.”  And even now at our age, we’re fascinated beyond belief.  Save time to look closely and longingly.  You, too, will feel like a kid again.

Under The Big Top at Howard Bros. Circus at The Ringling

Tiny is big, if you’re looking closely at the wondrous Howard Bros. Circus.

Working hard for Howard Bros.

For more information:

Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling; 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, FL 34243; www.ringling.org/circus

References:

Cox, Billy. “Howard Tibbals and the huge miniature circus.” Herald Tribune (January 19, 2012). Retrieved from http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120119/ARTICLE/120119467

“Miniature circus finds home at FSU’s Ringling Museum.” Retrieved from https://fsu.edu/news/2005/07/21/miniature.circus/

Boomer Travel note: The Tibbals Learning Center is easily accessible for all with ramps leading around the circus.  There is ample parking at The Ringling and golf cart transportation is available for those who need assistance getting around the complex.

Inclusions in updated post:  January 22, 2017

Articles of note after the announcement that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus will no longer perform.

Bledsoe, Wayne (January 20, 2017). “Circus memories: East Tennessee Veterans of ‘The greatest Show on Earth’ share their stories. Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved from: http://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2017/01/20/circus-memories-east-tennessee-veterans-greatest-show-earth-share-their-stories/96745696/

Knoxville News Sentinel (January 15, 2017).  “Archive photos:  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in Knoxville.” Retrieved from: http://www.knoxnews.com/picture-gallery/news/2017/01/15/archive-photos-ringling-bros-and-barnum–bailey-circus-in-knoxville/96611250/

Rosen, Kenneth R. (January 22, 2017). “Retired Big Apple Circus Animals Prepare for their Second Act.” New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/22/nyregion/retired-big-apple-circus-animals-prepare-for-their-second-act.html?hpw&rref=nyregion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

Curved archway at entrance to Savage Gardens, Knoxville, Tennessee

Curved edges of millstones stacked as stepping stones in Savage Gardens.

Stone archway at entrance to garden pathway — Savage Gardens.

Curved petals of a perennial summer bloomer at Savage Gardens, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Elegantly curved garden gate.

For more photos of curves, check out this week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Curve.  

Flemish Brick exterior combines with English cottage design elements at home of Dr. Jimmy Milan who has added extensive gardens to the estate.

This week’s WordPress Daily Post photo challenge began with a quote from Wendell Berry:  “The Earth is what we all have in common” and ended with a request for writers to share their vision of glorious Mother Earth.  Well, even though we all have earth in common, it seems to us that some people just magically do more with their little plot of earth than others.

Beautiful stonework entrance to the home of Dr. Jimmy Milan of Knoxville.

Case in point:  one of the Open Gardens in the 2016 Dogwood Arts Festival belonging to Dr. Jimmy Milan in the Holston Hills neighborhood of Knoxville, Tennessee. Inspired by Dr. Milan’s trips to Great Britain and Ireland, the garden provides a respite for guests with its stone walkways, boxwood hedges, lush foliage of hostas and ferns beneath the dogwood trees, and an outdoor room for entertaining.

Pathways lined with shrubbery and groundcover add interest to the landscape design of Dr. Jimmy Milan.

Statuary and concrete planters define areas of Dr. Milan’s garden.

A moss-covered bench forms the backdrop for this restful setting.

An outdoor room offers comfortable seating, space for grilling in the gardens of Dr. Jimmy Milan.

Yes, we all do have earth in common.  But some just seem to have the knack of making their piece of Mother Earth quite heavenly!

For more entries in Weekly Photo Challenge: Earth, click here.

Seems simple,right? A kid wants to be a snow leopard. So she steps up to the face painting tent at Knoxville’s Christmas in the City.  Selects Face Number 1 from the sample board.  Sits down.  Smiles at the artist.  And the transition from kid to cat begins.

With a white base, the artist adds color, definition around the eyes, whiskers.

Then lines, whiskers, cat eyes and the like.

Then, at the request of the “baby cat,” the artist adds fangs.

Now you can qualify this display of art as nothing more than a common house cat look-alike. But don’t tell this little lady. With one big growl, she arches her back, hisses convincingly, and moves forward with claws out front. She wants to head immediately to the marshmallow roasting tent.

We transition, too. After all, we don’t mess with snow leopards.

Do snow leopards really eat marshmallows? Maybe.

For more transitions, head to Weekly Photo Challenge: Transition here!

Note:  Many thanks to a very patient, creative Kelly Mules of Faces Gone Wild  (www.knoxvillefacepainter.com) whose work you may want to check out.

Looking for autumn color at Pinnacle Overlook in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Sometimes we travel near and far in search of adventures and great places to see, but actually there’s grand beauty in East Tennessee that we sometimes take for granted.  Thus it was on a recent weekend that we headed north about 60 miles from Knoxville to Cumberland Gap for a glimpse of what we hoped would be a spectacular fall view.

Although the colors haven’t turned brilliant yet, you can sense the beauty all around at Cumberland Gap from Pinnacle Overlook.

Established as a National Historical Park in 1940, Cumberland Gap stands at the entrance to three states:  Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia.  Although it’s known as the gateway to the west — especially by the explorers who welcomed the site of a passageway through the Appalachians — Cumberland Gap National Historical Park could be called wilderness even today since 14,000 of its 24,000 acres are managed as such.

Even without the fall colors, the ridges and valleys are a sight to behold in the afternoon sunlight.

Our trip was “pre-fallish,” if we were seeking lush, rich autumn colors.  But definitely no disappointment.  Perhaps those who read this post and see the pictures will be able to schedule a trip for later in October when a patchwork of yellows, oranges, and browns will spread out over the ridges and valleys.

Touches of fall color dotted the mountains at Cumberland Gap.

Be sure to take the short, easy walk to Pinnacle Overlook and gaze across the landscape.

A spectacular view of the mountains from Pinnacle Overlook at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Then look down at the little town of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, and out towards Middlesboro, Kentucky.

You can look down on the little town of Cumberland Gap where overnight lodging and restaurants are available for travelers to the area.

And enjoy the flora and fauna bordered by aging split rail fences along the walkways.

On the return trip to Knoxville, take Highway 25E toward Bean Station where you’ll be rewarded with this view  — spectacular with or without fall colors.

View from Bean Station overlook on Tennessee’s Highway 25E — just a touch of color for now, but it’s coming!

We returned home, thankful that we’d spent the day in our home state yet wondering why we don’t do it more often.  After all, the natural beauty of East Tennessee is hard to beat!

Come see us,

Bert and Rusha

For more information:

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: http://www.nps.gov/cuga/index.htm

Driving Directions: http://www.nps.gov/cuga/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Boomer Travel tip:  Much of the scenic area known generally as Cumberland Gap can be seen by car.  However, the walk to Pinnacle Overlook is an easy one, so we recommend getting out and walking the 600 feet to the viewing area.  You’ll be glad you did!