Hike Charlies Bunion

Charlies Bunion is one of the more popular (and fun) day-hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s about 8.1 miles roundtrip so give yourself plenty of time to hike in and get out. Charlies Bunion rises to an elevation of 5,565 feet, but you only do about 1,640 feet in elevation during the hike.

To get to Charlies Bunion, start at the Newfound Gap parking lot. The trail to Charlies Bunion, via the Appalachian Trail, is not hard to find. Just follow the signs. It’s funny – you’ll see a sign when you get there that reads “Closely control children.” When you reach the summit there is not a lot of room to move around and it’s all rocks. There aren’t picnic benches or anything. You do this hike for the magnificent view.

Check out this video from the summit.

Great Smoky Mountain Book Fair

It’s time for visitors and locals alike to come out to the 5th annual Great Smoky Mountains Book Fair. Stop by Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Christian Life Center of the Sylva First United Methodist Church. There will be more than 50 authors on site for book signings, story telling, and discussions. It’s a great time for families to come out and walk around. The weather should be good so there’s no excuse not to come!

Authors scheduled to appear include: Ron Rash, Pamela Duncan, Vickie Lane, Alan Wolf, Bob Plott, Fred Chappell, Jim Casada, Sheila Kay Adams, Ed Schubert, Terry Taylor, Wayne Erbsen, Doug Elliot and North Carolina Poet Laureate Katherine Stripling Byer.

Admission is free, and 20 percent of all book sales go toward the new Jackson County Public Library Complex.

Cades Cove Loop

Before the Great Smoky Mountain area was turned into a park, Cades Code was home to many of the frontiers first settlers. Of course I’m talking over a hundred years ago… but what makes Cades Cove (located in Tennessee) so spectacular is that many of the original settlers’ cabins, stables, and churches are still standing. Today Cades Cove is the single most popular destination for visitors to the park, attracting over two million visitors a year.

Cades Cove is known for an 11-mile loop that takes you through the entire region. It is a one-way paved road that is accessible by car, bike or foot. By car, you can expect to travel the entire loop in one to two hours, depending on how many stops you make to admire the settlements and abundant display of wildlife. I recommend you travel through Cades Cove via bicycle. Bicycles can be rented for $3.25 an hour at the Visitors Center at the beginning of Cades Cove.