Gatlinburg Trip

This weekend, some of my best friends from high school (15 of us in total) ventured down to Gatlinburg for our second annual trip to the Smoky Mountains. Like last time, it was crazy, exhausting, and a total blast.

We stayed in a huge chalet up in the mountains, which made the drive a little scary, but the gorgeous view was worth it. We had three levels, a hot tub, a game room (with air hockey, a pool table, and an awesome arcade video game with Pac-Man, Frogger, etc.), and a gas fireplace.

He was the definitive Pac-Man champ of the weekend.

On Friday morning, we went downtown for breakfast at Gatlinburg's Pancake Pantry. Although it wasn't quite as good as Nashville's, it was still so delicious. After breakfast, we walked down the strip and stopped for some moonshine tasting and bluegrass music at Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine.

Blackberry was my favorite.

On Saturday, a group of us went to get barbeque for lunch. I also tried this delicious cherry soda called Cheerwine. Has anyone else had this? I wish they sold it everywhere. After lunch, Wheat, Ben, Emily, and I decided to explore the national park. We opted to go on a 2.6-mile round-trip hike to see Laurel Falls. The way there was mostly uphill, but the pay-off was really nice.

Somehow, those two made it.

That night, we met everyone downtown for one last dinner at Smoky Mountain Brewery. Wheat and I followed that up with some deep-fried Oreos. We're addicted.

Mostly, we spent the entire weekend inside the cabin, hanging out, playing games, and catching up with some of the best people I've ever known. Now, I'm completely exhausted, but wishing I was still there. I really am the luckiest girl.