Great Smokey Mountain Railroad

Posted on June 6, 2014June 6, 2014 by Dusty Roads

All Aboard the Nantahala Gorge Excursion train.

The description sounded wonderful. :

Take a ride along side the beautiful Nantahala River on our Nantahala Gorge Excursion! Departing from Bryson City, this four-and-a-half hour excursion carries you 44 miles to the Nantahala Gorge and back again arrving at our Bryson City depot.

The pictures even more attractive.

My trip was longer than 4 1/2 hours. I think it was 6 or 7 hours. I knew it wouldn’t be colorful like this because it was the wrong time of year but I imagined I’d get to see the train either approach the bridge or cross it or even see the bridge after we pulled away. Nope.

Most of the trip was spent watching the grass and tress and bushes pass by. Most of the view of the lake and river was obscured. The opposite side of the train from the river had high banks and shrubs for scenery. Not much to see there either.

I was taking the trip alone so in the infinite wisdom of the ticket gods I was placed in an aisle seat with a family of 7. 2 grandparents, 2 parents and 3 children…all bored. Even the father said it was the most boring scenic train ride he’d ever been on.

I suppose my seat was ok as long as you don’t mind being climbed over by the oldest girl who couldn’t stay in her seat to save her life. Plus being blocked from the window I didn’t have much chance for pictures.

They had a mountain man story teller who was pretty good but he was only in our car for a little while and I found out that as of Memorial Day he would not be on the train anymore because he has his own shop in Byson City.

We also had a singer except every time he started to sing they made a train announcement. I think he actually finished 1 song. They had another girl who came through making balloon animals for the kids. The 3 I was seated with managed to pop or untwist theirs almost before she was out of the car.

Finally we turned around and stopped for lunch. I had purchased one of the boxed lunches so picked it up and made for the picnic tables.

It had been raining all day but there were a few kayakers honing their skills in the rapids…until I pulled out my camera. Then they quit. Things just don’t seem to be going right for me today.

I moved to the open air car hoping to get better views but there really wasn’t much to see. I was glad it was a rainy day. I would have hated to spend the day on this train ride if it had been nice out.

I’m not trying to be a complainer. I love taking the scenic train rides. I think that’s why i was so disappointed. I’ve taken enough of them to know a good ride from a poor one and this was one of the poorest I’ve been on. To be in such a beautiful area and have such lack luster views, well it was quite the let down. No matter how I try to spin it I just can’t recommend it. It really needs some work to make it interesting.

Approved!

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Hurray It’s Approved! My boss approved my vacation time so it’s official, I can really count on heading to Tennessee in May.

So far I ‘ve got a at least 1 day in Dollywood with a ride on the Dollywood Express, a day exploring the trolley routes of downtown Gatlinburg and a day sampling moonshine and whiskey.

Along with the liquid treats my cousin recommended an restaurant called The Greenbrier Restaurant . http://www.greenbrierrestaurant.com/ It’s billed as a romantic, fine dining establishment.

Well since I’ll be alone we can skip the romance but I like the fine dining description and I loved the menu. Two of my very favorite things are on it. I could make a meal of just the appetizers, My favorite: Escargot Ala Bourguignon French selects served in mushroom caps and simmering garlic butter. I’ve never had them served in mushroom caps but I like mushrooms so should be yummy.

The main course is bound to be just as good : Lobster Tail

One Tail or Two ? Steamed and served with lemon wedges and drawn butter.

Who would think that someone from Massachusetts would always be on the lookout for lobster tails when I’m surrounded by Maine lobster all the time. Well, they are not the same and (I’ll probably have to hide out after this comment) I like the tails better than Maine Lobster. There I said it. My New England Yankee card will probably be revoked. I don’t dislike Maine Lobster I just prefer the Langoustines , those big , juicy tails usually served on the shell. They are a different animal and more common in the south. When I was growing up in upstate New York the frozen variety was more common than the live Maine lobsters. I imagine that’s changed now. Every high end restaurant seems to have a lobster tank.

Now I’m hungry and it isn’t even noon yet!

Anyway the same cousin that tipped me to the restaurant also gave me a link to a train ride out of Chattanooga. http://www.tvrail.com/pages/etowah-train-rides-train-excursions-in-Tennessee Known as the Hiwassee River rail Adventure it sounds perfect. The ride is described as the historic Hiwassee River Rail Adventure scenic rail excursion through the unspoiled Cherokee National Forest, along beautiful and scenic Hiwassee River, and through the secluded Hiwassee River Gorge. It leaves from Etowah. My only decision is do I do the short or long version?

I think I’m leaning toward the all day trip but I’m open to suggestions too.

All Aboard

Posted on March 2, 2014March 2, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I like to take vintage train rides when I get a chance and my sister said she took a nice train ride while visiting Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I’ve searched but the only one I can locate is actually part of Dollywood. Known as the Dollywood Express, an authentic 110 ton coal fired steam engine travels 5 miles through the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains.

The other train ride I found That actually ventures into the Great Smokey Mountains is a North Carolina train. The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad chugs out of Bryson City, NC. There are several trains but the one that caught my eye is the Nantahala River Gorge Excursion. ” Take a ride along side the beautiful Nantahala River on our Nantahala Gorge Excursion! Departing from Bryson City, this four-and-a-half hour excursion carries you 44 miles to the Nantahala Gorge and back again arriving at our Bryson City depot. “

Too bad I won’t be in North Carolina this trip.

I checked out Chattanooga too. It’s about 2- 2 1/2 hours from Gatlinburg but even though it’s famous for the Chattanooga Choo Choo there’s no train ride here. Train history is preserved and you can arrange to stay overnight in a real vintage sleeping car but sadly, no click clack train ride.

So unless someone knows of another scenic/ vintage train ride in the Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg area of the Great Smokey Mountains I think I’ll be limited to the 5 mile adventure on the Dollywood Express.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

A Couple of Norths

Posted on October 3, 2013October 3, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Rounding out the states that start with N are North Carolina and North Dakota. I’m afraid that’s 2 more no’s but what is there to see and do in these two states?

North Carolina

Lots to see and do in this state. I can’t wait to get there! The top 7 things on my wish list are:

The Town of Cherokee. It includes the Cherokee Reservation and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Reviews of the town and the events are great. If you like Native American History, then this sounds like a place to check out. Many Cherokee from North Carolina were rounded up and made to march to Indian Territory on the “Trail of Tears”, not one of the white man’s finer moments.
Cape Hatteras and the National Seashore and Lighthouse. You’d think I’d be happy to skip this when I have the Cape Cod National Seashore in my own back yard but if it’s undeveloped and wild, count me in.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Same as above. I want to see the migrating birds and any other wildlife that might be lingering about.
And the #4 spot on my list goes to the Wild Horses of The Crystal Coast. The nice thing…we can go see them! Tourists are welcome to ferry over to Shackleford Banks to see the horses. “While it is not in the best interest of either horse or person to get too close, people should look, photograph, and enjoy the wild horses for the unique part of North Carolina that they are.” .Read more: http://www.budgettravel.com/blog/the-amazing-wild-horses-of-north-carolina,12054/#ixzz2gIsMhOmg
The Blue Ridge Mountains. I want to drive the Blue Ridge Mountain parkway for the scenic views and a taste of Appalachian Culture.
Nantahala National Forest holds Nantahala Gorge, a crevasse that’s 1800 feet at it’s deepest and 100 yards wide at it’s narrowest. The scenic drive is known as the Nantahala By way. There’s even a Nantahala Gorge Train ride.The 4 ½ hour round trip Nantahala River Gorge Excursion departs from the historic town of Bryson City and travels 44 miles to the scenic Nantahala River Gorge. This tour travels along a stretch of the Tuckaseegee River, goes through charming countryside, crosses Fontana Lake on a 100 foot high trestle bridge that spans almost 800 feet across the Lake, winds through the scenic Western North Carolina mountains and into the legendary Nantahala River Gorge. Oh my! A Must See if there ever was one!
Roanoke Island is home to the first settlement established by Sir Walter Raleigh more than 30 years before the Mayflower dropped anchor in Plymouth, Ma.

There’s lots more besides these 7 places but I bet it would take the whole vacation to do 1/2 of it partly because I’d be all over the state! In fact I’ve gone on so long about North Carolina that I’ll have to save North Dakota for another post.

So adding North Carolina to the “Must See” side of the ledger brings my tally to 12 visited 21 to go!

New Jersey and New Mexico

Posted on September 27, 2013September 27, 2013 by Dusty Roads

New Jersey…YES

I debated about New Jersey but in the end I had to say yes. My experience with New Jersey isn’t the typical vacation experience but I think I was there enough for it to qualify as a YES state.

I had an uncle that lived in New Jersey and I went to visit him several times. He lived in Clifton Park and we’d sit on his enclosed porch and look across the Hudson River at the skyline of New York City.

When a friend got married in New Jersey, another friend & I took the opportunity to visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty located in upper New York Bay. The state border of New York and New Jersey runs through the bay’s midpoint. The original islands remain New York territory despite their location on the New Jersey side of the state line. The ferry we took to the islands left from the New Jersey side.

Another reason I felt I had spent enough time in the state to cross it off is Atlantic City. In the years I was affiliated with the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios I spent many trips attending dance competitions which were always held in one of the casinos in Atlantic City.

Not much of a gambler I spent any “down time” walking the boardwalk.

Of course we aren’t counting flying into airports. I have made the flight into Newark airport many times most recently on the return trip from Alaska. But changing planes in an airport doesn’t count. 🙂

Recently New Jersey has had more than its share of trouble. The coast was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Boardwalks and arcades were rebuilt in time for the summer season only to be destroyed all over again by a raging fire, the cause of which is attributed to corroded wiring because of the water damage from the hurricane. But, like a phoenix I have no doubt New Jersey will rise again from the ashes.

I am certain that I will visit the state again. It is close enough to Massachusetts that it can be a weekend get away and there are still more things that interest me in the state.

New Mexico …NO

This is a state I keep flirting with. There is so much that I want to see and do there but I prefer to use my timeshare and that’s the problem. New Mexico is a pretty big state and there is only one timeshare exchange and it’s located in Santa Fe.

There’s a huge hot air balloon festival every year in Albuquerque and I’d love to take that in.

But Roswell is way to the south of Albuquerque and how can I go to New Mexico and not explore Roswell, the heart of the UFO phenomenon?

Even farther south is Carlsbad Caverns National Park. That’s been on my must visit bucket list from day one! the pictures I’ve seen of these caves are amazing. I’ve visited caves before including Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota but each cave is different.

A 2.5 hour drive from Santa Fe will get me to New Mexico’s land of Fire and Ice. The Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano are located in the west-central, Zuni Mountain range of New Mexico, where NM State Hwy 53 crosses the North American Continental Divide. This cave and it’s neighboring volcano sound really interesting too.

I also heard about an amazing railroad trip. I thought it took you through the Chihuahua Mountains crossing into Mexico and Texas but I may be confused because when I tried to find it again struck out. But I did find The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad which was originally constructed in 1880 as part of the San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Western.