The Beautiful Town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee

This is the time of year when people want to take their family or friends on a vacation. Well, with so many choices out there, how do you know where to go and what is right for you? Well, if you are a nature lover, like my family and love to hike on a trail, climb mountains, ride horses, camp, fish, sit near a waterfall or venture through a cave, Gatlinburg, Tennessee is the perfect place for you.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a very small town and has some of the friendliest folks you could ever meet. They welcome and greet you, making you feel so welcome. Their hospitality makes you feel like you are a part of their own family. One thing is for sure, you will not be bored in this town, as there is much to see, do and explore.

My teen-age daughter just came back from a trip with the youth group at our local church. They stayed at the Wa-Floy Mountain Village Retreat in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. You can look outside your window at night and see a black bear walking next to the lodge.

Now, that is nature at her very best. A woman with a dream founded this retreat and built it to give the youth a place to go where they can be refreshed and renewed. However, Mountain Village Retreat is not just for the youth but anyone who wants to enjoy the beauty that can be found in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As a matter of fact, they have wedding ceremonies and couples who want to spend their honeymoon at this retreat.

My daughter was in awe of the beauty in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. She could not stop talking about the many spectacular adventures the youth group had. They hiked on trails that led them to beautiful waterfalls in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park where the water is very cold.

One of her favorites was the guided caving expedition at Lost Sea Cave where they had to climb, crawl, squeeze and slide their way through this cave. Next, they drove about two hours away to climb a mountain that was 4,197 feet high, known as Chimney Top Mountain. In my daughter's own words, she said, "Just when you think you have seen it all, you get up here and see something like this, then God shows you just how stupid you really are."

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a wonderful place to bring your family for a vacation or maybe even a honeymoon. You can go hiking, swimming, climb a mountain, ride horses, explore through a cave or you can just relax. One thing is for sure, this will be one trip you and your family or friends will remember for the rest of your lives.