Dear Readers,

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take a romantic vacation to a destination you visited as a child? We put that question to the test this month with a visit to Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. Known as "the honeymoon capital of the South," today the town is a magnet for couples looking for inexpensive weddings in one of the town's numerous charming wedding chapels. (More on those in future issues.) But for many years this town has drawn a summer crowd of families--including, years ago, Paris' own family. So what would it be like to visit the destination as a couple?

We're happy to report that it's just as great. While Gatlinburg has certainly changed, drawing crowds that the town never even dreamed of in its earlier years, much of the charm of this mountain getaway remains. We stayed at Rocky Waters, a motel where Paris and her family stayed on several family vacations. What made a fun family getaway was now a romantic getaway with a riverfront balcony, all for under $100 a night. From our home base, we set out walking, heading into town on foot (the traffic is unreal, especially on Saturday nights.) Our destination: the SkyLift, where we took a quiet ride for a scenic view of the town. That evening, we dined at the Trout House, known for its fresh from the stream local trout. The next day, it was back to work, checking out Gatlinburg's many wedding chapels and photographing them for a future photo gallery.

From Gatlinburg, we drove across the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, leaving the crowds behind and spending a couple of hours making our way to North Carolina. Soon, we were driving through Cherokee (known for its huge Harrah's casino) and quiet Maggie Valley before arriving in the hip, happening city of Asheville, best known for its bluegrass scene.

We toured downtown Asheville one day then headed out to Chimney Rock, a privately owned park about an hour from town. This park looked familiar even though we'd never visited: many scenes from The Last of the Mohicans were filmed here. Nearby, Lake Lure served as the backdrop for Dirty Dancing.

All too soon, our trip was over and we were leaving the Smokies to return to the Texas heat. We learned an important thing, though: in spite of what Thomas Wolfe said, you can go home again. Even if "home" is a well-remembered home on the road.

Happy travels,

Paris and John

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