As a child growing up in middle Tennessee one of my favorite things to do was to go to the Smokies! I used to love wading the creeks, hiking up trails to waterfalls and watching candy makers stretch taffy in the candy shops in Gatlinburg. It was like being in a fantasy world. It took us away from all the chores at home and school. As an adult I have traveled to many places both in and out of our country and I still rank the Smoky Mountains as one of those places where you love to come back to, over and over again. There is always something new to see and experience. It takes me back to a slower time where people were more into nature and just sitting on the front porch soaking up the view.