my favorite GSMNP but the entire year is so full, I have visited it in all seasons of the year and in order to achieve my day as I want it I had to get up super early.
Oh wow! That is good to know! We were hoping to visit again in an off season, but since there is no off season we will have to be smarter in how we plan out our next trip. Waking up early is always a struggle for us but the Great Smoky Mountains will be worth it 😊 Thanks for the insight, we really appreciate it and you watching!
Next time you are in Tennessee, let us know! We have some pretty amazing falls in our “backyard.” Cummings Falls and Burgess Falls are both amazing! Not to mention the Window Cliffs and, a little further away, Fall Creek Falls. They are beautiful spots and have amazing hikes! Much less crowded than the Smokies and, dare I say, just as fun!
We were there a couple of summers ago. It was very hot. We attempted to make it up to the Clingmans Dome. It was drizzling rainy, slippery, and so misty it was like walking in the clouds. Even in the parking lot you could barely see any mountains. We didn't make it very far up before we turned around. But just being "in the clouds" was a great experience.
Oh wow! You definitely got to experience why they call them the "smoky" mountains because of the regular cloud coverage! At the very least, it sounds like it was a very memorable experience 😊 Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
The 1,000 drips WF I could photo. It's defiantly after peak but pretty. Boy I don't like the traffic! I did do a portion of the GSMNP but you guys did an excellent job. "It's too salty" 24:56 but then 24:58 more salt, hummm. Have Funn!
Hi from Johnson City, TN! I've been following you both for just a little while now. I bought a 2010 Transit Connect in February that coincidentally came with the same seat and steering wheel covers that Appa has! I love your videos and look forward to your coming adventures! (I'm also glad I'm not the only one with a squeaky belt under the hood!!) The permits for the fireflies this June opens on April 29th. I'll be applying for it and maybe I'll see y'all there! 🚐🗺
Congratulations on your van, that is so exciting! The steering wheel and seat covers must be part of the Ford Transit Connect camper van starter pack haha Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! You will have to keep us updated if you win the lottery/see the fireflies, we would love to hear all about it! Best of luck in your travels, hope to see you on the road 😊
I love GSMNP however; I no longer visit. I’m so glad I was able to visit often as a child. (Many years ago) The traffic now is horrible and it’s way too “peopley” for me. 😢 I’m glad you were able to visit and YES great score on the campsite! Your Alaska luck followed you! 👍 ✌🏻💕
You are right, the traffic was pretty heavy. The views were worth it but we are hoping the off season is less busy because we are wanting to give the park another chance/do some more exploring and hiking! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it 😊
100 % agree no better traffic jam unless it was through a candy mall I was going to ask how Mike fits in the back of the van. I saw one yesterday and thought hum that looks tiny. I think Mike is 6'3 and my son is 6'3 I said imagine sleeping in the back of that. He said no thanks. I said I think they'd have to move the front seat up and add an extension. Safe travels y'all 💕
You are right, we do have a bed extension! Shameless plug: we did make a video explaining how we fit if you/your son are interested 😊 th-cam.com/video/fEzCltIEkiE/w-d-xo.html Thank you for watching!
@@mikeandheather just watched it I had already seen it but I think it was when I first started following you guys. 6'5 holy moly whew glad he's past growing age, and never a shameless plug I love your videos
You are so right! We were not expecting it to be as bad as it was, both the elevation and traffic haha Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it!
American Parks look stunning. Your mountains are huge compared to Australia. If your near Chattanooga, Tennessee there is a place called Rock City thats amazing, breathtaking views of 7 states, huge waterfalls and fairies. Those wild Turkey were pretty game running around, considering it would have been around Thanksgiving time. Great video guys very well presented.
As always, you are too kind! We really appreciate it and you watching 😊 Thank you for the suggestion on Rock City, we will have to add it to the bucket list!
Lovely looking area which undoubtedly makes it so popular. How weird is it that only in your last video I commented on Snowdonia National Park in the UK been rammed this Bank Holiday and in this video you got the same in the Smokey Mountains….
Right?! You must be psychic or something 😊 It is also extremely popular because it is the largest National Park on the East Coast, most of the National Parks are out West... Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
Thank you for the video 🙂👍. You're talking about different place to sleep. I know about a campsite, but what er the others? Best to you. Kristian from Denmark
There are a lot of places that you can park legally for the night if you are car camping/traveling in a van or RV. There are traditional campsites you can pay for in most areas but there are also a lot of free public spaces as well. The best are "boondocking" spots which are free camping sites on government land (which is known as BLM land) or in National Forests. Then you have rest stops for travelers off of major highways as well as truck stops which are primarily used for semi-trucks but allow overnight parking for any vehicle. Last but not least is at businesses/stores that allow overnight parking. Most Walmarts, Cracker Barrels (a popular restaurant) and Cabela's (an outdoor company) actually have designated parking spot in their lots specifically for this. (there are other companies that allow overnight parking in their lots but do not have designated RV spots, you would just find a regular spot within their lot to park) There is always the option of "stealth" camping as well which is just parking on the side of the road and blending in with other residential cars on the street. This is sometimes hard to do depending on what you are traveling in. Thankfully our small van blends in better than most bigger vans 😊 Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!
You now have to purchase a parking pass to park anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can purchase a parking pass for one day, or one week. If you don’t have a parking pass, the Park Service will tow your vehicle. Sorry to inform you.
I made a detour from US11 on my way back from NOLA, jumped over to NC and drove Deals Gap. If you want a mountain road, that's one, but I'm not sure I'd like to be a passenger for that... P.S. Gnocchis are not pasta, they're spuds (potatoes).
babe wake up! mike and heather posted
my favorite GSMNP but the entire year is so full, I have visited it in all seasons of the year and in order to achieve my day as I want it I had to get up super early.
Oh wow! That is good to know! We were hoping to visit again in an off season, but since there is no off season we will have to be smarter in how we plan out our next trip. Waking up early is always a struggle for us but the Great Smoky Mountains will be worth it 😊 Thanks for the insight, we really appreciate it and you watching!
I've hiked the AT a few times - wonderful. Cades Cove is one of a kind
My absolute favorite time of year 😊 I love the fall colors.......so pretty 🦘
It is our favorite time of the year too 😊
Next time you are in Tennessee, let us know! We have some pretty amazing falls in our “backyard.” Cummings Falls and Burgess Falls are both amazing! Not to mention the Window Cliffs and, a little further away, Fall Creek Falls. They are beautiful spots and have amazing hikes! Much less crowded than the Smokies and, dare I say, just as fun!
Will do! Thank you for the awesome suggestions, we will have to add them to our ever growing bucket list 😊 We really appreciate it and you watching!
Looks way too busy for me to enjoy-thank you both for filming 🥰 Looking forward to your Blue Ridge adventure 👍
We were there a couple of summers ago. It was very hot. We attempted to make it up to the Clingmans Dome. It was drizzling rainy, slippery, and so misty it was like walking in the clouds. Even in the parking lot you could barely see any mountains. We didn't make it very far up before we turned around. But just being "in the clouds" was a great experience.
Oh wow! You definitely got to experience why they call them the "smoky" mountains because of the regular cloud coverage! At the very least, it sounds like it was a very memorable experience 😊 Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
The 1,000 drips WF I could photo. It's defiantly after peak but pretty. Boy I don't like the traffic! I did do a portion of the GSMNP but you guys did an excellent job. "It's too salty" 24:56 but then 24:58 more salt, hummm. Have Funn!
I (Heather) probably didn't need more salt after my loss and would have preferred it to be sugar lol Thank you for watching 😊
Tennessee can be very beautiful!
You are right, especially during fall! We can't wait to go back someday and see the fireflies. Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it 😊
Hi from Johnson City, TN! I've been following you both for just a little while now. I bought a 2010 Transit Connect in February that coincidentally came with the same seat and steering wheel covers that Appa has! I love your videos and look forward to your coming adventures! (I'm also glad I'm not the only one with a squeaky belt under the hood!!) The permits for the fireflies this June opens on April 29th. I'll be applying for it and maybe I'll see y'all there! 🚐🗺
Congratulations on your van, that is so exciting! The steering wheel and seat covers must be part of the Ford Transit Connect camper van starter pack haha
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! You will have to keep us updated if you win the lottery/see the fireflies, we would love to hear all about it! Best of luck in your travels, hope to see you on the road 😊
I love GSMNP however; I no longer visit. I’m so glad I was able to visit often as a child. (Many years ago) The traffic now is horrible and it’s way too “peopley” for me. 😢
I’m glad you were able to visit and YES great score on the campsite! Your Alaska luck followed you! 👍
✌🏻💕
You are right, the traffic was pretty heavy. The views were worth it but we are hoping the off season is less busy because we are wanting to give the park another chance/do some more exploring and hiking! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it 😊
100 % agree no better traffic jam unless it was through a candy mall
I was going to ask how Mike fits in the back of the van. I saw one yesterday and thought hum that looks tiny. I think Mike is 6'3 and my son is 6'3 I said imagine sleeping in the back of that. He said no thanks. I said I think they'd have to move the front seat up and add an extension.
Safe travels y'all 💕
You are right, we do have a bed extension! Shameless plug: we did make a video explaining how we fit if you/your son are interested 😊 th-cam.com/video/fEzCltIEkiE/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for watching!
@@mikeandheather I may have seen it I've watched almost all your videos I'll go back and check
@@mikeandheather just watched it I had already seen it but I think it was when I first started following you guys. 6'5 holy moly whew glad he's past growing age, and never a shameless plug I love your videos
@@llorylloyd Too funny! Thank you for your support!
Clingsman dome, I knew that elevation was going to get you. It got me too. 😂
But the traffic to get there is crazy.
You are so right! We were not expecting it to be as bad as it was, both the elevation and traffic haha Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it!
American Parks look stunning. Your mountains are huge compared to Australia. If your near Chattanooga, Tennessee there is a place called Rock City thats amazing, breathtaking views of 7 states, huge waterfalls and fairies.
Those wild Turkey were pretty game running around, considering it would have been around Thanksgiving time.
Great video guys very well presented.
As always, you are too kind! We really appreciate it and you watching 😊 Thank you for the suggestion on Rock City, we will have to add it to the bucket list!
Lovely looking area which undoubtedly makes it so popular. How weird is it that only in your last video I commented on Snowdonia National Park in the UK been rammed this Bank Holiday and in this video you got the same in the Smokey Mountains….
Right?! You must be psychic or something 😊
It is also extremely popular because it is the largest National Park on the East Coast, most of the National Parks are out West... Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
Thank you for the video 🙂👍. You're talking about different place to sleep. I know about a campsite, but what er the others? Best to you. Kristian from Denmark
There are a lot of places that you can park legally for the night if you are car camping/traveling in a van or RV. There are traditional campsites you can pay for in most areas but there are also a lot of free public spaces as well.
The best are "boondocking" spots which are free camping sites on government land (which is known as BLM land) or in National Forests. Then you have rest stops for travelers off of major highways as well as truck stops which are primarily used for semi-trucks but allow overnight parking for any vehicle. Last but not least is at businesses/stores that allow overnight parking. Most Walmarts, Cracker Barrels (a popular restaurant) and Cabela's (an outdoor company) actually have designated parking spot in their lots specifically for this. (there are other companies that allow overnight parking in their lots but do not have designated RV spots, you would just find a regular spot within their lot to park)
There is always the option of "stealth" camping as well which is just parking on the side of the road and blending in with other residential cars on the street. This is sometimes hard to do depending on what you are traveling in. Thankfully our small van blends in better than most bigger vans 😊
Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!
@@mikeandheather Thank you for the explanation, my next car will definitely be a van.🙂👍
@@kristianolsen4555 There are surprisingly a lot of people who do this in just a car they converted as well 😉
You now have to purchase a parking pass to park anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can purchase a parking pass for one day, or one week. If you don’t have a parking pass, the Park Service will tow your vehicle. Sorry to inform you.
Thank you for the information, we really do appreciate it! We will have to keep that in mind for the next time we visit for sure.
I made a detour from US11 on my way back from NOLA, jumped over to NC and drove Deals Gap. If you want a mountain road, that's one, but I'm not sure I'd like to be a passenger for that...
P.S. Gnocchis are not pasta, they're spuds (potatoes).