OK, I know, we'd driven through a great deal of mountains to get to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, but we finally entered the official National Park of the Great Smoky Mountains on the first day following our long drives. We stopped at the interpretive center soon after arriving, but it wasn't open yet, so we took a short (very short) hike to a small waterfall. The trail was wide and pleasant, and the weather was optimal.
Just for kicks, I asked the ranger at the interpretive center where we would most likely spot moose. For the record, I know there are no moose in the Smoky Mountains, but I thought it would be fun to see the look on his face. To my chagrin, he didn't miss a beat in his response, telling me I'd have to travel far to the north to see them.
