This past week I had the opportunity to get a away for a few days with my family and a handful of friends. We spent lots of time sitting around the camp fire, fishing, hiking and just enjoying the unbelievable beauty of the Smoky Mountains in October. It has to be one of my favorite places on earth. Here’s a few of my favorite pics from the trip and part of a great poem I found the other day.
Do you have a favorite place in the fall?
Octobers Party
by George Cooper
October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand…”
Beautiful photos Pete! I love this time of year. Glad you had a chance to get away and relax with your family.
.-= Heidi´s last blog ..Sneak Peek – Schmidt Family =-.
Well, the Smokies are right up there for me too. I have to say though that this fall has been superb in the northeast…I’m about an hour outside of Manhattan in Northern NJ and it is gorgeous…several of my recent posts have pictures..so glad you enjoyed your time away.
.-= joyce´s last blog ..I Walked a Metaphor =-.
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and the coast of Newfoundland… but, after seeing your post & photos… I’m reconsidering!!
Awesome photos!
.-= Annabelle´s last blog ..Surgery went well =-.
Great pictures!!
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Adventure Science Center =-.
Those photos are beautiful! I can understand why it’s one of your favorite places!
Pete, those pictures are AMAZING. I absolutely love the Smoky Mountains. Nothing more beautiful. I remember one time driving through them and I seriously never felt so small up next to such a HUGE God. That area is God’s artistry at it’s finest!!!!!
.-= Lauren Kelly´s last blog ..Weekend Recap! =-.
i am always a sucker for great photography! it almost (and i mean almost) makes me want to try camping, but not quite. thanks for sharing the photos though!
I grew up camping with my family, although I have never been to the Smokies. That’d be quite a drive from Arkansas! Love the photos, Pete. Except for the allergies, I really do like Fall – leaves, cooler weather, football, boots and sweaters… yes, Fall is nice!
.-= diane´s last blog ..Happy birthday, Mimi! =-.
@Joyce, I’ve always wanted to visit the North East during the fall.
I am totally a mountain girl at heart. I love the beach but there is something about the mountains, especially in the fall, that puts my soul at ease. Last fall we took a trip to Blowing Rock, NC right when the leaves were changing – and I think my favorite part of the trip was the drive. Rockin’ out to John Denver and enjoying the scenery. (Actually I don’t know if you can “rock out” to John Denver but it was loud and I might have been singin’ along)
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Laughing with Him =-.
Beautiful pictures and you guys look like you had fun. Route 2 in WV from Huntington, WV to Lesage on the River and a beautiful drive anytime!!
Awesome pics, Pete. I am not familiar with that area, but perhaps a motorcycle ride there in the future is in order. Beautiful area, where is it exactly?
My Fall respite has always been at the hunting lease. Good food, good friends, and God’s awesome nature.
Wow~ Those are beautiful pics!!! I love anywhere “pumpkin patchy” in the fall. Apple cider, donuts, pumpkins etc.
Now I’m getting homesick!!!
.-= Maureen´s last blog ..I’m in way over my head =-.
@Woody, the place was packed with motorcycles. It’s a perfect place for a ride. It’s near Knoxville, TN if that helps.
JEALOUS! So beautiful. I love the fall. My favorite place is anyplace where the trees are full of color, the air is crisp, the leaves are underfoot and mix in some water.
Thanks for sharing.
.-= jessica´s last blog ..This Man =-.
Amazing pictures! Makes me want to go to the mountains. I love going to the mountains in the fall…haven’t done it in a long time though.
.-= Nick´s last blog ..Legalism at its Best =-.
I am glad to see in your photos that the leaves have not completely finished changing. We will be going there this coming weekend, so I am glad that there will still be a grand display of color.
@Joyce and @PeteWilson RE Northeast: Last year we had the opportunity to travel for 2 weeks up the East coast to Maine and back. Acadia National Park in full color was the MOST breathtaking view I have seen to date. Seriously! I could hardly breathe the entire time we were there, and it was not the altitude! I thought my chest would explode from the awe and love for the Creator.
While I long to go back to the New England states in Autumn, this year I am grateful to be going to the 2nd best place on my list – the Smoky Mtns.
.-= Mel´s last blog ..IRL & JOY =-.
I love your photographs! They are great!
.-= Becky´s last blog ..Obedience =-.
Our small group was there, too. It was absolutely gorgeous! Glad u guys had an awesome time!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Harvest orf Friends Block Party! =-.
I just like to look at the area where I live. It’s just amazing that all that beauty was hiding just under the surface of all those seemingly identical trees of just a couple of months ago. I went around and took pictures yesterday and it was just gorgeous.
Can you imagine what God was thinking when he made the trees.
“Oh wait, I’ll create this thing called fall and have all these trees show their praise for Me in their unique beauty. That will blow everyone’s mind.”
I am so thankful that God is creative.
.-= Harold´s last blog ..Isaias Gabriel – Making The Difference in the DR =-.
@Mel, you should hit it right at “peek”!
Wow! The mountains look absolutely gorgeous! Putting “Smokey Mountains in the Fall” on my list of places I need to go…
we have the same leaf-changing going on in Washington state
.-= Jim Gray´s last blog ..Ocean Floor Forgiveness =-.
Oh my gosh, those photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing a view of fall…
.-= gitz´s last blog ..Brought to You by the Letter E =-.
Who can say there is no God?
His handiwork is Awesome!
.-= sherri´s last blog ..A blogversary and a lesson and the answer to "How did I end up here?" =-.
So glad y’all had a great time and the scenery was just perfect!!! I always wish that fall lasted just a smidget longer.
Have a great week!
.-= Fran´s last blog ..Life=hard =-.
Yosemite. The valley just absolutely glows and reflects off the monumental sheer cliffs – everything has a warm wave of color over it – only to be enhanced by the blues, blacks & greens of the rushing river, the glistening of towering waterfalls and the brilliant blue of the untainted sky.
To top it off, there is a constant warming smell of chestnuts and smoke (from the resort chimney) that is so natural and soothing – day and night.
It’s my heaven on earth (ok – one of them)
Looks like fun, as usual.
This year I’m enjoying the sunshine in the PT pool, 3 walls of the place are huge glass windows so it’s great to feel the sun and see the leaves while working out SO hard.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..For Every Purpose Under Heaven =-.
@Harold, that is exactly what I kept thinking all weekend. I just walked around thinking, “God didn’t have to do this!”
The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia of course. Usually during the fall months just as the leaves start to change. We didn’t do in hiking, but we visted the caverns. It was something I have done since I was a child. Its been a long time, may be time for a trip.
.-= DisneyCyndi´s last blog ..Sunday Mind Dump (via twitter and twitpix). =-.
I love to be OUTSIDE in the fall! There is a great state park/rec area near Boone, IA where I got to hike the fall I was engaged to my hubby – one of my best fall memories!
.-= Abbie´s last blog ..DIY cupboard insert =-.
those pictures are amazingly breathtaking!
.-= alece´s last blog ..i want to get this right =-.
Wow! Gorgeous pictures Pete!
We just got back from there as well. Love Gatlinburg. Something about those mountatins.
The beach would be my next favorite spot, love waking up to the sound of the waves every morning.
Take care,
Amy
@crumbsonmyfloor, the beach would be a close second. Funny how moth the mountains and the beach are so special to our family.
@Pete – So good to hear. I am beyond excited! 2 more days!
.-= Mel´s last blog ..IRL & JOY =-.
West Virginia…I lived there for many years. I used to take my kids and a quilt and go lay out in our Christmas tree farm at night and watch how deep the stars were in what my 14 year old calls country dark. Nothing like the hills in the fall … working on the tree farm with the kids , getting ready for deer season, horseback riding , atv’s… magical colors in the trees.
Thank you so much for posting this! I really needed to hear those words. I’m on the bridge right now.
.-= Jennifer Villamil´s last blog ..Shipwrecked =-.
Sorry meant to post my comment on the post above this one…ha! But fantastic pictures!
.-= Jennifer Villamil´s last blog ..Nothing to Wear =-.
Your pics are amazing. I love fall so much. Definitely my favorite season. The colors just never fail to bowl me over. Growing up in Louisiana, we never had a very colorful fall – everything just went from green straight to dull brown on the ground. So I really cherish Tennessee falls.
I love the pics on this post. Absolutely beautiful!