If anyone has any doubt about whether:

a) I'm pumped up about going to the Dragon, or
b) I have too much time on my hands....

Here is my itinerary to the Dragon AND two interesting trips in the region that I plotted on MapPoint, more for fun than anything else.

www.taylorsmith.biz/MOTD2006.htm

Enjoy. I can provide the underlying directions to these if anyone is interested.

Taylor

 

Just be forewarned...don't be surprised if your trip #1 will take quite a bit longer than 1 hour 20 minutes. Pretty sure my wife and I did that one last year and it seemed to take a year.

 

Man I don't doubt it. You have to zoom WAY in before some of these roads appear to be roads in Mappoint. I bet the other one takes way longer than 4 hours!

 

wow Taylor will definitely need the FSR's and the GPS now

When you said you couldn't wait.. you weren't kidding Let's go now!!!

 

That back way from Fontana to Robbinsville has a lot of cops on it, especially on the weekend.

 

MiniMac - lol. Maybe we could make 2 trips!

Welshmen - That's a pretty good tip, man! Do they gear up for the big car events too and come out in even greater force?

 

Yes...I have been to the Dragon 8 times since 2003, and I really don't think that 1 hour 20 minutes is a realistic time for Trip #1.

It may compute that way on Mapquest or whatever, but you must keep in mind the inevitable unpredictable variables, like are the mowers out...are they working on a portion of the road and have flagmen slowing everyone down....etc.

 

The Dragon fun drive #1 sounds good. It's been a long time since I crossed the Smokies on that route. Will be arriving at Fontana on Monday, so will probably take a day and do that trip. Anyone else interested???

 

I don't see the 129/Cherohala Skyloop on there. I attempted to do that in December, but was foiled by lousy weather on the Skyway:


On that same trip, I also went to check out the Lost Squadron P-38 museum in Middlesboro, KY. That's about a 90 minute drive on uninteresting roads from Knoxville, but there are some great roads to be found out that way if you're not in a hurry. The museum, airplane and story are really neat, especially if you're an airplane buff. Er, that'd be "buff" as in "enthusiast", not in the B-52 "big ugly fat f***er" sense. ;-)

Google calls that a , which doesn't seem right. But the Cumberland Gap historic park is right there, too.

 

I'd say the trip thru the park is an all-day venture as probably is the Cheoah Skyway. Pack a picnic lunch and get off on the beautiful scenery. Don't forget the tower at Clingman's Dome or the streams and waterfalls that are all over. Lunch at Nantahala Gorge Outdoor Center and a "rubber ducky" raft trip is also a great day. Nantahala river is very tame and fun. The only big falls is at the end, with hot showers and hot food waiting for you immediately afterwards. Have FUN, and explore a bit.