17 Aug 2026 4 min read

Great Fall 2026 Adventure

I needed time to think without distractions from the herd. So, I made a little blanket fort and settled in for some reflection. We had so much fun on our big Spring 2026 Adventure, I thought it would be smart to plan a big Fall 2026 Adventure. I presented a few options to Carrie. You won't believe her response! She said she would be working at her new job by then and we couldn't plan such an elaborate trip! She did buy some new cute clothes (she has trimmed down a bit and needed a few things IF she gets another job). At the risk of being rude, she doesn't actually have a new job to plan travel around or wear these new clothes. What she could do is pack them on a trip with me and wear them out to a nice meal or event. She did say we could plan a shorter trip for early September and call it our Great Fall 2026 Adventure. Ok, I'm in!

I immediately thought about how much fun we had both times we visited the Great Smoky Mountains and suggested we go back there. Maybe we could see another bear in Cades Cove! Carrie and I got to talking about it, though, and decided we would really like to go somewhere new and earn a sticker on our travel map. Right now, we are thinking about staying in Chattanooga a couple of nights and then five nights in Hendersonville, North Carolina (new sticker). This trip would let us enjoy shopping, a nice river, city lights from the hotel, waterfalls, scenic drives, and whatever else tickles our fancy. We need to discuss it as a family and encourage Carrie with some friendly ankle nipping/herding to book the accommodations and clear our schedules!

Thinking about the Smokies was so exciting! I decided to share some of my favorite memories from our last trip there, when we stayed at a KOA cabin in Cosby, TN. Oh my goodness, that KOA had one of the best walking paths ever and I would highly recommend it.

Our cabin was so comfy. It had a fire pit on the fenced deck. Because the deck was secure, I was trusted to run in and out! When I got tired of deck security (you wouldn't believe how much activity there can be at the perimeter of a campground cabin), the comfy couch had my blankets and pillows. We just pushed the footrests out of the way. I don't need them and there wasn't room for anyone else on the couch anyway. Can you believe how pretty the sky was from the deck? Holy moly, I was in awe!

Gatlinburg East/Smoky Mountain KOA Holiday

We love shopping in Gatlinburg! Even me! This trip, we went to a place where artists take hunks of wood and make beautiful things. We came home with two amazing carvings which remind us of the Great Smoky Mountains on a daily basis!

Aren't they cute? Daddy liked the bison right away. Mommy liked the bear right away. Sister and I liked both and we made room for them in the car so everyone was happy.

I couldn't possibly put all the pictures from our time in the park. I can tell you that we saw waterfalls, streams, a bear, deer, horses, and so much more! Here are a few favorite photo memories from this magical trip:

I had my supper next to that beautiful stream before we went into Cades Cove where we saw that bear! On the way into the park, Carrie bought me a Bark Ranger bandana and swore me into service when she put it on my neck. Thank goodness because I barked at that bear from the car and kept it from getting us!

I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane. I highly recommend taking a vacation to the Smokies if you haven't been! There is something for everyone there! Might be smart to promote a furry friend to Bark Ranger before going into Cades Cove where the bears are known to make appearances.

I'll leave you with a challenge that I too will accept: dream big! I'll be dreaming of our Great Fall 2026 Adventure. Maybe it will be a week. Maybe we'll win the lottery and it will be a month! Time will tell! No matter what, I'll be with my herd and I'll be happy. Enjoy a tasty treat! Bark at a bear! Bye!