From afar, Gatlinburg looks like a cool town. From up close, it is fudge shops, ice cream and pancakes. Long lines at the pancake places too. They even have a Ripley's Believe it or Not, which is the kiss of death for tourist traps. Not much social distancing going on. Michael and I stayed away from Gatlinburg although I would have liked to just walk the strip once. Just nothing to do there but gain calories and buy tourist trinkets that no one would appreciate. We did stop in to one strip mall in Pigeon Forge to see what was there but no, nothing worth buying. Everything was from China or the Philippines, even at places supposed to be Cherokee owned. Anyway, it is a strange juxtaposition of those tourist traps, the lack of social distancing and having the Smoky Mountain National Park minutes away. Come to think of it, I could have justified an ice cream after all those hikes!!!
