For the last leg of my super quick trip to Canada and back I left Pennsylvania and drove straight down 81 to meet up with one of my best friends in Knoxville, TN. On 81 is where I learned that southern drivers are indeed worse than northern drivers. (The fast lane is for passing, yo.)
We did more talking than touring, but we did visit the Knoxville Zoo, which I had not been to since I was a child. Plus, I made a side trip to Dollywood since I had still had an annual pass there.
NO MORE AIRBNB
While I love all the experiences I had with Airbnb on this trip, there is nothing like staying with a good friend! And this particular friend has lived as far afield as Wisconsin and Washington, so having her so close is really nice. But still, we don’t see each other as often as we would like so I definitely took the opportunity to stay with her on my way back.
I’m actually really bad at staying with people I may know in an area that I’m going to. I either don’t want to impose or just don’t even think about it in the first place. So here’s a reminder for myself and anyone like me–go stay with friends! Or maybe they’ll have friends you can stay with. It reduces your travel costs by a ton and strengthens (or creates) connections, and we could all use more connection. This is really a note for myself–take it if you need it!
KNOXVILLE ZOO
I vaguely remember going to the Knoxville Zoo when I was a kid as a tag-along to one of my older sister’s dates. And I had always wanted to go back but just never really managed it. On this trip, my friend took me with her kiddos and got me in for FREE on her family pass. Yay friends!
And it’s a great zoo! So much bigger than I thought it would be, and sprawling. I don’t know what it is about zoos, but I feel sure they’re designed to get you lost. We wandered around and saw a red panda, elephants, gorillas and rhinos, and all at pretty close quarters. I visited before they opened their new tiger exhibit, so make sure to check that out when you’re there.
DOLLYWOOD
I left them about mid-day to go see if I could ride the Lightnin’ Rod at Dollywood, which in 2016 had been closed every time I visited. And it was closed when I went this time too. I think this was the trip that I finally complained to customer service and they gave me a rain check to come back sometime next year when it was more reliably open.
I rode some of my favorites, the Thunderhead, the steam train, the Wild Eagle, then headed out into the Old Mill area for dinner. I couldn’t get into my favorite, the Pottery House Grill, within a reasonable amount of time (which isn’t unusual) but I found that I could get that wonderful loaded potato soup at the Kitchen Shop around the corner. I sat in nearby Patriot Park and ate my soup under a tree with beautiful fall foliage. Considering that I had traveled all the way to Canada to find fall color on this trip, it was kind of a nice reminder that sometimes what I’m looking for is right at home.
HOME AT LAST
After dinner, I finally drove the last two hours home. Not surprisingly, this part of my trip was a bit of a blur. I was pretty overwhelmed by how much I saw in such a small amount of time, and by how much I left unseen. And while sometimes I feel like I might need to make a break for the border, maybe just staying in one place and being where I am is a better idea.
But I absolutely do NOT regret going to Prince Edward Island. Not at all. And I will totally be back!
Glad you made it back safely 🙂