The Chimneys in the Great Smoky Mountains

by Pam Archer
(Kingsport, TN, USA)

The river in the Chimneys Picnic Park

Chimney. I suppose the first image that would come to one's mind when they hear or read that word would be something that is attached to a fireplace. When I hear the word, I immediately think of my favorite place in the world. It is the Chimney's Picnic ground in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Smokies, as we fondly refer to them, are home to my family. Knoxville, Tennessee is my hometown and is in the foothills of the Smokies. I now live only about an hour and a half drive from them. It is the most visited national park in America.

I have too many memories to count of family picnics there. In my childhood, we were sure to see a black bear or two on every visit. We often drove up early in the morning and cooked breakfast there. Mother would make homemade buttermilk biscuits before we left home. She would fry sausage, eggs, ham, or bacon in an iron skillet over the open fire. I can smell it cooking! A picnic lunch always included fried chicken, baked beans, and all the fixings.

After eating, Daddy would take us hiking. I have hiked most of the trails in the Smokies. They are all beautiful and filled with all sorts of flora and fauna.

On one such occasion, I decided to stay back at the picnic site with Mother while the others went on the hike. Shortly after they left, a huge papa bear sauntered down into our picnic area. He headed straight for us, because he could smell the drippings on the skillet. Mother and I took off running and watched at a distance as he licked the skillet. He got piping mad when the skillet burned his tongue. He helped himself to our food on the table.

It wasn't long after that my sisters came running down the mountain screaming. Daddy had come eyeball to eyeball to a bear. The bear was standing on his back legs. That was an eventful picnic!

I hope that this will give you a sense of visiting the most visited and beloved park in the U.S.A.