Maine Trip 2026 - Part Eight - Burlington, MA to Knoxville, TN

 Day 27 -  October 4, 2026

This morning after breakfast at the hotel, not a good buffet, it was off to Suffren NY. This drive took us south through Massachusetts, into Connecticut for a short period, then into New York. We were able to enjoy some fall colors on the way.

DashCam Snap

Our stay was booked at a Crowne Plaza hotel with a restaurant. Time to watch some football.

Day 28 - October 5, 2026

After a great breakfast buffet at the hotel, which included made to order omelets, we fueled the car and we're off.

Our next destination on the return is Winchester, VA. Today's drive took us from New York, through a portion of New Jersey and Maryland, before sending us into West Virginia and finally our destination Virginia State. Passing the more open country side of farms and pastures.

About 250 miles but lots of congestion and slow speed limits made for a long day. Arriving at the hotel, we saw a Mexican restaurant across the parking lot and decided to try that for dinner.  Altos De Jalisco appears to be a family run Mexican restaurant.

The food was good, the service was great. Interestingly, on the wall above our table was a mural depicting Day-of-the-Dead figures.

It was very well painted and presented. What made it even more interesting to us, was the artist signed it “May York” and listed a 509 area code phone number.

To Deb & I this meant at one time the artist was in eastern Washington State. Asking one of the employees, he told us a man had come from quite a distance to paint two murals for the restaurant, but that was all that he knew.

Back wall - same artist

Day 29 - October 6, 2026

Staying in Virginia all of our travels today. We travelled from Winchester to Wyethville, VA. Along the way we saw signs for the Blue Ridge Parkway. We did not take that route (I did not know which way it ran). Though we did not take it, we saw a lot of changing fall colors, but not as plentiful or vibrant as what we had seen in Maine. Lots of farms and pastures and crops and cattle in the field.

After checking into the hotel, Google directed us to the Seven Dogs Brew Pub. Nice atmosphere, good food and nice staff.

Day 30 - October 7, 2026. _30735

Today we were off to Knoxville, TN. After a short drive through Virginia, we dropped into eastern Tennessee. On I40 it was west into Knoxville. 

Once checked in at the hotel, we did some laundry and then picked up a prescription at CVS. Dinner was at Texas Roadhouse.

Day 31 - October 8, 2026

The Great Smoky Mountains today. The last time we had been through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and thee Great Smoky Mountains was in 2003. Boy how things have changed. It used to be a two lane road in each direction, reducing to one lane in each direction through the towns. Now it is three lanes both directions most of the way, reducing to two lanes each way through the towns. It also seems like one continuous development of hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions, from Sevierville to Gatlinburg. It took more than 20 minutes to get through Gatlinburg in stop and go traffic.

DashCam - Gatlinburg #1

DashCam - Gatlinburg #2

DashCam - Gatlinburg #3

DashCam Gatlinburg #4

Once through Gatlinburg, the road drops to one lane in each direction across the mountains. This part of the drive was busy as it was before.

DashCam - Newfound Gap Road - aka US441

DashCam - Newfound Gap Road

DashCam - Newfound Gap Road - Mtn Views

DashCam - Newfound Gap Road - Mtn Views

Cherokee, NC was not the small roadside convenience store it was in 2003. Now it is a tourist mecca with fuel stations, restaurants and hotels.

DashCam - Cherokee, NC #1

DashCam - Cherokee, NC #2

 

DashCam - Cherokee, NC #3

23 years really does make a big difference. 

On the way back, we took the by-pass around Gatlinburg and that was very nice. We also found a Bass Pro Shop in Kodak, TN. We spent some time browsing and making a purchase or two.

Dinner tonight was at Shagbark Barbeque Company. An order at the counter restaurant. Located across the parking lot from the hotel, we smelled the wood smoke and the smell of smoking meat. I had the Brisket Plate with the half a pound of Brisket, pasta salad and coleslaw. Deb had a smoked turkey sandwich with coleslaw. The food was delicious, the service excellent and the employees friendly. They have been in business a year and only have the one location.  Dessert was smoked peach cobbler which was also excellent.