ADVERTISEMENT

Headed back to Florida Gentlemen

il_fullxfull.911094555_9q29.jpg
 
My family did the cabin in the Smokies for the first time in April this year. Took the scenic route from Cherokee, NC up 441 over the mountain and down into Pigeon Forge. Saw the herd of elk at Park entrance as you leave Cherokee, saw a black bear on side of road in the Park on way to TN, nice spring break trip.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RussellCasse
Where in the Smokies?
We were on Douglas Lake for 10 nights. Drove Blueridge from southern entrance to Asheville, did the National park a couple times, picked up some Hooch from Ole Smokey in Gatlinburg, visited Dollywood and got some cinnamon bread. But mostly spent our time relaxing on Douglas Lake.

Made it i to Savannah last night, headed for cocoa beach for a couple days as we gotta get the Bus serviced in that area (Daytona) actually. Then on to Lake Okeechobee for winter.
 
Last edited:
We were on Douglas Lake for 10 nights. Drove Blueridge from southern entrance to Asheville, did the National park a couple times, picked up some Hooch from Ole Smokey in Gatlinburg, visited Dollywood and got some cinnamon bread. But mostly spent our time relaxing on Douglas Lake.

Made it i to Savannah last night, headed for cocoa beach for a couple days as we gotta get the Bus serviced in that area (Daytona) actually. Then on to Lake Okeechobee for winter.

Sounds amazing. Do you get used to all the traveling and exhaustion from traveling? Do you feel like you're "home" at the end of the day when you get back to the bus?

Either way it sounds like you are living your dream...congrats.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RussellCasse
Sounds amazing. Do you get used to all the traveling and exhaustion from traveling? Do you feel like you're "home" at the end of the day when you get back to the bus?

Either way it sounds like you are living your dream...congrats.
Great questions and apologies for the delay, been driving. The first question is interesting because it’s something we have been discussing alot here the last 2 months.

We spend about 5 months in Florida from November to mid March or April. It provides a nice little break from traveling.
And believe me, come November we are ready to sit for a bit and not travel. The same can be said for when it’s time to leave in the Spring. We are rejuvenated and ready to go see the country. It’s a pretty good balance for us. It’s not everyone’s dream, but you are correct, it is our dream and we are very grateful and humbled by how blessed we are to do it.

We don’t own much, but we traded our stuff for time.

That said, I believe we stayed at 23 Campgrounds this year, and it does wear you down moving that much. (Setting up and tearing down).

Outside of our 5 months in Florida, They ranged from 2 nights to a month. What I believe we are going to do moving forward is try to limit our campgrounds to 6-8 a year. We enjoy spending a month in a place and then moving on. Gives you time to relax and see alot of things. I think it will provide an even better experience.

As for your last question. Yes, the Bus feels like home. Credit my wife for doing an amazing job making it feel that way, but right now I don’t want to own another home. Maybe someday that will change, but for now we are just really enjoying this lifestyle.

One point my wife brought up, and it’s so true….

Many times you forget the shit show going on in the world while out away from most the rest of society. IMO, that’s the best part. It’s like going back in time to a simpler time.
 
Last edited:
We were on Douglas Lake for 10 nights. Drove Blueridge from southern entrance to Asheville, did the National park a couple times, picked up some Hooch from Ole Smokey in Gatlinburg, visited Dollywood and got some cinnamon bread. But mostly spent our time relaxing on Douglas Lake.

Made it i to Savannah last night, headed for cocoa beach for a couple days as we gotta get the Bus serviced in that area (Daytona) actually. Then on to Lake Okeechobee for winter.
Very nice.

@NorthJerseyGator - did you enjoy the area? I am very close to investing in a large cabin in the pigeon Forge/ Sevierville area for short term rentals. It'll be one with a heated pool in the basement. Those rent all year round.

Supposedly that is one of the busiest areas in the country for cabin rentals and maybe even the busiest, along with Gatlinburg ...
 
Very nice.

@NorthJerseyGator - did you enjoy the area? I am very close to investing in a large cabin in the pigeon Forge/ Sevierville area for short term rentals. It'll be one with a heated pool in the basement. Those rent all year round.

Supposedly that is one of the busiest areas in the country for cabin rentals and maybe even the busiest, along with Gatlinburg ...
Not intended for me, but that area is always busy as can be. If the price is right you will make money I would think. Crazy how busy it is.

A 10 mile drive will take a half hour.
 
Very nice.

@NorthJerseyGator - did you enjoy the area? I am very close to investing in a large cabin in the pigeon Forge/ Sevierville area for short term rentals. It'll be one with a heated pool in the basement. Those rent all year round.

Supposedly that is one of the busiest areas in the country for cabin rentals and maybe even the busiest, along with Gatlinburg ...
I am a native so I can travel east about 1.5 hrs to visit family and enjoy the mountains. These cabins are all over the place and the little berg I grew up in has rustic cabins which seem to be quite profitable. Guy uses airbnb.

The Gatlinburg area of course has the tourist stuff to compliment the natural attractions. My honeymoon was there and we went to the Blue Mountain Mist B&B for out 10th anniversary.

30th is coming up and we have discussed going back.

Gatlinburg is a little over 3 hrs so we can make it a weekender.

Of course you will make money on the "buy" end. Its something I am interested in doing myself.
 
Very nice.

@NorthJerseyGator - did you enjoy the area? I am very close to investing in a large cabin in the pigeon Forge/ Sevierville area for short term rentals. It'll be one with a heated pool in the basement. Those rent all year round.

Supposedly that is one of the busiest areas in the country for cabin rentals and maybe even the busiest, along with Gatlinburg ...
It was something different for us for my kid's spring break to do a cabin in the woods in between Smoky Park and downtown Pigeon Forge. Usually, any time off we head for the coast anywhere from NC down to FL. Dollywood was fun, the Goat coaster was fun, the food at the restaurants on "the Island" by downtown Pigeon Forge was good. What I didn't know until I got there was that the main drag of Pigeon Forge is called, "the Myrtle Beach of the Mountains", so traffic, restaurant waits, tacky shops, etc. I'm not a Myrtle Beach guy so I didn't like all that jazz. We didn't do Gatlinburg or Annakeesta, but I heard that area is better for adults. We were in Wears Valley, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge areas.

The I-85 corridor from Raleigh through Charlotte, through Greenville, and to Atlanta continues to grow in people and houses and those areas are striking distance drive to Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Gatlinburg so I would think property in that area is a good investment.
 
It was something different for us for my kid's spring break to do a cabin in the woods in between Smoky Park and downtown Pigeon Forge. Usually, any time off we head for the coast anywhere from NC down to FL. Dollywood was fun, the Goat coaster was fun, the food at the restaurants on "the Island" by downtown Pigeon Forge was good. What I didn't know until I got there was that the main drag of Pigeon Forge is called, "the Myrtle Beach of the Mountains", so traffic, restaurant waits, tacky shops, etc. I'm not a Myrtle Beach guy so I didn't like all that jazz. We didn't do Gatlinburg or Annakeesta, but I heard that area is better for adults. We were in Wears Valley, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge areas.

The I-85 corridor from Raleigh through Charlotte, through Greenville, and to Atlanta continues to grow in people and houses and those areas are striking distance drive to Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Gatlinburg so I would think property in that area is a good investment.
Yes, it draws big from ATL ...
 
A sight that you guys should visit if you like historical stuff is Cades Cove. My grandmother was born there and my great grandfather was a traveling preacher in the area.

It has many old buildings from the 1800s.

"... Scattered along the loop road are three churches, a working gristmill, barns, log houses, and many other faithfully restored eighteenth- and nineteenth-century structures. Pick up the self-guiding tour booklet available at the entrance to the loop road for information about the buildings you'll see in the cove and the people who lived here..."

 
Great questions and apologies for the delay, been driving. The first question is interesting because it’s something we have been discussing alot here the last 2 months.

We spend about 5 months in Florida from November to mid March or April. It provides a little a nice break from traveling.
And believe me, come November we are ready to sit for a bit and not travel. The same can be said for when it’s time to leave in the Spring. We are rejuvenated and ready to go see the country. It’s a pretty good balance for us. It’s not everyone’s dream, but you are correct, it is our dream and we are very grateful and humbled by how blessed we are to do it.

We don’t own much, but we traded our stuff for time.

That said, I believe we stayed at 23 Campgrounds this year, and it does wear you down moving that much. (Setting up and tearing down).

Outside of our 5 months in Florida, They ranged from 2 nights to a month. What I believe we are going to do moving forward is try to limit our campgrounds to 6-8 a year. We enjoy spending a month in a place and then moving on. Gives you time to relax and see alot of things. I think it will provide an even better experience.

As for your last question. Yes, the Bus feels like home. Credit my wife for doing an amazing job making it feel that way, but right now I don’t want to own another home. Maybe someday that will change, but for now we are just really enjoying this lifestyle.

One point my wife brought up, and it’s so true….

Many times you forget the shit show going on in the world while out away from most the rest of society. IMO, that’s the best part. It’s like going back in time to a simpler time.

I enjoy traveling...almost as much as I enjoy getting home after traveling. I'm a home-body because I have to have my routines but getting out and seeing the stuff you must see has to be amazing as well.

Happy for you brother.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RussellCasse
A sight that you guys should visit if you like historical stuff is Cades Cove. My grandmother was born there and my great grandfather was a traveling preacher in the area.

It has many old buildings from the 1800s.

"... Scattered along the loop road are three churches, a working gristmill, barns, log houses, and many other faithfully restored eighteenth- and nineteenth-century structures. Pick up the self-guiding tour booklet available at the entrance to the loop road for information about the buildings you'll see in the cove and the people who lived here..."

Did Cades Cove 2 years ago on our first trip to the area. Awesome stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DCandtheUTBand
Back on the south end of lake Okeechobee. All tucked in for winter. Saving up for all my spring gun purchases in Texas.

Question….

When is Ron and the legislature going to pass open carry and no waiting period like the rest the conservative states?

Right now, I believe there are 4 maybe 5 states that don’t have open carry….

Florida, NJ, NY, and Illinois are the ones I know….thats some good company. 🤣

What about waiting period? Again, Florida is in bad company there as well. Time to call Matt fellas. 😉
 
Back on the south end of lake Okeechobee. All tucked in for winter. Saving up for all my spring gun purchases in Texas.

Question….

When is Ron and the legislature going to pass open carry and no waiting period like the rest the conservative states?

Right now, I believe there are 4 maybe 5 states that don’t have open carry….

Florida, NJ, NY, and Illinois are the ones I know….thats some good company. 🤣

What about waiting period? Again, Florida is in bad company there as well. Time to call Matt fellas. 😉
A little early to snowbird no? It's still hot down the peninsula.
 
sitting on a plane this morning headed to the fatherland to watch OU play the hillbillies why poor’s like Cucky @BSC911 😭😭hops in his Prius and heads to the grill.
 
  • Love
Reactions: RussellCasse
Is that where you are? We are thinking about spending winter near there next year. Indio, Palm springs or on the california side of the colorado river, south of Havasu
All good places and yes that's where we are now. I came over for the winter week and a half ago and staying through March. We live in Scottsdale the rest of the year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nail1988
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT