wife layed down the law

[am4mu]

Last night my wife informed me that this September when we take our yearly vacation that she wants to go on "a real vacation". Now I would be perfectly happy going back to Phil's or going down to the White River(my dad lives in mtn home). But the order has been issued. I was thinking of Gatlinburg, Tn. I was there as a child and have heard it has changed a lot(kind of a Branson east). I have also heard there is trout fishing in the smokies. Any comments or ideas. I would also entertain other ideas.

Thanks,

Doug Kiefer

[RiverRunner]

I'm a big fan of the Smokies, Watching the sun set from Newfound Gap is a beautiful expereience, but Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are major tourist traps. You can get nice lodging there at a resonable price though. If you want to get away from the crowds, about 15 miles to the SW is Townsend, TN, on the Little River (a good trout stream I'm told). Its got some lodging and is not nearly as crowded. My wife has banned fly rods from our vacations, so I can't really give you any fishing advice. There are tons of freestone creeks in the parks with native brook trout at the higher elevations with rainbows and browns down lower. There are several fly shops in the area that can give you advice and several books have been written about fishing the Smokies. Have a good time!

[Terry Beeson]

You should get with Zach Matthews on his site "The Itinerant Angler" and his forum. He knows that area of fishing about as well as anyone I know... well... along with some members of the forum.

Phil's place is not a "real" vacation?

You should show her who wears the pants in the family like I do... My wife told me we were going on a real vacation to the beach and I was NOT going fishing. I told her "Ain't no WAY I'm goin' to the beach and I WILL be going fishin' if I dang well please...."

So... I'm gettin' packed to go to the beach... and I'm not packin' any fishin' gear...

(Lord forgive me and be with the Pygmies down there in New Guinea...)

[Flysmallie]

I also have been banned from fishing on the "Real Vacation" we take every year. It's hard to set at the beach and watch those boats going out every morning. But we do have a good time.

Leaving next Friday. 13 hours in a car with 4 women. You gotta love it.

[Rusty]

Leaving next Friday. 13 hours in a car with 4 women. You gotta love it.

You need a IPod my friend. Not for them, for you.

[Flysmallie]

You need a IPod my friend. Not for them, for you.

Got it covered.

Had the great idea of driving home through the night a couple of years ago. Sounded like a good idea at the time. Kids would sleep, nobody needing to go to the restroom every 5 minutes, no whining. It was all fine and dandy until about 4:30 in the morning around Jonesboro. I wasn't sleepy, too much coffee to be sleepy, but it was just really weird driving all night with the radio off.

[Kicknbass]

I always travel w/ rod and some equipment. My advise would be to go west young man. Colorado has some great fishing, and there is lots of things to do w/ the family. We stayed in Basalt one night on a trip a few years back, and I got up early and fished the Frying pan river below the dam, and did quite well. I was able to get back to the room, shower and get out by check out time giving the family a chance to sleep late. That trip, we traveled and camped all over the state and I caught fish in the Rio Grande, Colorado river, Frying pan river, and in a small stream in Rocky Mountain national park.

Summer time in the mountains is awsome.

Buy a good pack rod and case.

Good luck.

[John Berry]

I have had a bit of experience in fishing the Smokies. My daughter went to school in Knoxville and she got lots of visits from Dad. Townsend is definately the place to headquarter. It is at the park and any where you drive you pass great looking water. There is no neon or any traffic lights there. Check out the Little River Fly Shop in Townsend. It is a great full service fly shop. My favorite spot was Metcalf Bottoms in the park. It is pretty much wild trout and dry flies. Life is good!

[oneshot]

My wife asked why everywhere we go it involves Fishing,Hunting or both? Last vacation I took her on was Branson,still went fishing.But most was for her.

Hey I'm doing pretty good for being with her 25 years.

I know I could take her to Colorado and let her visit with family and I could go on the Arkansas River go fishing.

But price of gas kind of scared to go anywhere.

Probably just go to the Cabin up at Truman Lake.

oneshot

[SilverMallard]

My wife would NEVER do that to me. She wants me to go fishing everywhere we go. But I try to plan trips to places where there are things she really enjoys AND I can do at least 1 day of fishing. I usually fish less than 1/2 the days of a vacation. It's all about mutual respect. I see she has fun and she sees that I do. Sounds to me like MAYBE you've been a bit overbearing with the fishing in the past???? Payback can be tough. (keeping it family friendly in Phil's absence)

CO is a great suggestion if your wife is termed that way. There is a lot of variety and great fishing within an hour of almost everywhere. I'd stay away from the tourist traps of the Smokies and think Asheville, NC if I was heading that direction. But we don't have kids to consider. With kids, I'd look more at Stone Mountain, Georgia, just north of Atlanta over in that part of the country.

Williamsburg, Virginia, is another great family option! Some fishing around there, but an AWESOME family destination. It's great fun for everyone, highly educational (early American history/culture), very "chick-friendly," and outdoor rec options. If she wants to go the beach, you have tons of options along the Gulf Coast where you could sneak off for a day charter one day.

Good luck. Sometimes you just gotta make up the difference.