In 2020 the world changed, and our planned cruise vanished into a sea of new rules and restrictions. Yet, we found we needed an escape more than ever before.
Navigating travel during a pandemic required a new kind of precision. After analyzing our options, we pivoted from the exotic to the quiet canopy of the Smoky Mountains. We chose a cabin in Gatlinburg—a secluded sanctuary where we could unwind in safety.
Our retreat was a classic mountain escape, complete with the local bear-themed decor and a porch hot tub that overlooked the rolling peaks. We ordered groceries for delivery and spent most of our time with each other, away from the pressures of home.
We did venture out for a single day of window shopping, the aquarium and a visit to a haunted house in Gatlinburg, and spent one evening amid the lights of The Island in Pigeon Forge. But the true value of this trip wasn’t in the activities; it was in the stillness.
This journey didn’t teach us about a new culture or a specific resort—it reinforced the fundamental necessity of the escape. Sometimes, the most important “weave” isn’t an intricate itinerary, but a simple, sturdy thread of peace.
The Resort: > Our Gatlinburg cabin was a “home-base” model. It offered the seclusion of the woods with the proximity to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg should we choose to engage with the world.
The Weaver’s Perspective: > A master weaver knows when to create a complex tapestry and when to provide a single, strong blanket. 2020 taught me that the ‘Data of Safety’ is just as important as the ‘Data of Adventure.’ An escape isn’t a luxury; it’s a restorative requirement for the soul.
