After our 12-mile hike the day before, I was feeling a little worn out, so we decided to start the day by exploring Gatlinburg instead of heading straight to another trail. We stumbled upon the cutest little coffee shop, and with a donut shop next door, we were set! To top it off, our wedding photographer sent over a sneak peek of our wedding photos that morning, and let me tell you—they were stunning. We spent a good chunk of time just gushing over how beautifully they turned out.

Jordan, however, was clearly on a mission to kill me this trip. After our relaxing morning in town, we geared up for another hike. On the way to the trail, we stopped at the Sugarlands Visitor Center so I could grab a bird identification book. The visitor center had this really cool bird display that I became completely obsessed with. I love learning about birds, and getting to see them up close gave me a whole new appreciation for their size and features.

With my new book in hand, we set off for our next adventure: The Chimney Tops Trail. It might seem like an easy trail since it’s only 3 miles out and back, but the 1,300-foot elevation gain quickly proves otherwise. The climb was steep and challenging. To add to the adventure, it started raining as we made our way up the 1.75 miles to the summit. Luckily, we were prepared for the weather and didn’t mind the rain too much.

When we reached the top, the misty clouds rolling in made the view even more dramatic and eerie—in the best way possible. We couldn’t climb the actual Chimney Tops due to fire damage that compromised the stability, but the view was still worth it. Honestly, I think the stormy weather added to the whole experience, giving it a unique, moody vibe that made the hike even more memorable.

Back at the hotel, I wasted no time turning on the fireplace and sinking into the armchair in front of it. I had a little anxiety about using the gas fireplace at first (the pilot light always makes me nervous), but after a long day of hiking, I didn’t care about that anymore. Later, we headed out for dinner at The Best Italian in downtown Gatlinburg, where we ordered an absurd amount of food—because after that hike, we were starving. Every bite was perfection.

To cap off the night, we stopped by one of the arcades downtown. I was determined to win a stuffed bear from the claw machine, but the odds were not in my favor (rigged game). A few rounds of skee ball later, I was ready to head back to our cozy room and turn my fireplace back on. The highlight of the evening? Soaking in our jacuzzi tub—something I made sure to do every night to soothe my sore legs. It was the perfect end to another amazing day.