#ccstaycation Marsha from Knoxville, TN

Hi, I'm Marsha and I've been a Cotton Cuts member for 3 years. I only started quilting again about 3 and a half years ago so Cotton Cuts has been an amazing and easy way to get started again! Here I am a couple of years ago in my hometown.

I am excited to join in on the #ccstaycation fun and tell you some interesting things about where I live now – in the Cumberland Mountains about 40 miles west of Knoxville, TN! The (very!) small town of Oakdale, population 212, is the closest to me and is where I am on the volunteer Fire Department. I’m the short one on the left. The other picture is of my backyard and no, that’s not been changed in any way. I am so lucky to live in East Tennessee!

There are lots of things to do in East Tennessee. Just a few miles up the road is Frozen Head State Park with camping, hiking trails, and some gorgeous views from the top of the mountains.

One of our favorite places to hike is at Piney Falls Natural Area.

This is our dog Echo, who was enjoying a day out without his 3 brothers, playing in the water at the lower falls.

We also love to visit the Gatlinburg area. Great Smokey Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the US. We also enjoy getting out and walking in Gatlinburg. With so many small shops and local artists, there is always something new to see!

Once you are hungry from all the hiking, here are some great places to eat.

● Friday nights often find us at El Cantarito Mexican Restaurant in Harriman relaxing and celebrating the fact that we didn’t quit or get fired this week!

● Old Capital Public House in Kingston, TN is great after a day out on Watts Bar Lake

● If you want a really special dinner out, try The Lakeside Tavern. It has excellent food and views.

● For amazing fresh-made ice cream, try Bruster’s. There are 4 of them around Knoxville. And yes, it is worth a 35-minute drive!

If you want to fuel up for before your hiking or shopping, First Watch is definitely the place for a great breakfast.

And now that you’ve gotten your strength back, here are some of my favorite Local Quilt Shops

● Loose Threads (tell Lisa that Marsha from Oakdale sent you!)

● The Cherry Pit in Sevierville, TN

● Mountain Stiches by Susan in Gatlinburg

Fun Facts about East Tennessee

● The soft drink Mountain Dew was developed in Knoxville in the late 1940's.

● The first touch-screen computer displays were demonstrated at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville

● Oakdale, TN had the largest YMCA in the USA outside of New York City during the 1920’s. It had 1000 beds! It was a railroad town and a place where north-south traffic changed engines for the pull up into the mountains so lots of people chose to stay overnight on their trips either north or south.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States. The park was named for the smoke-like bluish haze that often envelops the mountains.

Be sure to come back next week for our next #ccstaycation feature!