We chose this weekend, after riding bikes thru Cades Cove, to drive back to West Knoxville via the Foothills Parkway. Just after pulling out of Cades Cove is when we spotted this little guy crossing the street! It is gorgeous and relaxing drive that has plenty of scenery. There are several pull offs on the road to stop and take pictures, or just breathe in the views. “Congress authorized the Foothills Parkway in 1944 as a scenic parkway that would provide magnificent views into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from a road corridor that was outside the Park” and “When completed, the Parkway will be a 72-mile long road traversing the western and northern perimeters of the park and will extend from Interstate 40 east of Cosby, TN to its western terminus in Chilhowee, TN. The right-of-way for the Parkway was acquired by the state of Tennessee and transferred to the United States Government”. Make this part of your drive, either in our out of the Smokies, and check out more info at https://foothillsparkwaytn.com/.