Smoky Mountain Lights....Traveling north on highway 441 we leave the valleys and mountain ranges of the Blue Ridge interior behind.  Drifting along the pavement, we wind our way close to the banks of the Oconaluftee River.  It was nearing midnight when we entered the Smoky Mountain National Park in Western North Carolina and too late for sightseeing. 

The wonders and beauty of the Smokies were shielded from us by the night’s darkness with only the highway as our guide, the road was lonely of travelers, we spotted just a couple of vehicles during our half hour climb up the steep mountain slope.  Reaching the Newfound Gap at the crest of the Smokies, Mrs. Highlander and I glided into the observation parking lot and took a midnight break. Join us for a trip through Sevier County Tennessee, Gatlinburg, Pidgeon Forge and Sevierville.

In our January 2006 Messages from the Mountains Newsletter, we will be announcing a major overhaul to the Highlander, including a new design, and a great search engine.   We will not be losing any of the warm and welcoming look to the Highlander, just taking it to a new level. 

We are adding new territory, more maps, road trips, more photogaphy, in general...More of the Best of the Mountains.  We are adding a "just for kids" section with downloadable color book, and Monthly Children's Book Reviews.  We have so many great new additions coming in 2006 we don't have time to write about them all. Bookmark the Highlander, and visit everytime you have a desire to come to the mountains.

All of us at the Highlander wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday, Health, Happiness and a prosperous New Year.  

God Bless you all....the Highlander

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