Nashville seemed like the perfect mid-year escape when our neighbor Mitu floated the idea. Our travels along the East Coast have been, well… let’s just say, a bit lacking, and the thought of glamping in the Smokies had just the right amount of rustic charm and modern comfort to win us over.
In my usual fast-fingered fashion, I booked flights on United before noticing that Delta was offering nearly $900 in savings (that’s no pocket change!). I kicked myself briefly until United gave us an out, and we were able to rebook. Mitu and Abhai graciously agreed to the change, though Delta seemed to test our patience with its ever-shifting schedules. We eventually took matters into our own hands and locked in a bleary-eyed 2:30 AM departure from Livermore, rolling into Nashville around 2 in the afternoon.
SFO was buzzing with holiday travellers when we arrived. After security, Nidhi grabbed a super lukewarm, small shot of macchiato from Ritual Coffee, not exactly the start she was hoping for. This was also our first experience with basic economy, and to our surprise, it wasn’t bad at all. I actually liked that we boarded last, but the flight attendant had thoughtfully reserved overhead space for our bags. I’d take that over a mad rush to the middle seat any day.
Figure 1: Breakfast burrito in Salt Lake City
Our short hop from SFO to Salt Lake City flew by. With both gates on Concourse A and plenty of eateries in between, we shared a hearty breakfast burrito from a Mexican spot before hopping on our connecting flight.
Figure 2: Lucky upgrade to a Mercedes!
Landing in Nashville, we were pleasantly surprised to be bumped up to a Mercedes by Sixt, this being the second time this year we’ve lucked into an upgrade! Mitu and I were chosen to be the designated drivers. She took first shift and, after a couple of unintended scenic loops around the airport and the freeway, we made it onto I-40E. Famished, we made our first Southern food stop: spicy chicken sandwiches from Chick-fil-A. Classic move.
Tennessee welcomed us with lush, rolling greenery that wrapped around us like a warm hug. The Mercedes purred along the highway, while Abhai queued up some feel-good tunes on Apple CarPlay. We felt like kids headed out on a summer adventure.
With July 4th looming, we worried stores might shut early, so we stopped at a Walmart Supercenter along the way—needn’t have worried. It was packed with folks prepping for the holiday. Mitu, our resident wine expert chose Meomi Cabernet and another bottle, while I picked out a Texan Cajun mix, and Nidhi went for protein milk.
Figure 3: Hollywood Wax Museum, Pigeon Forge, TN
Driving through Pigeon Forge was like rolling through a giant roadside carnival—think mermaids, dinosaurs, Elvis busts, and plenty of traffic. Everything’s bigger in this part of the world: the knives, the signs, the personalities.
We almost missed the turn onto the narrow Sharon Road that led us to Under Canvas, our glamping site. The gravel road wound its way into the woods, and about 15 minutes later, we pulled into a welcoming lobby with a Southern-style smile. The folks at reception were warm as cornbread, and we made a beeline for the complimentary bottomless coffee. Check-in was smooth, with a helpful demo on the eco-showers and taps, and free S’mores and chocolates sealed the deal.
Abhai and I chatted with the lovely concierge Alena, who helped lock in our hiking plans—Abrams Falls and Cades Cove, known for sightings of white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and if we were lucky, a black bear or two.
We quickly dropped our bags and freshened up before heading back to the main lodge, where a sweet older couple was playing live country music. It was the kind of laid-back, toe-tapping harmony that made us feel like our holiday had truly begun.
Figure 4: Enjoying the fruits of our labor
Dinner was a cozy affair under the stars: Miso Salmon, a veggie grain bowl, pickled beets, and black bean dip with pita. The wine flowed and conversation was easy.
Figure 5: Roasting S’Mores, Under Canvas, Smokies NP
We had a bonus tent set up for evening chats, but the girls were too tired to keep the party going.
So Abhai and I cracked open the second bottle and talked late into the night—about work, retirement dreams, family, and friendships. I played a few quiet tunes from my laptop, and before we knew it, it was half-past eleven.
Back in my tent, I took a warm shower and settled into bed beside Nidhi, grateful for this soft slice of Southern living and the restful night ahead.