Seems like I'll have to take another trip to the smokies :) Now why didn't you join before ;) I sure could have used the info then!
I found out some of what you said through experience :), like the Hiddenite mine- my friend's remark when we were driving to it was 'this looks like a place people get murdered' :) hehee. It was a bit scary/hairy getting there, and we did spend only a couple hours and I'm STILL trying to get the clay off my shoes!

And as a result of poor distance preparation, I saw moot in the Smokies :)

Savannah was a bit hard to find parking, but we weren't afraid of walking, so we parked a couple streets away from the Riverfront. And actually got a space in Forthsye Park. (score!)

I'll write a report soon on everything I did.
Thanks anyway Mrs Pete! some solid advice there :)