The Cades Cove loop road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is well visited, often overcrowded with tourists. Even so, this view felt like it was all my own. My friend and I kept calling this “Dan's Place”, even though the signage referred to it by its more formal name, Dan Lawson's cabin. But we couldn't help be thrust backwards in time when we soaked in this view. While life was undoubtedly hard for these frontier settlers, I imagine there were times too where Dan just sat by his cabin, relaxed, and marveled at the stunning sunset landscape in front of him. Perhaps he also invited friends, and they met at Dan's Place to soak in the view together.

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