Tolkien Inspiration and a Festival of Trees
Plus, Saltpeter Cave, the Christmas Place, and a rural fall glow
Happy Thanksgiving!
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This week we honor the extraordinary J.R.R. Tolkien by re-sharing our fall There and Back Again journey from Dahlonega, Georgia, to Copperhill, Tennessee—and back again. Then we head to Virginia’s Natural Bridge State Park for a hidden Tolkien quote carved into an off-the-beathen-path cave.
We named our There and Back Again series in honor of Bilbo Baggins’ biography, which he began writing during The Hobbit and finished at the end of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Read all of our travel itineraries here—including one that features a Tennessee resort offering Tolkien-inspired dwellings—and get full access by upgrading your subscription. Right now, you can get 20% off by hitting the link below.
After that, we explore Virginia’s Natural Bridge State Park for a hidden Tolkien quote carved into an off-the-beaten-path cave, then take you to Gatlinburg’s Festival of Trees and the Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge. We close out this week’s email with a vibrant fall photo of rural Georgia.
Before we get started, two reminders: Enter our Designed for Joy fall giveaway and check out our 2025 Holiday Gift Guide for unique gifting ideas, including our discounted group gift subscription (buy one for yourself and someone else to get 30%).
There and Back Again: Dahlonega to Copperhill
Our fall weekend backroad journey takes you through North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee, prioritizing scenic backroads, small towns, and festive experiences with Southern Appalachian charm.
Experience Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas, local cafes, rustic cabins, vineyards, orchards, and more.
Also, here’s a photo of the magical Tolkien-inspired village we referred to in our intro. It’s included in our Boone-to-Knoxville journey and is called Ancient Lore Village.
Discover a Hidden Carving of a Tolkien Quote
Somewhere in Southwest Virginia’s Natural Bridge State Park, you’ll find a quote from Bilbo Baggins’ walking song, Upon the Hearth the Fire is Red, which Frodo, Sam, and Pippin sing as they leave the Shire in The Fellowship of the Ring. This poetic and mysterious inscription is carved into a rock along Cedar Creek. It celebrates adventure and complements the park’s beauty. No one knows who etched it, but hikers and Tolkien fans delight in discovering it.
Thomas Jefferson Connection
