Panther Creek great for hikes, bikes, kids, dogs etc

  It had been a few years since I had gone to Panther Creek State Park up in Morristown area so I jumped at the chance to go again Election day.  And it is worth the drive.  Even a drive where you get lost ! ha

I met folks at Cracker Barrell Straw Plains after my tues morning with buds on Mornings w/ Fox 43 (missy fit fun adventure)  We headed out with carloads of kids, friends, and dogs.  And I didn't pay attention heading towards Ashville Hiway and took a right too soon and ended up 10 miles later still on a pretty two lane road (so i knew ashville hiway 4 lane so was not going rt way) and saw Dumplin Valley cross and thought lets stop and ask.  (see no men with us this trip ha)  And it was a good stop as the Piedmont General Store was a gem and the ladies there gave us good directions to turn off behind the store (mclure I think) and we ended up on a nice 4 lane (92? ) and that took us to Jeff City and back on Ashville hiway.  After 5 miles or so and past a a big Plant on the right we looked for signs and intersection 343 to Panther Creek (BP on corner) About a mile or so we spotted big sign saying Panther Creek.   It is a big park with camping, swimming, tennis volley ball lots of playgrounds and miles of trails  You can hike, bike, even horse ride on some and dogs on leashes okay too.   My buddy Beth MacDonald who is more adventurous than me knew the trails but with kids we stayed low and did wagon trail and deer run which was close to the water (cherokee down in winter) and the kids loved all the mud and fossil hunting etc  We then (maybe mile later) took trout lilly trail past the boat dock and did a loop that climbed some with some views.  You could see across the water and Beth said some steeper but pretty trails on that side so I have to go back soon. 

Then on the way back I had to stop at the Cute Piedmont General Store and Market and they had fixed 

corn bread and beans and had the place decked out w/ mason jars with fresh cut dafodils and some old antique hardware items for sale etc.  The ladies were nice to show the kids the Mexican Trail Domino game they had going at one of the open tables.  It felt like being in an Andy Griffith Mayberry scene. 

April 14th of this year I'll be up at a health fair walking event PATH program with Morristown Hamblin Medical Center and the area Parks and Rec Program at the Rogers park in downtown Morristown. I'll lead a walk around 10: 00 am you can call 541-4500 to find out more info