June 2023 - Buckhorn Inn

June 19, 2023

Buckhorn Inn Uses AI for this Post

As the proud holder of a degree in journalism, I have been particularly interested in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to compose articles, essays, poems, etc. So, I used Bing’s creative writing AI as an experiment. I asked it to write a 300-word blog post promoting a stay at the Buckhorn Inn in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The following copy is presented exactly as it was generated.

AI Blog Post

# Why You Should Stay at the Buckhorn Inn in Gatlinburg Tennessee

If you are looking for a cozy and charming place to stay in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you should consider the Buckhorn Inn. This bed and breakfast has been a favorite destination for visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains since 1938. Here are some reasons why you should book your next getaway at the Buckhorn Inn.

## Stunning Views

The Buckhorn Inn offers the grandest Smoky Mountain views of any Gatlinburg bed and breakfast. You can enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the mountains and meadows from your private balcony, patio, or window. The inn is situated less than a mile from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so you can easily access the hiking trails, wildlife, and natural wonders of the area.

## Elegant Rooms

The Buckhorn Inn has a range of accommodations to suit your preferences and budget. You can choose from traditional inn rooms, private cottages, or full guesthouses. All of them are elegantly furnished and decorated with period charm and modern amenities. You can expect to find comfortable beds, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, kitchenettes, and complimentary toiletries in your room. Some rooms also feature fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, or jacuzzis for extra relaxation.

## Delicious Food

One of the highlights of staying at the Buckhorn Inn is the delicious food. The inn serves a complimentary breakfast every morning, featuring fresh fruit, homemade pastries, eggs, bacon, and more. You can also enjoy a four-course dinner every evening, prepared by the inn’s chef using local ingredients. The menu changes daily and offers a variety of dishes, such as roasted duck, grilled salmon, beef tenderloin, and vegetarian options. You can dine in the elegant dining room or on the terrace overlooking the mountains.

## Friendly Service

The Buckhorn Inn is known for its friendly and attentive service. The innkeepers and staff are always ready to help you with anything you need, from booking tours and activities to providing recommendations and tips. They will make you feel welcome and pampered during your stay. The inn also has a library, a meeting room, a gift shop, and free Wi-Fi for your convenience.

The Buckhorn Inn is more than just a place to sleep. It is a place to experience the beauty, history, and hospitality of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. Book your stay today and see for yourself why the Buckhorn Inn is one of the best bed and breakfasts in Tennessee.

So, what do you think? I noted a few things I would not have written: we don’t regularly serve roasted duck, we do not offer dining on the terrace, and jacuzzis are brand-name whirlpool tubs. But by and large, I think this is a serviceable blog post. I did note that it did not score well on readability. The article contained more passive voice than recommended and we considered difficult to read. I intend to continue writing the blogs personally, but perhaps AI could be a good tool for research, or for brainstorming blog ideas.

June 12, 2023

Summer Wildflowers in the GSMNP

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) has more kinds of flowering plants than any other North American National Park. In fact, the GSMNP boasts more than 1,500 varieties of flowers!

Perhaps the most well-known are the spring ephemerals—so called because they appear in late winter, flower, fruit, and die back within two months. They emerge beginning in February and are usually gone by the end of June. Spring wildflower walkers can see lady slippers, fire pinks, columbine, bleeding heart, jack-in-the-pulpit, little brown jugs, violets and many others.

Summer Wildflowers Are Magnificent

But that doesn’t mean that spring is the only season to view wildflowers. The display continues with cardinal flowers, pink turtleheads, Turk’s cap lily, small purple-fringed orchids, bee-balm, butterfly weed, black-eyed Susan’s, and jewel weed, among others.

Black-eyed susans are among the most easily recognizable summer wildflowers.

Black-eyed susans bloom during the summer months. Photo by Julie Blake Edison.

Rosebay rhododendron blooms during July in the mid elevations. In the summer sourwood trees produce their small, bell-shaped white blossoms. Sourwood honey is prized for its light amber color and flavor of anise and spice. This tree is only grows in the Eastern mountains. To connoisseurs, it has a richer and more concentrated flavor than the more common clover or wildflower honey. Some local eastern Tennessee businesses have sourwood honey for sale. http://Applebarncidermill.com

Summer wildflower seekers can find beautiful blooms later in the season, well into fall. Look for goldenrod, sunflowers, iron weed, mountain gentian, monk’s hood, coneflowers, and asters. Purple Joe-Pye-weed can reach heights of ten feet! From October through January you can find the yellow blooms of witch-hazel. The late summer/early fall weather is nice for hiking, and the trails are less crowded after the children have returned to school.

We look forward to seeing you this summer! And don’t forget that we offer hearty and delicious packed lunches for $12 to fuel you on your wildflower tramp.