Cabin In The Smoky Mountains Sleep Story

Get cozy and fall asleep fast with "Cabin in the Smoky Mountains," a calm sleep story for grown-ups. Travel to the Smoky Mountains on a pristine day, exploring waterfalls as the iconic blue mist weaves its way through trails and valleys. Fireflies light up the trail as you return to a charming log cabin among fields of wildflowers and enjoy a hot tub and outdoor shower beneath the stars. Retreat to the rustic embrace of the cabin, drifting between worlds as you fall asleep. It's time to dream away.

Transcript

Tonight's cozy bedtime story for grownups will take you on a deeply relaxing journey as you prepare for a night of healing sleep.

You are listening to Cabin in the Smoky Mountains,

A sleep story set in a mountainous landscape in Tennessee.

Mystical waterfalls,

Hiking trails,

Breathtaking views,

Crisp mountain air,

And babbling streams offer a tranquil setting to unwind.

Spend the night in a rustic log cabin as a dreamy blue mist cloaks the mountains and you fall asleep to the sounds of a crackling fire.

It's time to dream away.

I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I am Michelle,

Your nurturing guide and ally.

My intention is to remind you to tune into your needs and take care of yourself with kindness at the end of the day.

Get as comfy as you can.

The only priority right now is getting you to a state of serenity so you may slip into sleep.

Let my voice wrap around you like the embrace from an old friend.

Wiggle,

Move your body to get as comfortable as you possibly can.

Throughout this story,

You may change the details to suit your needs and desires.

There are no rules.

Let go of my voice and welcome sleep whenever you like.

Free of pressure.

Free of expectations.

Surrender to the flow that you may discover in this escape to the mountains.

As you find stillness,

Turn your attention to your breath.

Let out an exhalation and a sigh.

And imagine your breath condenses as it would in a cool forest in the smoky mountains.

The cloud formed by your breath gives visual proof that you are letting go of something.

As all cares and concerns travel on this sigh.

When you are ready,

Inhale through your nose.

Imagine the air is crisp,

Carrying aromatic notes of evergreen trees,

A freshwater stream,

Damp earth,

And the sweet peppery hint of smoke from a campfire.

Yawn if you like,

And then sigh as you exhale.

Appreciate this indulgence.

In a world where sometimes yawning and sighing are frowned upon,

But in the sanctuary of your room,

You can enjoy them all you want.

Simply indicate to your nerve cells that as sleepiness takes hold,

It's ok to stand down.

Two more times,

Consciously breathe in a way that feels best.

Taking each breath as slowly and deeply as you like.

Continuing at your own pace.

Inhaling,

Yawning,

Sighing.

A constant flow from expansion to contraction.

From taking in to easing out.

When you are done with the last round,

Your breath gently eases back to a normal rhythm.

Feeling lighter in your chest,

And feeling a release in your jaw and shoulders.

You are ready to drift into another place in time as the story begins.

To walk without a purpose or destination.

Swept away by a beautiful forest trail in the Smoky Mountains,

The native Cherokee people named the region Shakanaje,

Or the Place of Blue Smoke.

On most days,

A dreamy white-blue mist slithers between the seemingly endless mountains that grace the region.

Even as you walk on this tepid summer day,

The ethereal silvery-blue haze wraps around the trail,

Offering you company and intrigue as you explore.

When the terpenes of the native flora meet the ultraviolet rays of the stratosphere,

The mist forms as moisture condenses and scatters wavelengths of light in the blue-violet spectrum.

But one need not understand the phenomena to enjoy how the blue mist blends the forests and mountains with a vibrant blue sky,

With as much artistic grace as a watercolor brushstroke across a canvas.

Your perceptions are changed by the mist.

Things in the distance become like a mirage,

And everything feels farther away than it truly is.

There is a heavenly quality to the mountain peaks and summits that seem to touch the celestial expanse of cornflower blue.

A few puffy clouds dare to lower and hover above and around the mountain peaks where earth and sky convene.

Crittle twigs and dried leaves snap and crinkle beneath your feet.

And as you close your eyes and deeply inhale,

You can feel the tiny cool molecules of mist as they warm in your nose and land on your sun-kissed skin.

You revel in the contrast between the crunchy ground and the misty veil that travels on a late afternoon breeze.

It creates a balance that you continue to discover as you walk deeper on the trail.

You hear the gentle rush of a waterfall announcing its presence before its reveal behind a canopy of leaves that rustle overhead.

Tall,

Narrow,

And forceful,

The water flows onto moss-covered stones,

Creating a prismatic spray that birds flutter through.

Thousands of tiny rainbows appear in the mist,

Beckoning you to come closer.

A frog leaps with speed and grace across glistening stones in the stream beneath the cascade.

You balance,

Moving slowly from one stepping stone to the next.

A soft breeze carries the waterfall mist as it lands on your face and lips.

Simultaneously,

The hot sun filters through the trees and cloaks you in opulent light.

The delicate balance meets you again,

Of golden sunshine and cool,

White mist.

Just enough of each to enhance one another.

The coolness is made better and appreciated when the sun reaches your forehead.

And yet the mist would be too cool without the warm afternoon light.

You inhale deeply,

Savoring the smell of pine.

You remove sandals from your feet and balance them on your index finger as you step atop the moss-carpeted stones.

The moss offers traction as you balance.

The arches of your feet curl perfectly around the cool stones,

Finding your grip.

Memories of being a child,

Playfully exploring in water,

Come to mind.

You smile as you get closer to the waterfall,

The kind of natural phenomenon that enlivens a child's dreams and is now yours to explore.

You walk beneath the waterfall mist and get closer until the water cascades freely down your forehead and cheeks.

You lean your head back to feel it massage your scalp and taste the cool,

Metallic water on your lips.

The blue haze of the Smokies blends with the prismatic waterfall mist in a vision you thought only possible in a dream.

You leave the waterfall for a sunny patch on a rock,

Where you lay back and tilt your head toward the sky.

The water quickly evaporates and you relish the radiating warmth from the stone as you sunbathe in the final hour before sunset.

You hear a splash in the stream and turn your attention to its source.

A school of trout breaches the water's surface.

Their silvery blue,

Green,

And pearly pink markings reflect the light.

Their lustrous bodies twinkle like gemstones as they continue to jump just above the silvery blue flowing water.

You hear a group of young children exploring down the stream.

Their voices carry,

Introspective and serious,

As they study the stream for signs of life.

Those who grow up in the mountains have a great connection to the land and the mystical beauty that may be found around every bend.

There is a heightened awareness of nature and its force,

As it is revered and understood.

Your conversation turns into laughter,

Playful and innocent,

And causes you to smile.

For a curious child,

Every walk is a journey of discovery,

No detail missed as they develop their understanding of the world.

This afternoon brings a new opportunity for you to do the same.

You slowly rise and stretch,

Ready to continue on the winding path that meanders through the vibrant wilderness of the Smokies to your cabin.

A kaleidoscope of indigenous wildflowers scatter along the path.

Each bloom adds a splash of color to the lush green landscape.

As you stroll along,

You spot the delicate blossoms of the Flame Azalea.

Their fiery orange and red petals dancing in the gentle breeze.

Nearby the Pink Lady Slipper peeks out from beneath the forest floor,

Showcasing its elegant pink and white,

Pouch-like blossoms.

Further along the path,

You encounter the vibrant hues of the Purple-Fringed Orchid.

Its intricate blooms boast deep purple petals,

Fringe-like in shape.

As you continue your journey,

The scent of wildflowers grows stronger,

Guiding you toward the Yellow Trillium.

This elegant flower graces the forest floor with its three large yellow petals,

Like small pops of sunshine scattered throughout the deep greens.

You need not know the name or history of the flowers to appreciate the creativity of nature and the captivating embellishments and vivacity of each wildflower.

Your eyes catch sight of the delicate blooms of the Mountain Laurel,

A true emblem of the Smoky Mountains.

Its clusters of pink and white blossoms create a breathtaking spectacle.

And for a moment,

You fantasize about floating atop the flowers like a bee,

Landing on their plush comfort,

Air-faced against their silky petals,

As you nestle into a rainbow bed of summer blossoms.

The wildflower path leads you to a summit,

Where the Smokies roll like waves of the Atlantic.

The vista is vast,

And the mountains seemingly go on forever as the mist rolls beneath the mountain peaks.

You observe a black bear and her cub foraging a few hundred meters below.

They consume plump blackberries from bushes.

You settle on the earth,

Feeling grounded in the beauty around you.

There is a peace within your lungs and heart center,

A lightness that makes you aware of the heaviness you didn't know was there before.

Sometimes it's easy to forget what freedom feels like.

Freedom from anxiety,

From tasks and to-do lists,

And from too much information.

In the mountains,

Information flows to you in the present moment.

You're unconcerned with anything happening,

Anywhere but right here,

Right now.

Your eyes and walk as the sun lowers behind a mountain range in the west.

The warm,

Saturated orange hues contrast the cool navy blue silhouette of the majestic peaks.

Hues of salmon,

Gold,

Tangerine,

And magenta grace the sky as the sun descends.

The world around you is bathed in a warm,

Ethereal glow.

As long shadows of evergreen trees crawl across the summit,

The air grows cooler.

A sense of peace settles within your soul.

Lost in the grandeur of the moment,

You forget about time.

And the words of Tennessee native Dolly Parton speak to you in the song she penned about her life in a smoky mountain home.

Her lyrics express,

In my Tennessee mountain home,

Life is as peaceful as a baby's sigh.

In my Tennessee mountain home,

Crickets sing in the fields nearby.

The vibrant bands of color in the sky give way to a blanket of twinkling stars as the sky darkens into a velvety shade of midnight blue.

Not far from the cabin,

You make your way down a mulch-covered path.

You encounter a mesmerizing display of fireflies,

Casting the darkness with their ethereal dance of light as they send mating signals to one another.

Over 19 different varieties of fireflies are known to inhabit the Smokies,

Each one lending a different hue of light and pattern.

The luminous performance guides you down the path,

Walking along the stream that leads to your cabin.

The songs of crickets and frogs are soon joined by the laughter and conversation of friends and family of all ages,

Gathered around a fire,

Beyond the stream.

You do not see them,

But their sound carries softly on the breeze.

The haunting melody of a dulcimer accompanies the gathering.

An instrument named for its sweet sound.

Music has weaved its way through the Smokies for centuries,

With stories told in verses praising the mountains and pontificating on life.

And while you enjoy solitude,

These sounds make you feel connected and part of something bigger.

You follow the golden glow of your cabin,

The warm light pouring through an opening on the trail.

The night sky becomes a richer shade of blue,

With a hint of purple,

As a nearly full moon rises above the mountain peaks.

Your log cabin awaits in the center of a clearing.

A picturesque view of the storied home,

Nestled among piles of cut wood,

A garden of herbs and vegetables,

And a carpet of wildflowers.

Fireflies dart around the cabin.

Their multitude as great as the multitude of stars in the sky.

The cabin appears like the kind of home spoken of in storybooks.

A timeless sense of peace and comfort,

And a pioneer spirit permeates the region.

It's easy to imagine the first inhabitants of this cabin,

Collecting and preparing logs that would form protective walls of a beloved home.

The cabin has been updated over decades,

Modernized to add comfort,

But it still retains a deep sense of history and folksiness.

A doe sips from the stream that winds around the property.

Your attention turns to a hot tub that overlooks the blue peaks as the mist continues to roll in.

You approach the hot tub,

Pulling back the cover as steam rises into the cool night.

You prepare yourself,

And then with a sigh of contentment,

You slip into the welcoming embrace of the hot tub,

Immersing yourself in warm,

Bubbling waters.

The pulsing water gets deep into your tired muscles,

That carry memories of your hike with a soft,

Delicate burn.

You rest your head on the pillowed edge that offers the density of a marshmallow.

The soothing hot water envelops your tired muscles.

Wiping away any traces of tension or fatigue.

The steam condenses on your face,

And again you revel in the contrast between the hot water and cool air.

You gaze up at the glittering night sky,

Admiring the constellations,

And feeling profoundly connected to the world around you.

You float as the jets cause your body to undulate,

Dipping under the steamy water and then hovering above the surface to be kissed by the night breeze.

You reap the benefits of surrendering to everything in this moment.

Not a concern to weigh you down.

The symphony of night creatures of the Smokies,

The distant melody of the dulcimer,

And the relaxed sigh you let out create a soundtrack of peace.

As the heat eventually becomes too much,

You rise out of the tub and step onto a stone path that leads to an outdoor shower.

A tiny toad rests atop the wooden beams that form the walls around the shower and blinks at you.

You smile,

Turning on the water and rinsing away the day.

For many years,

The cabin lacked indoor plumbing,

But now the outdoor shower exists as a luxury,

A way to spend more time in nature and bathe beneath the stars.

The gentle rush of warm water cascades down upon you and you reach for a bar of mountain soap,

Crafted with care,

Using local flowers and essential oils.

Scent evoking the essence of a summer's hike through the Smokies.

The soap's lather gently soothes your skin,

Leaving behind a subtle fragrance that pleases you.

You feel clean,

Refreshed,

Restored,

And ready to unwind in the cabin.

You turn off the shower and remove a soft towel from a cedar chest.

As the fragrant woody notes mingle in the steam,

You nuzzle your face into the plush towel,

Wipe away the water,

And wrap yourself tightly.

You follow the short path from the shower to the cabin as smooth stones massage your bare feet.

Something about the beautiful Smokies conjures a deep desire to be barefoot and connected to the sensuous dewy grass,

The cool earth,

And the pristine water in streams and creeks.

The mountain air fills your lungs as you ascend the smooth wooden steps into the home.

You feel more and more tired as your body becomes heavier with each step.

You walk into the cabin,

Welcomed by a wave of rustic charm.

The sweet smell of pine and old books and warm,

Dry air.

Sconces illuminate the coppery walls with soft,

Golden light.

Black and white photographs capture the timeless beauty of the Smoky Mountains.

Hang on the walls in frames made of whittled wood.

Each photo tells a story of bygone eras,

Of explorers and musicians and nature enthusiasts who got lost on wildflower paths,

Winding trails,

And beneath waterfalls.

The photos conjure warm memories of your day and offer a deep sense of connection to those who experienced the Smokies before you.

The cabin has an open concept layout that has been expanded throughout time for what was once a two-room home.

The living room is decorated with cozy furnishings and vibrant jewel-toned rugs,

Throws,

And pillows.

A wood stove divides the space between the dining room,

Kitchen,

And living room.

Bouquets of wildflowers and antique ceramic water pitchers sit atop a farmhouse-style dining table made of reclaimed wood and on a credenza passed down through generations.

A balance of elegance and rustic charm,

Of modern comforts and beloved antiques may be found in every room.

You continue to your bedroom,

A modest suite that overlooks the stream and forest.

You change into airy cotton pajamas.

Fairy lights dangle around sliding doors that open onto a private patio.

Cotton curtains billow on the mountain air that always helps you fall into the deepest of sleep.

And so you keep the windows open as fireflies dance on the other sides of the screens and the cool night air invites you to indulge in lighting a fire and the stone hearth in the bedroom.

The fire is made for the coziest of winter nights in the Smokies,

But lends a decadence on cool summer nights like this.

You strike a match and carefully light a few pieces of kindling.

Flames erupt and consume a long,

Cute place atop them.

A breeze blows through the room,

Fanning the flames.

The mountain air carries a hint of pine and earth,

Mingling with the smell of the fire.

You step on a plush area rug that leads to a four-poster log bed.

Its sturdy,

Yet elegant frame is an example of craftsmanship found within the Smokies.

Through generations of artisans,

You sink into the softness of the mattress that is firm enough to support your neck and spine.

You pull the crisp sheets to your chin and get cozy.

The flames dance and cast shadows on the room with a hypnotic pattern as your eyes flutter,

Hanging on to the last,

Sumptuous moments of the day.

But soon your eyes become so heavy that they close.

Images drift across your closed eyelids as they become like movie screens,

Displaying fireflies dancing in the woods,

Leading you to a waterfall.

Moonbeams refract light in the mist as moonbows erupt and the blue smoke rolls through the trail,

Enveloping the mountain peaks and slithering around your rustic cabin.

You drift between places,

Real and imagined,

On the cusp of sleep.

Floating on the surface of sleep,

You slowly and gracefully give in to the tug of slumber.

The crackling fire and delicate breeze bring balance and comfort and make this moment as sacred as a sigh at the end of the day.

You flow into your dreaming life through the ease of the blue mist,

Weaving through stories and escapes that you deserve as your body repairs itself in sleep,

Carrying with you the beauty,

The resilience,

And the magic of the smoky mountains.

Finding peace,

Finding stillness,

Finding reprieve,

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream away.

Good night.

Reviews

The Smoky Mountains was a favorite place where I went with my parents growing up. The trail felt so peaceful with a waterfall, fireflies & all the beautiful flowers. Spending the night at the cabin in the woods was a great way to end the day. Thank you, Michelle, for another wonderful sleep story.

Beautiful words and imagery that inspires a peaceful night's sleep.

Michelle is a GIFT for people who have a hard time sleeping!

Beautifully calming meditation. Thank you again for the opportunity to fall to sleep 😴

As a native Tennessean, this has been, by far, my favorite, Michelle 🥹 For most of us, Gatlinburg is a place of nostalgia, a place we’ve gone since we were kids. So thank you, for taking me back!

Always a pleasure, not been there yet…. Thanks Michelle

Thankyou Michelle. I really and thoroughly enjoyed that and fell asleep nicely and deeply. Still feeling a little sleepy now after waking up. It sometimes takes me a bit of time to wake up and get my self going in the morning anyway after sleeping so that's nothing new. Thanks again my lovely lady.

I fell asleep very quickly and will have to listen again. This was so nice! 💖

Thank you, Michelle🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻Love the Smoky Mountains. Know them from the North Carolina side. That blue mist feels magical. Have not heard much of the story yet, it surely gave me happy dreams…🙏🏻🌟🙏🏻🌟🙏🏻🌟🙏🏻
PS: I am so grateful that I could play this meditation. For some unknown reason, I did /do not have access to the last new meditation(Twisted Trees). Was in touch with the technical team, yet it is still not resolved. Was afraid this one wouldn’t work either, but it did.

I fell asleep and didn’t hear the whole story.

I love listening to Michelle every night. She has a nice voice and really goes into detail in all her stories.

I fell asleep so quickly & woke up at 2am. I am going to repeat. Thank you kindly for this bedtime story! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏