So, summer is around the corner, and the wonders of nature are calling to you with the siren song of our National Parks! But where to go and what to do when you have kids in tow and want to go for a short weekend? What do you do with a van full of snacks and entertainment, and when you need access to a bathroom for an emergency, potty stops every hour?
If you are like me, you turn toward Gatlinburg and think, that’s not too far away. There are beautiful mountains and plenty of places to stop and enjoy nature, but enough in the way of pools and entertainment to keep the kids from driving me crazy. We are here in the lovely Smoky Mountains for spring break this year, enjoying just such an excursion. Here’s what I suggest: fill one day with outdoor loveliness to keep all under the age of 10 engaged. I have no teenagers yet (that’s a future momma’s worry), so I can’t speak to their entertainment needs.
We love going to the Great Smoky Mountains because there is a lot to do in the park and outside of it. Our favorite day excursion is as follows:
We visit Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Sugarlands Visitor Center, where they have everything from junior stamp books to a tasteful display of taxidermied wildlife. The setup in that room is like a treasure hunt, and my kids and their cousins spend at least 30 minutes every visit happily exploring and discovering the wildlife and flowers as if it were the first time.
They have restrooms that are pretty clean and accessible! I would suggest getting one of their handy water bottle straps for hiking; they are very convenient for baby bottles, too! The money from anything you buy in the visitor centers goes to help run and maintain the national parks, so look at their fabulous books about local history, detailed maps, imaginative magnets, fresh jams, jellies, and more!
Once you have stocked up, put everything into your car, and then go ahead and hit the trails! A small trail behind the visitor center will lead you to a lovely waterfall! The path is pretty sturdy and a perfect discovery trail for children under 10! The creek can move fast, so watch for your young ones near it!
Keep your eyes open to see if you can find the extremely happy stump! There’s also a tree with a hollowed-out area that’s the perfect size for four small cousins to fit inside. Ultimately, it leads to a truly lovely waterfall, which I have seen several times now, and I feel like it only gets better with familiarity.
Once you have made the short walk to and from the waterfall, you’ll want to have a picnic somewhere lovely! I suggest holding off on that until you get back in the car and begin your drive on the Cades Cove Loop Road, where you will find some genuinely spectacular fields to stop in with views of the mountains that make for perfectly scenic picnic areas. The Cades Cove Visitor Center is a good place to stop for more information (and jam) and to see some of the older structures, like the drive-thru barns. Did you know that was a thing? I didn’t either!
When taken in with a relaxed, explorative mindset between these two locations, it will take up almost your entire day. But you will not be sad about it, and your kiddos will enjoy themselves immensely! So, gas up the van, fill it with snacks and children, and head out on your next National Park adventure!
This is my hope,
This is my prayer,
Please, Dear Lord, help us grow in our love and ability to protect our natural wonders!
