Gatlinburg/Camping

I feel like I should start this post with a little disclaimer letting people know that we really don't plan to go on quite so many vacations for the rest of our lives.  We are just aware of the fact that if things go as planned, we will not always be as free to do what we want when we want.  So we are just trying to take advantage of the time we have with just the two of us before that (Lord willing) changes.

 

*Warning: This is long*

 

So we headed to Gatlinburg, just the two of us.  It started out on not the greatest of notes, as I was not feeling well and we ended up going to the ER the first night we were there.  But that is another story for another post.  Maybe.  Anyway, other than that, we had a grand ole time.

 

Our first hike was Laurel Falls, which, if you're looking for a very family friendly trail (baby strollers included) I would recommend it.  It's just a couple miles round trip and is paved the entire way.  And it has a pretty waterfall at the end!

 

That night we went into Gatlinburg (our hotel was in Pigeon Forge), walked around, and got Mellow Mushroom pizza and Ben & Jerry's ice cream.  It was quite tasty!

 

The next day we went mini golfing at Old Macdonald's Farm.  As soon as I saw a barnyard golf place, I knew we had to go.  It's important to remember one's roots, you know!  We are mooing in the picture if you can't tell:)

 

That night we went to the Dixie Stampede where I couldn't take pictures of anything but the pre-show.  So sad.  But it was fun!  Oh, and then we rushed to Clingman's Dome to watch the sunset from the top of a mountain.  And I forgot my camera.

 

The next day was our big hike... going to the top of Mt. Leconte.  Which is (almost) the tallest mountain in the Smokey's.  Here we are at the trailhead, all geared up and ready to take on the mountain.

 

It was really pretty along the way, though sometimes it was hard to enjoy the beauty when I just wanted to quit.

 

Made it to the top!

 

Eleven miles and seven hours later, we were never so happy to get back down.  We were wiped out!

 

Danny really wanted to do a trail he's never done before (he had done everything else in years past), so sore as we were, we headed off to one more trail.  (Porter's Creek if you care)  But it was only four miles round trip and half of it was just a gravel walk way.  Compared to the day before, it was a piece of cake!  We stumbled across a big swarm of butterflies that were really cool.

 

The review that we read about the trail said that it would end up at a "fairly spectacular" waterfall.  We were a little skeptical of how spectacular it might be, and rightly so.  It was basically a large trickle coming down the rock.  But we still liked it cause we could sit and eat lunch right at the base of it.

 

The above picture is looking up from our lunch perch and the below picture is looking down.

 

That night was supper at the Happy Days Diner.  It was my choice, and it did not disappoint!

 

Then off to the comedy barn.

 

The next day we headed to Hocking Hills, OH to camp with some of Danny's family.  More hiking ensued, along with good times around the campfire, lots of games, and great food.  I love campfire food!

 

 

It was a great week, but needless to say, it was great to get home too.  And I am hiked out for awhile:)