Fun and Educational Family Travel Tips

Pigeon Forge is also near to the Great Smoky Mountains and is worth a trip to.  Again, if you stay in Townsend, Tennessee, getting to Pigeon Forge will only take you about 20-30 minutes and the drive there is magnificent.  If you are a shopaholic, Pigeon Forge is defintely a must.  Since shopping isn’t an integral part of my ideal family vacation, I personally have not spent much time checking out the shops.

If you have an adventurous spirit, there are also a number of attractions at Pigeon Forge that you might enjoy.  Whitewater Rafting is available, but I haven’t been able to take advantage of this attraction yet.  The first time I visited the Smokies, it was with a 4 and 6 year old, which meant the youngest was too young.  The next time we went, we had the twins and they were 2 at the time.  On our upcoming trip in October, the kids will be old enough, but I am not certain October will be a good time for being in the water at the Smokies.  Alas….this is one attraction that has remained elusive for my family.  One day, I hope to be able to do this one!

If you like driving go-karts, Pigeon Forge is definitely worth a visit.  We enjoyed a visit to the NASCAR Speedpark, where you can not only race go-karts but take a look at some great NASCAR memorabilia as well.  If you enjoy racing, you might also want to check out the Hwy 411 Motor Speedway.  I personally haven’t been to one of these races, but I have heard great things about what it has to offer.

Scenic helicopter rides are also available in Pigeon Forge.  I hope to take advantage of one of these trips when we visit the Smokies again in October.  I think a view from a copter flying over the Fall colors will be magnificent.  One of my boys is deathly afraid of heights, though, and another is not too fond of them either.  So, I am not sure if that adventure will happen.  If does, I will be sure to post my experience here in a blog!

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Gatlinburg, Tennesse is perhaps the biggest “tourist draw” in the Great Smoky Mountains area.  If you are looking to explore interesting museums and activities, this is the place to go.  During a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, it is definitely worthwhile to pop into Gatlinburg for a day.  Or, you might find that it is better to spend a couple of partial days in Gatlinburg, as the trip to Gatlinburg from Townsend is gorgeous and also offers places to pull off, to hike trails, and to see some magnificent natural sites.

It is my belief that the best family vacations involve spending some time getting closer to nature as well as exploring fun and interesting attractions.  Gatlinburg provides the opportunity to see some really cool museums.  Perhaps or favorite site to see in Gatlinburg is Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.  Here, you get the opportunity to go through a tunnel that surrounds you with an aquarium filled with sharks and other sea life.  There are also plenty of cute photo opportunities that are a must for any family travel experience.

Gatlinburg is also home to one of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums.  My experience as both a teacher and a mother of four boys has shown that kids are enthralled with the sites of this museum.  Similarly, the Guinness World of Records Museum is worth a visit, unless time and money is short.  In that case, this is a stop that can be saved for another visit.

Gatlinburg also offers a number of fun mini-golf courses that can be quite an adventure.  My oldest boys (then ages 4 and 6) had their first mini-golf experience at the Hillybill Golf course.   After that, they were hooked and begged us to go mini-golfing every time we passed a course.

Gatlinburg is also home to a number of unique shopping experiences.  I am personally not much of a shopper and my husband absolutely despises it, so I have not spent much time in the stores.  I do know, however, tha there are many people who come to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge just for the shopping opportunities. 

 Gatlinburg is considered a walking community.  This means you will need to find a place to park, which can be costly and difficult to find, if you plan to visit any of the shops.  Since there are large crowds and a high amount of traffic, this isn’t necessarily the best scenario for a family vacation - particularly if your kids are still quite young.  Be sure to bring a stroller or wagon if you plan to walk the stretch.  Driving through the town can also be quite frustrating as it can take quite a bit of time to go just a short distance.  So, go to Gatlinburg with these things in mind and be prepared to spend a good portion of your day trying to get through and past other tourists.

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To make things a bit easier, I am going to divide these posts into the different towns and sites that you can enjoy while visiting the Great Smoky Mountains.  As I said before, I recommend staying in Townsend, Tennessee while visiting this park.  The people of Townsend are friendly and the town is easy to navigate through.  On the other hand, when you visit Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, you will find that the streets are crammed and it can take over half an hour to get down the street. 

At the same time, staying inTownsend doesn’t mean giving up a great vacation or missing out on anything.  In fact, Townsend is the gateway to Cades Cove.  Cades cove is a wonderful family travel destination as it is rich in natural beauty and history.  As you cruise down the 11 mile road, you will be enchanted by the mountains that surround you.  In addition, wildlife abounds.  On my first family vacation to the Smoky Mountains, we spotted over a dozen deer while driving through Cades Cove.  On our second family vacation to the Smokies, we actually saw a mama black bear and her cubs.  Some unwise travelers were getting out of there vehicles to try to get a closer look.  While it should go without saying, be sure to never approach a bear - particularly a mama and her babies as they can be quite violent as they try to protect their cubs.

Cades Cove also has several trailheads.  One of my favorites is Abrams Falls.  The trail is listed as being moderately difficult, but my husband and I walked it with little problem with our 6 and 4 year old boys.  When we returned three years later with our two year old twins, my husband ended up walking the trail with the two older boys (who were 9 and 7 at the time) because the twins were getting a bit cranky.  At any rate, this trail offers a magnificent waterfall at the end that is well worth the trek.

In addition to the many scenic overlooks and the Abram Falls trail, there are several historical excursions you can take in Cades Cove as well.   Many of the homes and buildings that were built in the 1800s still exist in the area.   You will find several old churches that are still standing at Cades Cove, each of which has its own graveyard.  If you look at the tombstones, you will find that some of the graves are relatively new as the decendents of those that once lived in the Cove are still permitted to be buried there.  Your children will marvel at the Cable Mill Barn, which has an overhanging loft that looks like it will fall off at any time.  The Cantilever barn is also a site to behold with its oversized top.  You will even have the opportunity to see an old Cable Mill and Mill Flume.  Take the time to discuss the mill with your children and explain how it helped supply energy to the mill.

 If you find yourself entering Cades Cove and realize that you are not ready to start the 11 mile trip, which can take around an hour even if you don’t stop off to view the sites because of the traffic in front of you, you can take a quick exit on Sparks Lane.  Sparks Lane is very near to the beginning of the loop and it allows you to cut straight through to the end of the loop.  Just be sure to return later so you can enjoy this magnificent site.

In Townsend, you will also find Tuckaleechee Caverns.  This cavern system offers stalagmites, stalactites, draperies, and more.  The tour is a pleasant one that only takes about an hour to complete.   The Big Room inside Tuckalechee Caverns is amazing and is the largest cavern room open to visitors in the Eastern United States.  In addition, you will get to see a 200 foot waterfall in the caverns, a site that is not very common in cavern tours.  We took this tour both times we went to the Smokies for a family vacation and we easily completed the tour, even when we had the twin two-year-olds in tow.

Foothills Parkway can also be accessed just outside of Townsend, Tennessee.  Although the views are not as magnificent as what you will find in Cades Cove, it does offer some great overlooks that are made even more spectacular by the towns nestled in the valleys.  In addition, this is not as popular of a tourist attraction, which means you won’t have to fight the traffic as much as you might in other areas of the park.

If you do decide to get a cabin or other accommodations in Townsend, you will find that there are several restaurants to select from.  You will, however, find more choices in nearby Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge.  Nonetheless, you can actually park at the restaurant of your choosing in Townsend and won’t have to pay for the luxury or walk a great distance just to get to the door.  The town also offers a grocery store with prices that are not bloated, so you can stock up on cereal, snacks, or even steaks to cook on the grill if you get a cabin.

We’ll be staying in Townsend again when we visit the Smokies this October.  If the town has lost its charm, I will be sure to let you know.  But, somehow I doubt that it has!

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So, I thought I would get this blog rolling by first discussing one of my favorite vacation destinations:  the Smoky Mountains.  As I mentioned before, I am a lover of nature.  My husband and children also love the challenge of hiking through woods or forests only to discover some magnificent site at the end of the trail.  Even my five year olds have been lacing up their boots and hiking since they were two.

I will admit, one of the reasons this is a favorite of mine is the fact that it is only about 8 to 9 hours away from my house - unlike most of the National Parks, which are all the way across the country from Indiana.  But, I also feel some sort of connection with the Smokies, and that is something that I cannot say of all of the places I have vacationed.

So far, my family has visited the Smokies two times and we have another trip to this great spot coming up in October.  On our first visit, my oldest two boys were six and four and the twins weren’t born yet.  Despite the fact that the boys were young, we were managed to hike some great trails.  One of our favorites being Abrams Falls Trail, which can be found on the 11 mile long circle that takes you through Cade’s Cove.

Now, as I have said, I am a nature lover.  At the same time, I love my creature comforts as well.  And, with a six year old and four year old along for the trip, I wasn’t about to take the boys out on a true camping trip.  At the same time, the thought of staying in a hotel just wasn’t natural enough for me. Besides, I like to spread my legs and have a bit of room for me and my family to enjoy - thus, my love for renting cabins began.

I spent a great deal of time researching a cabin for me and my family to stay in.  Now, I had actually been to the Smokies once before.  I was lucky enough to go as a part of a one-week long summer course I took in college as an elective.  But, when I was on that trip, I never left the Tremont Institute where we were staying.  Therefore, I really didn’t know what was available to me so far as accommodations were concerned.

While doing my research, I stumbled upon Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge rather quickly, as these are both tried and true tourist locations.  But, I knew I wanted something a little quieter and more peaceful.  That was when I stumbled upon Townsend, Tennessee, which is billed as the “Peaceful side of the Smokies.”  Bingo!  I knew I had the right spot.  Now, it was time to find lodging.

It didn’t take long for me to find White Oak Realty, which is now known as Smoky Mountain Cabin Rentals.  I took a gamble and booked a stay at one of their cabins. Since they offered pretty extensive pictures on their website, I felt pretty comfortable with my decision.  Boy!  I was not disappointed.  The cabin was wonderful!  In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we returned to the same location - but in a different cabin - on our second trip.  We will be staying on the same grounds again this October.

If you are traveling with your family, I really recommend that you look into staying at a cabin.  Often, cabins are no more expensive than staying in a hotel room.  Also, if you get a cabin through the right place, you will have a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and maybe even a hot tub, a pool table, or other fun thing for your family to enjoy.  Having the full kitchen can really be a money-saver, too, as you can cook some of your meals at the cabin instead of having to eat out all the time.  And, knowing there will be a washer and dryer that you can uses for free can help you with packing a bit lighter.

My six year old and four year old absolutely loved their first trip to the Smokies.  We made sure to mix up the activities so they wouldn’t get bored or overwhelmed by just one activity.  We also did venture into Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, as there are plenty of great things to see there…I just wouldn’t want to stay there for my entire trip.  At Townsend, we were only about a mile from the entrance to Cades Cove and the drive to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge was only about 20 minutes or so - and absolutely stunning with places to pull off and explore along the way.

In Part 2 of my Great Smoky Mountains installment, I will discuss in a bit more detail some of the sites and activities you can explore while at the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as ways to make it both educational and fun for your whole family. 

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As the first official blog of my family travel and education blog, I would like to introduce myself and explain my goals and the purpose behind this blog.  As a mother, teacher, and avid traveler, I have found that uncovering little gems that make for great vacation destinations for my family can sometimes be tricky.  Since I have four children, simply finding accommodations for my large family can be problematic at times.

Although I love the typical tourist attractions,  such as Disney World, I am always on the look out for more “off the beaten path” family vacation destinations.  Personally, I am always looking for a way to incorporate some nature into my family vacation.  Unfortunately, I live in northern Indiana.  As such, finding great natural retreats in my area can be a bit difficult at times. 

In addition to just having a love of travel, I also feel that taking family vacations is important for my children.  As a teacher, I see so many children that do not realize that there is an entire world out there waiting for them to explore.  By taking my children on regular family vacations, I hope to help them develop a more worldly outlook and to realize that the world is there for the taking.

Having said this, my goal with this blog is twofold.  First, I hope to help parents find great family vacation destinations.  Second, I hope to help them find ways to make their family vacation as meaningful and educational as possible.  As such, I will provide advice for planning family travel, I will describe my experiences in planning and visiting various destinations, and I will provide educational “lesson plans” of sorts that can provide the framework for you as you travel. 

 If you don’t know it already, there is currently a wonderful web site out there that does provide activities that tie into various vacation destinations.  I have actually written some of the activites for this website, called Home & Abroad, and I hope to extend my expertise to you in this blog as well.  Go ahead and start using this site for now to give you a little help with your vacation planning.  In addition, you can visit my website if you are still interested in learning a little bit more about me.

I look forward to sharing with you and, please, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them!  I always love to hear from others!

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