Back to the Smokies

August 02, 2020

Back to the Smokies

It had been 13 years since I visited the Smoky Mountains. I grew up going every summer and sometimes fall breaks with my family and grandparents. We always camped in Elkmont Campground. So I was excited when my mom suggested we all go this summer for a week and rent a cabin but also get a camp spot in Elkmont so we would have something to use for day use when we were hiking trails.

There were so many tourist in Gatlinburg when we were driving into town. The Dudas family and us stopped before we saw Grami and Papa and had the kids take an old time photo to give Grami as a thank you. We surprised her with it and also eliminated the need to go back into Gatlinburg later in the week.

We did the same thing with the knife store. We stopped on our way into Pigeon Forge so could relive this pastime. The girls got pocket knives.

Also I had to document the reunion of Chase and Papa. Chase wants Papa 24/7 and is so talkative. I enjoyed carrying on conversations with him this week.

We set up a day use site with tent and some cover for rain, which it did do afternoon showers most days. It was also nice to have a place to store bikes, have a fire, and be close to the streams.

The streams are so clear (and cold) and refreshing and my favorite part of the smokies. As you can see, Michael and I were reliving childhood and wading, and eventually tubing.

View from our cabin looking to another cabin were a black bear frequented two nights we were there.

We had to visit the Sugarland Visitor Center. Unfortunately the video wasn't showing but the kids saw the stuffed bear and got a gift.

Leighton got a hiking stick and we walked to falls and Sadie put her new knife to work carving.

Lots of back truck riding!

We were fortunate my aunt Sherry and her family, Blake and Erin, Heather and Micah, and Joe were able to come too. We grew up going together so ti was sweet to have them there and we enjoyed hanging out too.