On Top of Ol' Smoky

We just returned from an incredible trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. What a beautiful place! We camped for 3 nights at the Smokmont and Elkmont campsites and spent our days exploring the area: hiking to waterfalls, seeing historic sites, and climbing to the "top of ol' smoky".
Maxon loved being outdoors constantly and really liked playing in the rocks around the campsites. We bought him some new shoes for the trip that actually have hard soles (his 1st pair!) and he was tromping around everywhere! He would get a little frustrated when he couldn't walk during our hikes. Max was a great camper, though, and even slept pretty well in the tent. It was so great to be camping again...from the mouth of Jason, "It feels a little more like home."



Max and Jason roasting marshmallows...for some reason, the flame is not appearing in the picture...there really was a fire!



Carrie and Max sharing an apple in preparation for our climb to Clingmans Dome (6, 643 ft.- the highest point in the Smoky Mountains).

Playing in the waterfall at Grotto Falls on the Trillium Gap Trail. This was our favorite hike and the waterfall at the end was really fun because we could actually play in it.

A video exerpt from our hike to Laurel Falls.

Our favorite things about the Smoky Mountains:

• Elkmont Campsite
• Cool, crisp air
• The beautiful landscape...trees!
• Seeing the beginnings of fall foliage
• Not running into any bears (we were warned!)