Gatlinburg Vacation

The past few years it has become tradition to go to a show/concert/sporting event for Ryan's birthday. For my birthday we have been going on mini vacations just the two of us. It is a treat of both of us! This year we decided to go back to Gatlinburg, TN. 

We vacationed there several years ago when Harrison was a baby, but stayed in a hotel. This time we took the Scout & the camper. It was the first time we had taken either one that distance. They drove great, but it made for a long day!

Ready to go!

 Carson was a trooper! We stopped periodically to feed him (as well as stop for gas). I would also climb in the backseat to talk to him & entertain him when he got restless.

"Hi Mommy! Like my toy?!"

 The trip took 12 hours! Partly because we were towing, but also because we hit a major rainstorm & there was road construction (of course)! I was glad it was Ryan driving in all that rain & not me.

This picture doesn't show the rain as extreme as it was.
Ryan was glad to be following a wide load caution car
with its flashers so he could stay in between the lines.
 Mega concentration was needed during this part of the trip
and I left him alone to concentrate.

After all that rain came the rainbow.
We could see both ends of it,
but the top was lost in the clouds.

 We pulled into the campground at 9pm and the camp office was closed. Online it said that it was open till 10pm. Ryan went into the camp store/gas station and the girl at the counter told us a random number she knew was empty and told us to check with the camp office in the morning. We were so tired & hungry...this made us even more grumpy. Carson was in good spirits though! We ate some Mexican at a restaurant nearby and called it a night!

Carson's first night in the camper.

 The next day was beautiful weather for a drive & a hike in the 

Great Smoky Mountains!

There was green surrounding us!
It was beautiful!

Making our way up the mountains. Stopped to take in the view!

These pictures are never very flattering
when you have to squish together and take it yourself,
but we had to capture one.

The Scout and the Smoky Mountains

 I love the depth of color you get when you look at the mountains. Plus the sky was expecially pretty that day as well. The Smoky Mountains get a lot of rain, so we were lucky that it was such a nice day! But all that rain sure makes everything green. And the mist/fog/clouds give that "smoky" look the mountains are know for.

One of my favorite pictures of the mountains!

It didn't even dawn on us that we were this close to North Carolina.

Carson & Daddy looking good and ready for a hike!
It was only a 1/2 mile up to the top, but it was a steep climb.

Clingman's Dome on the top of the highest point in the Smoky Mountains.
The peak the dome sits on is 6,643 feet.
This dome allows you to see over the treeline and have a 360 degree view.
After the 1/2 mile hike you have to walk up this circular ramp to the top.

Another great view!

Daddy made it! With an extra load to carry!

Kinda awkward to have your picture taken alone!

Such a cute boy! He was happy as could be!

Another "squish picture" We were here!

Gorgeous

 After making our way back down the mountains we headed into Gatlinburg to feed Carson, eat some lunch, and do a little shopping. We finished the day with one more hike. This time to Laurel Falls. We have hiked to many different waterfalls & always seem to find them with only a trickle of water is pouring down. One of the rangers told us that they had a lot of rain recently so it should be flowing good. We crossed our fingers & headed out. This time with the stroller because it was paved. We should have used the backpack because the last 1/3 of a mile was in rough shape! 3 miles round trip & well worth it.

Happy boy ready for another hike.

Hooray! Lots of water! It was beautiful to look at & listen to.
The trail ended with a small footbridge over the water
to a large boulder on the other side.
What a way to take in the falls!

Carson was getting hungry & cranky on the last little bit of the hike to the waterfall. I caught a quick picture of him before I took him out to feed him. He must have cracked this smile because he knew he was about to eat!

Don't let this picture fool you!

All the other people hiking that day came, took a quick picture, and left. We were forced to stay a while so I could feed Carson. The other people were definitely missing out! It was so nice to sit, relax, enjoy the cool air, look at the waterfall, and listen to the rushing water!

Sitting on the bench on the boulder by the waterfall to feed Carson.

We had the waterfall to ourselves most of the time.
We took it all in & enjoyed it!

My guys enjoying the waterfall together!

All fed & a very happy guy!

Those cheeks are just so kissable!

An older couple was nice enough to snap a family picture for us!

Gilling steaks for dinner after a long day of hiking.

The other days were much more rainy, so we did more shopping & eating out. We decided to take the trip back in 2 days instead of 1 so it wouldn't be so long for Carson & that way were were sure to get back for Ryan's night class on Monday. 

It was a fun little vacation, but we were eager to return home to Harrison & Andrew. We bought them little gifts from our trip and Harrison made us promise the next time we went camping that we take him! He loves to camp!