Tennessee - Hiking and Dixie Stampede

Tuesday we braved the chance of storms and spent the day at Splash Country, the Pigeon Forge water park. The storms stayed away and kept the crowds away and the temperature down, so it turned out to be a great day!!



Wednesday was a busy day! We started at Dunkin Donuts for a healthy breakfast, and then headed into the Smoky Mountains. We stopped first at Laurel Falls, one of the most popular hikes in the park. We were able to get a parking spot, and joined the stream of people going up the trail. We got to see a momma bear with two babies on our way up! The falls were really pretty, but very crowded. By the time we got back down to the parking lot, cars were parking for at least a mile up the road each way! We enjoyed some scenic driving, a picnic lunch, and then another walk along the Middle Prong river. Ben and Daddy went down to the water while Juliet and I enjoyed the view. Juliet took a pretty good tumble on the way back to the car, but was pleased with our makeshift baby wipe bandages!





























Finally, we left the park in time to change for the dinner show, Dixie Stampede. It is an indoor western show with horse tricks, magic, fire, and dinner that you have to eat with your hands. The kids had a blast! They also left with their main souvenirs of the trip, Pecky and Gallop. It was a great day!