Dee's Blog (9)

I was wondering if anyone had any info on the Cades Cove repaving. I've read on the national park site that the road is closed to all public use until May. I've read on another site that the road is closed to all motor, pedestrian/hiking, and biking use. If so, what are people doing to enjoy the cove? Especially if you are camping? One site made it sound like the entire cove may be off limits with no access whatsoever. Continue

We just got back from a fantastic stay in the Smokies! The weather was perfect. The trip was broken into parts with my husband joining us and then just me and the kids for Monday - Thursday. We drove to Cherokee (uggh) but I did see the pull-off for Kephart Prong, which I have read about several times on this great site. I saw on the marker that it was only 2 miles to Kephart Shelter. I was really surprised by the short proximity from the road to the shelter. Is it a steep hike? Is it a heavily… Continue

We are camping next weekend!!! I can't wait. My kids are 5 1/2 and 8 and we were interested in bike riding at Cades Cove. My husband and I have biked it several times with the kids in a bike trailer (just about killed me--and I wasn't pulling them!), but I was wanting to do a shorter route with the kids riding their own bikes this time. My youngest has no problem riding 5 miles, so I'm not worried about him, it's my daughter and all of her complaints I fear. Anyway, if we parked at the Cades Cov… Continue

Would anyone mind telling me exactly where the arts and crafts community is located? Is it inside the park, on the park boundary, or around Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. I've never been and would like to go one day with the kids this summer. Thanks for all of your help!! Continue

I was curious as to how many of you have utilized the "quiet walkways" pull-offs in the park. Are they worth the effort? What is the distance? Are there any that you have particularly enjoyed? My dad has a slight handicap, so getting off on major trails really isn't an option, but I thought these might be a nice way for him to get out of the car and out on foot without anything too strenuous. Thanks for any info. Continue

My husband and I just got back from 3 nights at Blackberry Farm celebrating our tenth anniversary. On Friday we took a six mile hike on the property that adjoins the Smoky's. We got into the territory marked NPS on some large trees and I knew from our map we were out in the middle of nowhere. We had been provided a backpack, radio, and water bottles. We were at the top of a ridge line and my husband commented on all the downed trees. To the right of our tiny single lane path was a wooded but ver… Continue

Have any of you been following the story on the bear attack on an 8 year old boy? It's on the Knox News website and the AP picked it up. The little boy, his brother and dad were at a creek at Rainbow Falls on Roaring Fork when a bear came up and attacked him. They didn't have food with them--they had eaten KFC an hour before. This is very scary. People have been posting lots of comments on Knox News and they range from: gun permits in the park; it was a bear accustomed to human food; we are trea… Continue

Hello everyone!! I wanted everybody to share things on their "Must Do While In the Smokies" list. It can be restaurants, shows, hikes, traditions--anything!! I always love to get ideas from people on what makes their trips so enjoyable!!! Thanks, Dee Continue

Hello to Everyone!!

I would like to get a discussion started on your favorite family hikes. I have two small children (4 and 7), and don't know enough about the trails in the Smokies to determine which ones would be best for our family. I am planning on purchasing the trail guides from the Sugarlands book store, but thought some first-person experience might be most beneficial!!!

Thanks,

Dee

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