Great Smokey Mountains - the pool!

The kids' favorite thing about our trip was the water park at our hotel.  We got in every afternoon and played for hours.  They both made huge leaps in their swimming abilities on this trip.  I think it's time to get them back into swim lessons!

Great Smokey Mountains - Part 2

We headed back up into the mountains on our second day.  This time to get out and see some nature - go for a scenic drive and a hike and have a picnic.  We attempted the hike up to Rainbow Falls, but it was 2.9 miles one direction, so we didn't make it.  Stian just couldn't/wouldn't go that far.  But the hike that we did do - at least a mile each direction - was still beautiful.

Silje let me wear her some, but mostly she either wanted to walk or ride on Daddy's shoulders.

Stian spotted this cool spiderweb floating over the trail.  He was quite observant of all sorts of interesting small things that we missed.  

Our scenic drive took us past several old homesteads in the mountains.  While it was gorgeous there, I cannot imagine what it must have been like to live there.  On this homestead there was a married couple and their 9 children.

Great Smokey Mountains - Part 1

For Memorial Day Weekend we decided to get out and explore a little of our new state.  We headed all the way to the other end of the state to visit the Great Smokey Mountains.  They were gorgeous.  Tennessee is gorgeous.

The first day in the mountains we decided to drive up to the top and visit Clingman's Dome.  It is a beautiful drive up the mountain with many scenic views and places to stop and enjoy the view.

When you get to the end of the road you stop at a parking lot and then get out and walk up a very steep half mile sidewalk to get to the very top.  The views from the walk up were amazing.  It was quite cool here.  It was 48 degrees when we got out of the car, and I imagine it got colder as we went up further.  Though we warmed up walking up the very steep walkway.

When you get to the very top you come to Clingman's Dome.  This is an observation tower with a crazy vertigo inducing ramp.

When you get to the very top you are higher than the highest peak on the Smokeys - about 6600 feet, as a I recall.  You can see in all directions.  Apparently on a clear day you can see 7 states.  I have no idea if I saw 7 states or not.

I'm holding on to Silje so tightly not because i'm afraid I'll drop her, though there is that, but because it was quite cold and she was chilly.  It was windy up there!