Wednesday: We switched plans around at the last minute for the day because we thought it was going to rain. So instead of tubing and horseback riding, three families headed for the Cades Cove driving tour. It is similar to Roaring Fork with the historic buildings, but more open in its topography. We traveled with Ben and Steph most of the time. Things we saw: a few historic cabins of settlers, a few churches with graveyards, a working mill run powered by water, some wildlife (two bears, a coyote, turkeys, and deer), and lots of people. It was a good day, but it got a little long in the car by the end for the kids.
Thursday: Horseback Riding and Tubing the River (and Dollywood for one family). This was a kids’ choice activity day. Ellie chose horseback riding at Big Rock Dude Ranch in Pigeon Forge. Megan chose this, too. So, Megan, Jen, Ellie and I went horseback riding on Alaska, Maryland, Alabama, and Gee respectively. It was a slow controlled ride up the mountain and back down. The girls loved it.
Madison chose tubing the river with River Rat in Townsend. Jeremy took her to do this along with everyone else (but Ben and Steph’s family who went to Dollywood). Apparently, Madison was really brave – jumping off a rock, not getting freaked out when separated on the river rapids at one point. She loved it all. (Because it was wet and watery, we really didn’t get pictures…)
We finished this night off by playing “The Sibling Game” (think The Newlywed Game). This was a fun one to listen to as the siblings tried to guess what the other had said. Madison and Ellie took home the trophy for the most correct answers! We also played Beanboozled. In this game, you are told to eat a jelly bean of a certain color; this color could taste like juicy pears OR it could taste like boogers. In other words, one good choice and one disgusting choice. While funny to watch, it smelled (and tasty if you were an unlucky one) awful. I don’t know if I would actually recommend this one.
Friday: In the morning, two families headed ziplining at Foxfire Mountain Adventure Park. They said it was a great time; I think all of them learned how to hang upside down and some of them did a flip off the platform to start the zipline. Our family went to Pancake Pantry for a late breakfast before heading on our adventures.
We met them just to do the other things at the park – swinging bridge, tree canopy, and obstacle course. It was fun to walk among the trees and above the gorge. The obstacle course was a challenge! It left us all breathless, sweating, and tired! But we did it.
We met Ben and Steph’s family and Grandpa and Grandma back at Little Pigeon River to have one last day of mountain streams. I got in this time and it was fun.
We had family picture night as well.
Saturday morning, we picked up, cleaned up, and took off by about 8am. Nate and Jen took a different route home – and beat us by quite a lot due to an hour long construction delay. It was a good carpooling trip regardless. And a GREAT vacation with the family. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
