Fantastic Getaway To the Smokies...most awesome hotel pool!

This is a bit of a flashback, but at the end of April (April 29th)...we were all feeling a little weary and it had been raining so much. I looked in the forecast and saw that it was gonna be good weather so we headed to the Smokies for the weekend. The kids had been wanting to go "real" hiking. I picked Spencer up from school a little early. Then, we swung by and got Natalie and we were off.

I had researched hotels and such before going and booked, "The Doubletree Park Vista" (through priceline at about 1/2 the price of the hotel website. It had great reviews by people who had kids my kids' ages....Since we were going there just to hike, relax, and swim in the pool....the swim in the pool part was important.

This was also Justus' first time in a swimming pool. We put on some ole floaties and he LOVED it. He went down the water slides and everything wanting to do everything his big brother and sister did. (There was no lifeguard and the kids thought that was great so they could go forward, backward, on their bellies, you name it.

Natalie waiting to catch Justus. She's such a good big sister.

This was right before going swimming.

Our hotel room had a split view so we could see the mountains as well as the city.

A nice couple stopped and took our picture in front of this brook.....I loved how it turned out! :)

After looking throughout all the little booklets on the trails, the kids decided they wanted to hike "Rainbow Falls". I asked them multiple times  if they were sure b/c it was going to be all uphill on the way to the falls. 2.6 miles one way to be exact. They reassured me over and over that they could make it. Justus had no idea what he was in for. Here are a couple of shots I took along the way with my cheapo camera.

All 3 kids made it to the top. I couldn't believe it. Now....that wasn't without several stops along the way and a few discussions (arguements) about who was going to lead at any given time (with two boys...there's got to be a race, right?)....When we got to the top, this was Rainbow Falls. I'm tellin ya...I'm glad it was only in the 70's that day, b/c friends...that was some serious hiking for us and it said, "moderate".....

And voila! There is was....I'm glad we stopped to play and look for special rocks along the way at some smaller falls....It was all downhill from there (no pun intended...ha) It took us an hour less time to get down and Spencer and Natalie made it all the way...2.6 more miles. Trevis carred Justus the last mile or so, but I thought that was great for a 4 1/2 year old. Everybody had worked up an appetite and we were headed to Cracker Barrell. That was some real hikin'....let me tell ya.

With Much Love,