The Smokies with Family

 Last week we packed up and headed to the Great Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg with the family: grandparents, parents, kid. Keeping everyone entertained and happy wasn’t nearly as hard as I expected.

Gatlinburg (and its neighboring city, Pigeon Forge) sits in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, America’s most visited National Park. The mountains themselves are a playground for all ages. There are trails and waterfalls and historic sites to keep any visitor busy for weeks. We had three days, so we were only able to visit a few of the highlights.

One of our group is in a wheelchair, and we were surprised to find how accessible everything was. We discovered wheelchair-friendly picnic areas, pathways, even a paved, flat half-mile “hike” he could go on. The Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail ran along a rushing creek (where the kids scampered to splash and skip rocks) and the remnants of old homes (“Nana, why is there a chimney in the woods?”).

We spent most of our time staying and playing in Gatlinburg, where restaurants, attractions, and shops are all easily walkable (and rollable). Here are some of the highlights we visited:

·         Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
This aquarium is world-class. Everyone in our group loved it. There is a playground in the center for when the youngsters need to burn some energy; there are seating areas throughout for when the oldsters need to conserve some energy. There is an underwater shark exhibit that visitors view by standing on a conveyor belt which takes them through clear tunnels surrounded by sharks (the belt was big enough for a wheelchair). We even found a penguin named Moana in the Penguin Playground. Queue the song.

·         The Village
This cluster of shops near the aquarium was the perfect spot to rest and recuperate. This Bavarian-themed hamlet has adorable boutiques, a candy shop with taffy-making demonstrations, and the first (and best) pancake house in Tennessee.

·         Ober Gatlinburg
The ride to Ober Gatlinburg is one of the highlights. Visitors board a tram and are whisked away above the treetops for two miles to the amusement area. There are many winter-themed activities to take part in, even in 90 degree weather. The little one loved the outdoor climbing wall, the kiddie rides, and the bumper cars on ice. There is also an ice skating rink for the more-daring-than-me.

·         Dollywood
Dollywood isn’t in Gatlinburg; it’s in neighboring Pigeon Forge. This theme park, however, was the highlight of our trip. Everyone had a blast. There are plenty of roller coasters to occupy the young ones. Those weren’t on our agenda, but we still found lots to do. We were traveling with a three-year-old, so we did visit the carousel, bumper cars, spinning teacups, and games (easily accessible for all). The whole family loved listening to live bluegrass music and seeing a show at the Little Engine Playhouse (which was air-conditioned, thank goodness!). Then we all boarded the Dollywood Express for a trip up the mountain. This train is pulled by a 110-ton coal fired steam engine that has been around since World War 2. If you’re traveling with someone in a wheelchair, there is an accessible entrance at the back of the train.

As the sun set on our last day in Gatlinburg, I dipped my feet in the hotel pool and avoided being splashed by the little. I had a feeling we would be coming back to again soon; there was so much we didn’t get to do.