The Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

I think it was well over 10 years ago that I first saw photos and read an article about The Great Smoky Mountains.  Ever since then The Great Smokies have been on my "must go/see/experience" list.  We loved our visit there.  The beauty of it all was breathtaking and indescribable.  The history of some of the Appalachian people was captivating.  Now that I've been to The Great Smoky Mountains I want have to go back and spend at least a week there.  We were there 3 days and fortunately, it was just before tourist season started.  Some of the rangers talked about how crowded and busy the park gets during the summer and fall; so crowded that you can get stuck on the road for 3 hours in gridlock...inside the park.  In the beginning of May it was fairly empty ("comfortably crowded"), a tad chilly and rainy, but still so beautiful.  It was one of my favorite places on the trip and I do plan to return soon.

Ready for an overload of beautiful (and fun) photos?!

Cades Cove

We saw many deer up close.  We even, kinda, saw a black bear way far away, once.

A little hiking.

Troopers!

It rained a good amount while we were there, which was a bit of a bummer.  But that meant there were waterfalls everywhere...not such a bummer.

A process in photographing my children.

Success!

Cable Mill in Cades Cove.  I loved learning about the people who lived here and worked hard to survive in the mountain tops.

It wasn't quite spring in the mountain tops.

It was pretty wild watching the clouds blow around us.  You can see why these mountains are called The Great Smokies.

Learning about the animals that are native to The Great Smokies.

We loved the Junior Ranger programs at the National Parks.  Definitely a highlight.

Our hotel room in Gatlinburg, TN...we loved the fireplace, of course.

We had to pack up the car in the pouring rain.  Luckily we didn't have to go far.

I love my husband and his awesome adventurous spirit!

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Okay, it is absolutely absurd that we completed our southeast states tour almost a month ago, and I still have several posts I want to share.  Fingers crossed I can put these together to share asap!  

We had a great time in Chattanooga.  We took five days and just enjoyed ourselves; no agenda, just relax, be mellow, and enjoy.  The weather was perfect the entire time.

Point Park Military Monument on Lookout Mountain

We found a beautiful park, Coolidge Park, with perfect fountains to play in.  We loved it so much that we spent 2 evenings there.  I swear I have the funniest, cutest kids.  :)

The mornings were perfect and there was a fantastic trail/sidewalk along the Tennessee River.  Some of my favorite runs during our travels.

We spent a day at the Creative Discovery Museum and had a blast.  We loved all the hands-on art projects.

We really loved our time in Chattanooga and we would love to go back.

Nashville, Tennessee

If you can't play guitar and sing in Nashville, you might as well just be a construction worker.~Patrick Carney 

The Natchez Trace Parkway ended just outside of Nashville, TN.  We found ourselves back in the city and it was a great city to be in.  It didn't feel large or grand in any way.  I didn't know that Nashville was the place to be for country music.  That's where stars are born and many of them live there.

I am was not that fond of country music.  But something happened in Nashville.  I'm not sure what it was, but the music became fun, interesting, and not too twangy.  The music enhanced our experience; it felt like it belonged in that beautiful part of the country.  It's kind of like eating Thai food in Thailand (which I hope to do someday), it's more authentic, a whole culture experience.

We spent 4 days in Nashville, visited friends, ate good barbecue, listened to lots of music and had a great time.

I fell in love with Nashville; a "big" city with a small town feel.

The Parthenon
You know what they say, "If you can't go to Greece, go to Nashville??"

Hatch Show Print
They make really cool posters.

The street music was awesome.

Brian was able to catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry.

Adventure Science Center

Isabella became instand friends with Ella (my friend's daughter).  And Oliver knows how to make the girls giggle.

Natchez Trace Parkway

We enjoyed our mellow time at Allen Acres in Louisiana so much we decided it was time to spend more time out of cities and in the beautiful American countryside.   While planning Brian learned about the Natchez Trace Parkway, a National Parkway, that ran 444 miles from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN.  The original Natchez Trace was a foot path used for travelers in the 1800s.  Mostly shipmen who took goods down the Mississippi River by boat and then walked back up north along the Trace.

Most parts of the Trace were remote and rural so lodging would be very limited.  We made a spontaneous, risky decision and decided to start camping.  Fortunately, Walmart carries an enormous amount of camping supplies.  And, fortunately, Walmart is everywhere (more so down here in the south, or so it seems).  I can't say I'm a big fan of Walmart, but I am impressed that we could get outfitted with everything we wanted in one trip to one store.  We spent roughly $500 and started camping that same day.  

We loved camping in Mississippi.  I was really, really impressed with their state parks: low cost, clean, bathrooms, etc.  We are not avid campers, but we loved exploring the Natchez Trace Parkway this way.  The drive up the Trace took us 7 days; we went slow, stopped frequently and learned about the history in the area.  The weather was beautiful, the drive was relaxing and educational.

Warning: this post has a ton of awesome photos.  :)  

We jerry-rigged a roof bag to accomodate the camping supplies.

First stop, we were still in LA, near Alexandria

Love this girl!

Natchez, MS

Natchez State Park

Emerald Mound 

One of our favorite stops along the Trace was Mount Locust.  The house and history were interesting  the ranger was a dynamic teacher, and it was beautiful.  The kids enjoyed working on and receiving their junior ranger badges.

P.S. All the rangers we have met at the national parks have been amazing, sweet, intelligent people who love their job.  When I work again I want to be a national park ranger.

One night we camped in a state park that was located in the middle of Jackson, MS.  It felt amazingly rural for being in the middle of an urban metropolis.

LeFleurs Bluff in Jackson, MS

Cypress Swamp

Near French Camp

A section of the original Natchez Trace.

For $20 we picked up a youth tent for Isabella that we set up right next to ours.  I was amazed that she stayed in it all night long.  She loves having a little tiny space all her own.  (Her brothers can only go in as invited.)  It made a huge difference in her happiness/pleasantness and bedtime became much easier.

She can stay up late and read or write.  A privilege she's never had since she always has to share a space with her brothers.

Happy camper!

Sunrise at Tishomingo State Park, Mississippi

This site came with a "pet" goose.  A kind, yet very persistant animal who happened to appear within seconds of us pulling out any food at any moment.

Morning cuddles are my favorite

The Tennessee countryside.  I fell in love with the beautiful, green hills.

Natchez Parkway Bridge was our last stop before Nashville.
Isabella had been entertaining herself with my lipstick in the car.