Kocen 2003 Summer Vacation
We went back to the Smoky Mountains and traveled to another section. On our way back to the park we drove through Gatlinburg. There are so many people and such little parking, I don't know how or why anyone would come up here for a two week vacation, there is so much more to see than just this one little place.

This is one of the trails we took to a waterfall.
The walk is supposed to be 1.3 miles all up and down hill, mostly up so a little rest was in order
All of the hard work getting to the water fall was well worth it.
Looking down stream
Andrew decided to go climbing down stream so I went along with him.
On our way back I found this spider web. See the hole in the back with the spider. Very intriguing.
Time for a picnic lunch in the park. We were lucky to find a parking space and an open bench.
We went wading in the stream, the water is very cold.
Our adventurous boy was happily walking among the rocks and slipped into the water. After a few attempts to get out of the water, the kid on the right, lifted Andrew out. Andrew kept slipping and could never get out all of the way. Did this deter Andrew, NO, he kept on rock climbing and walking in the water. Way to go Andrew.
The water is just above my ankles and is probably 70 degrees which is pretty cold.
Belinda came along for some rock climbing. She did slip but caught herself before she got wet.
We did some more trails around the rivers
This little river had a nice bridge over it.
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park sits in Tennessee and North Carolina, the altitude is just over 5000 feet.
Family picture time
More of the same
This is a panoramic view I took from the top of the observation tower we climbed, click on the image for a bigger version

The trail is only a 1/2 mile but it is all up hill and it is a steep hill. The view at the top is great but is it tiring.

  
Andrew ran back to the bottom and we caught him climbing on some rocks. A ranger come by and politely asked us to tell him to stop doing that since there are signs telling you not to climb on the rocks.
We left the park on the North Carolina side and stopped at the ranger station for a pit stop. While I was just hanging out, I saw these real pretty flowers.
Memphis
TN
Smoky Ntnl Park
Day 2
TN
Atlanta
GA