Garden of the Gods

We drove through Nashville...

and planned a visit to Shawnee National Forest in southern IL. Cave in the Rock Park got cut because the ferry was closed due to high water. We were told we're not missing much. 

But this...

...the Garden of the Gods Area...is Amazing...

It's a super natural play zone! 

We took the observation trail and cut off constantly (as intended) to climb and discover views and rock formations.

There she goes!

Bizarre Bands formed with iron

Ben was impressed with the uniqueness that the pictures don't fully capture.

Daddy-Daughter adventures

Fun to skip around the rocks together as a family! A nice break from riding in the car!

Devil's Smokestack

Camel Rock, the main attraction...do you see it?

The girls coined this one themselves, Sleeping Pig

We stayed one final night at a hotel in Effingham before our return home.

Greater independence is great!

Ben had much quality time with the girls in pools this week, gearing them back up for swimming lessons.

GSMNP-Day 3 (Laurel Falls)

 We checked out of our cabin and hiked the trail to Laurel Falls right away on the cold morning. 

We were starting to get complaints about hiking after all we've done this week, but every time a rock or log bridge pops up, their energy shoots up along with it (and they LOVE IT every time).

 Again, with the climbing and balancing...

We took in great views as everyone caught up. 

And we made it without falling off the cliff (there were scary signs about this)! We looked all around and to the right side, because the park ranger disclosed that's where a bear has been appearing daily as of late, but our bear sightings happened here:

at the Sugarlands Visitor's Center. With their own money from birthdays, some chores, selling stuff, and road trip bucks, they each brought one home (can't do that with a real bear, ha!)

 On our way out of town, we passed through Pigeon Forge and stopped at Krispy Kreme for an "educational factory tour" ;). The girls were enthralled with the glaze waterfall and following a single doughnut through the entire process and especially seeing what happens to the "oops" doughnuts. (Spoiler: they get picked out by a worker or go through the line and plummet over the edge into a box at the end)

We then stayed one night with the Bulmon's (Ben's college roommate) in Mt Juliet with their two girls, Reagan (7) and Reese (3). They had a nice park right across the street where they played for a long while.

GSMNP-Day 2 (Cades Cove, Gatlinburg)

On the second day, we drove the Cades Cove Loop, known for it's abundant wildlife and preserved homesteads.

It was an active village before being purchased and incorporated into the park. Now it's a place of beauty and silence with calm valley/mountain views. 

But it can also feel like an eerie ghost town!

Missionary Church and Cemetery

The Cantilever Barn was interesting with its distinct architecture!

We learned, that since the Smoky Mountains is one of the rainiest and humid places in the U.S., the barns were designed with an overhang to shelter the crops and livestock from the rain, and open spaces to keep it ventilated.

We were told we might see male bears turning over logs in search of grub or climbing trees for berries, but the females and cubs won't come out till end of April. So we kept our eyes peeled, and we saw lots of turkey and deer :/

After that, we switched gears because we were ready to have some fun & excitement in the lively city of Gatlinburg! (the tulips were blooming elsewhere)

Cici's Pizza buffet for a kid-pleasing lunch!

We went to Ripley's Aquarium and it was Amazing, believe it or not!

Sunken Treasure Exhibit. See the shark?

Hammerheads and stingrays, oh my!

Popping up inside the aquarium

The shark tunnel was most memorable!

I was so fascinated with the sawshark and it stopped to hand out right above us!

Don't look behind and above you!

Great White

Dive Show

Seahorse, one of the great camouflagers

"Inside Water"

After the aquarium, it was a walked around downtown. Unlike Cades Cove, there were countless bears downtown.

It's like Wisconsin Dells, but more family friendly and in in the mountains!

At 4 feet, Lydia measures less than half the height of the tallest person, which is 8 feet, 11 inches.

It was a beautiful afternoon for walking around and hot enough for ice cream!

"Cooling off in the most yummy way"

Enjoying one last night at the cabin

This jacuzzi made us think about shopping at Baker Pool & Fitness when we return home!

Sunsets never get old.

GSMNP-Day 1 (Clingman's Dome, Oconaluftee, Mingo Falls)

Breathing in the morning view

And starting off the day of adventure with Bear Pancakes!

The darker ones are more accurate to the region (but I didn't want to burn them black!)

Yay!

Chimney Tops Picnic Area

Lots of fun crossing big river rocks.

Love my little adventurers!

And my man!

Never too much sunshine ;) on a rock island

We continued our scenic drive through the mountain and stopped at trail to walk up up up into the clouds and Clingman's Dome, highest point of the Smokies, almost 7,000 ft.

The view cleared just for a moment.

Pretty tired after that uphill hike.

Gorgeous views!

But not too tired to climb...ever!

Check out these beautiful shades of blue!

tried a panoramic...

Newfound Gap is where FDR dedicated the park "for the permanent enjoyment of the people" in 1940 on the TN/NC state line. We stopped for the restrooms and the girls ran off climbing the Rockefeller Memorial.

Then we enjoyed the scenic drive through the mountains to Ocanaluftee, NC.

At the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, the girls listened to stories from people "in their own words." There was one funny one from a man telling a tall tale about a turkey hunt. At the end he yodeled, which meant you could believe it or not. 

Behind the visitors center was a Mountain Farm Museum that Lydia & I explored.

Corn storage in the mountains.

At that point, the weather was warm and we were kind of tired, but were so close to a recommended Mingo Falls. We drove through the town of Cheokee and walked up 150 steps (we counted them together) and found these beautiful cascading falls:

The cabin community has a nice pool:

We got a plenty of swimming in on this trip.