The kids and I are usually able to get away for a summer vacation or road trip. Unfortunately, Jim does not usually get to come with us because of his work schedule. This year, I was thrilled when I convinced him to take a summer vacation with us to the Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
We visited the Smokey Mountains about ten years ago when I was pregnant with my second child, and our oldest was only 4. At that time, we stayed in a cabin. On this trip, we took our RV and stayed at the Jellystone Pigeon Forge Campground.
Our trip was a good mix of National Park sites and touristy attractions. The weather was hot, but the skies were clear for our whole trip. We stood in the 98-degree sun at Dollywood and hiked in 57-degree temperatures at the top of Clingman’s Dome.
Everything was very crowded, which seems to be the trend in 2021. It was a good exercise in patience, and we had to turn away from some hikes and sights because the parking or lines were too long. We still managed to fill our week with fun and memories.
To see our whole trip, check out our video: