by Rachel Jay Farrell | Oct 10, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL 8 Smoky Mountains Activities for Kids That Happen Inside the Park If you search for Smoky Mountains activities for kids, you get a list of Dollywood, Ripley’s, and Anakeesta. Those are fun. I’m not knocking them. But they aren’t the...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Oct 2, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL Where to Take Family Photos in the Smoky Mountains (DIY, No Photographer Needed) Wondering where to take family photos in the Smoky Mountains? Our five favorite spots are two in Cades Cove (the open field past the Missionary Baptist Church for evening...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Sep 15, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL Winter in the Smoky Mountains with Kids: Why Our Best Family Trip Was the One No One Planned For Two days after Christmas last year, we loaded up the camper and drove to the Smokies for eight nights. We didn’t have an agenda for the week. Just us...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Sep 3, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL 4 Towns Near the Smoky Mountains That Actually Shape Your Trip The first time we camped in the Smokies, we stayed on the Tennessee side and thought we could fit in a quick trip to see the elk before lunch. Boy, was I wrong. It took two hours to make it...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Aug 29, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL How We Actually Do Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge With Kids (From a Family Who Goes for the Park) I’m going to be honest with you upfront: Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge aren’t the reason we visit the Smokies. We’ve been coming to this area...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Aug 26, 2026 | Family Travel, Western NC
FAMILY TRAVEL 4 Apple Orchards in Western North Carolina Worth Your Family’s Time You don’t need 20 apple orchards in Western North Carolina on your list. 10 is even too much to visit in any given season. You need the right one for your family’s vibe...
