by Rachel Jay Farrell | Aug 13, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
family travel Things to Do in Cherokee NC With KidsThe South Entrance to the Smokies Cherokee sits right outside the North Carolina entrance to the Smokies, and it’s the gateway you’ll use if you’re heading to Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Mingus Mill,...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Aug 4, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL Easy Camping Meals for Families — What We Actually Cook After 250+ Nights Camping We ate hot dogs and hamburgers on the campfire grill for a few years — that was our camping food. Then one trip, I grabbed our skillet out of the camper and set it on the...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Jul 30, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL Things to Do in Townsend TN With Kids — The Quiet Side of the Smokies (And Why We Keep Choosing It) Townsend calls itself “the quiet side of the Smokies” and it earns its name every time we visit. There’s no strip of...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Jul 20, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL How to Go Salamander Hunting in the Smoky Mountains with Kids (No Gear Required) Did you even know that you can go salamander hunting in the Smoky Mountains? By “hunting” I mean “looking” — like birding but with tiny...
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Jul 17, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL Rock Safety for Kidsin the Smoky Mountains: What We Teach Our Kids Before Creek Stomping There are no lifeguarded swimming areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That means every creek, river, and waterfall you wade into? You are on your own....
by Rachel Jay Farrell | Jul 16, 2026 | Family Travel, Smoky Mountains
FAMILY TRAVEL What To Pack for aCreek Day with Kids (The Stuff That Saves the Day) Wondering what to pack for a creek day with kids? Learn from my mistakes after 10+ years of creeking with kids. I still remember a fall morning last year at Chimneys Picnic Area...
