Sugarland and Laurel Falls

On our first day there, we headed out to Sugarlands Visitor Center.  We checked out the small nature museum there, and there was short hike to a waterfall there, so that was our first official hike.  Everyone except Andy and Emily started out with us this morning.  

The kids were excited to go on the walk and see new stuff :) 

After that we drove to find a picnic area.  It was nice but BUGGY, which kind of made it nasty (lots of little flying bugs.)  We ate quickly and moved on to Laurel Falls. 

 

We all started off to Laurel Falls.  When we got there Dorothy realized she couldn't find her phone, so she and Mike headed back to the picnic spot to locate it.  (It wasn't found.  Later, via GPS, it was located at "Sevierville Solid Waste".  Oops.)

This sign cracked us up (Danger, falling deaths have occurred, closely control children).  And I use the words "cracked up" to also mean "put some fear in us".  And there were some steep drop offs, so I was glad to have an adult hold each child's hand.  Not that I thought they would FALL off, but that someone would get too crazy and knock someone else off. 

Z here has fallen ;)

This is one of the few paved trails in the park.  It was 1.8 miles there (up) and 1.8 miles back.  All the kids did pretty well.  L (no surprise) was the first to tire out, but no one complained too much. 

The falls themselves were pretty but CROWDED.  This is looking up to the upper portion.  The lower portion was a bigger set.  Lots of families with older (some younger) kids crawled around in and near the falls...not us.  Maybe....maybe...if the kids had been older. 

 

 

The way back down was a bit easier since it was downhill, but the kids were more tired. 

With about 1/4 mile left (plus the walk to the van) L tripped and fell and (barely) skinned his knee.  But he was so tired and I knew it...lucky duck got to be carried the rest of the way.  And he is over 45 pounds.  I was tired.  ;)