Travels with our Trachie Blog
Schwieterman Summer Adventures 2024 – Part Two - Gatlinburg, TN
The next leg of our adventure was camping at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There were many campgrounds to choose from but ultimately, we chose Adventure Bound Campground between Cosby and Gatlinburg. It checked a lot of our boxes. In the forest. Pool. Laundry. Proximity to hiking trails. And the alpine water slide was an added bonus!
Our Gatlinburg adventure was broken up into two parts. Our first being just two nights, while leaving the camper parked for the week as we continued our summer adventure to a family vacation on Hilton Head Island. Then returning to Gatlinburg for five nights to wrap up our summer vacation.
Our first evening in the Smokies witnessed a steady rain from the moment we turned onto our exit. We didn’t have anything on the itinerary but relaxation for that day, so it didn’t dampen our spirits. We just put the awning out and watched the rain and moved dinner indoors. Upon check-in, we were informed that just 30 minutes prior a black bear had made a mad dash for a garbage bag full of delicious trash at the campsite adjacent to ours. We, however, never saw any bears.
The second and final day of our first leg of the Smokies included a 1-mile nature hike loop at Cosby’s National Park campground. The trail meandered around Cosby Creek with plenty of opportunities for the girls to splash around in the crystal-clear mountain water. We only saw one other family on our leisurely stroll and our little trachie hiked a majority of the trail all by herself, since there was relatively no elevation gain. It was the perfect family hike in the woods. We definitely recommend it for beginners, families, or anyone looking for the tranquility of nature. There are also more advanced trailheads in the area to explore the Smokies without the Gatlinburg crowds.
After working up an appetite on the trail, we stopped at nearby Carver’s Orchard & Applehouse Restaurant. I would call it a must-do if you’re in the area. The dining area overlooks the orchard, and the vibe is very family friendly. We had the 4-piece fried chicken with coleslaw and, of course, baked apples. It was all delicious.
There is also a farmer’s market store with an assortment of local produce. We picked up a “ripe” melon from the $1 bin that was the best cantaloupe we had ever had!
As for the campground, our girls enjoyed swimming in the pool and absolutely loved the alpine waterslide. It was a steep hike up the stairs, but they probably went down a dozen times before they tired out. Of course, our trachie could not partake in the waterslide, but she loved watching her big sissies have fun. The campground is nestled in between Webb Creek and Texas Creek with plenty of shade. Many sites backup to the creek and you can hear the babbling brooks. If you are tent camping, choose site 300… you’ll thank me! It has the best view in the campground. It was vacant when we were there, so my morning coffee was joyfully consumed from the balcony overlooking the small waterfall.
It was a truly relaxing couple of days before our family vacation on Hilton Head Island.
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