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A beautiful, easy, rails to trails greenway, the Swamp Rabbit Trail is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Biking the Swamp Rabbit Trail is a fantastic day out with the kids. It is an easy trail with things to do and see along the way, plus you can eat lunch in nearby Travelers Rest, a cute small town.
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Rock hopping in Jakes Creek which runs through Elkmont Campground, as does the Little River. Splashing around in these waters is always a kid favorite.
Elkmont is one of our go-to campgrounds in the Smokies because it has so many kid-friendly activities to do at or near the campground. Hiking, swimming, biking, fishing, history… there is even a ghost town on site to explore. These are our family’s top 10 favorite activities when we camp at Elkmont.
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Enjoy an easy scenic hike, go apple picking or antiquing, pitch a tent, or explore the local shops along a charming Main Street.
We’ve chosen 6 destinations, all within a 4 hour drive from Charlotte, where you can experience a fantastic weekend getaway, whatever the season, whatever the reason.
Read moreIf you’re looking for Spring Break ideas, the Southeast provides the perfect weather for a March escape. Prefer a nice hotel nestled in an urban oasis of activity? Would you rather slow down and feel the charm of a small mountain town? Or perhaps, you want to completely unplug and gaze at the stars in the night sky? These destinations have something for everyone.
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This amazing high elevation hike on the Appalachian Trail to Buzzard Rock in southwest Virginia offers meadows, forests, and an open mountain bald. Add some amazing views and a bit of rock scrambling, and it’s a surefire winner for the family.
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Yurt 1 at Grayson Highlands State Park
Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia is one of my favorite places in the world. I love the mountain balds with wild ponies grazing, the easy access to great trails with amazing views, and the high elevation of the park. The tent camping at Grayson Highlands, however, isn’t great. The sites are too small and close to each other. The work around? Stay in a yurt! Yurt 2, also known as “Split Rock” was our home for 2 nights during the first week of June. Read my full review.
Read moreCades Cove at sunrise. One of my favorite places to be in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Living just 30 minutes from the entrance to the Smokies, we are often asked about a one day itinerary for friends and family visiting the park. Although you could easily spend a week here, we think this one day plan captures the spirit and beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Want to take a trip to the Smokies and camp in the woods but not sure what to expect? We’ll tell you everything you need to know about Elkmont Campground in exhaustive detail- what campsites are the best, how to reserve, and all the little things that will help you plan your trip. This family friendly campground is one of our favorites in the Smokies and we return to it again and again.
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Treat yourself to a luxury glamping night at the yurts in the ever awesome Cloudland Canyon State Park in north Georgia.
The yurts at Cloudland Canyon State Park are a great way to feel like you are camping without having to do any of the work normally associated with camping. Spacious, quiet, private, and even with electricity and AC, we had a good time on our glamping adventure and would do it again. It was especially helpful as this was a just an overnight trip when we couldn’t bring any camping stuff with us.
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One of many superb vistas from Alum Cave Trail before you even get to the top of Mount LeConte.
Want to hike to Alum Cave and Mount LeConte? Wondering if your kids can handle this can't miss Smokies trail? We have details, tips, and hacks to help you hike this spectacular trail, one of the most popular and iconic hikes in the Smokies.
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The beautiful, clear water of Lake Jocassee
Devil’s Fork State Park offers excellent camping sites next to the clear, cold water of Lake Jocassee which is located about one hour from Greenville, SC. The buzzword descriptions like “Lake Tahoe of the East” or “South Carolina’s Little Switzerland” are spot on for this wonderful spot in South Carolina.
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Times Square in NYC on a cloudy March day. This is basically your starting place for Broadway shows as almost all of the theaters are a short walk from here. We took the subway here each morning as we headed out on our hunt for cheap tickets for one of the many, many musicals to choose from on Broadway. A little work and some luck led us to some great seats and some great shows.
Find out how we scored cheap tickets for 5 Broadway musicals in 5 days. (And also how I am an obsessive researcher and planner.) With a combination of a lot of pre-trip internet surfing, some walking around, and a little luck, we saw 5 fantastic shows on Broadway for less than $300 per person. I will give you all the details of how we did it- from how the ticket lotteries work, to what rush tickets are, and why walking around to box offices can really pay off.
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Grayson Highlands State Park is famous for its wild ponies and access to a beautiful section of the Appalachian Trail, but you’ll also find plenty of amazingly beautiful trails for those seeking shorter hikes.
Children especially enjoy the trails at Grayson Highlands, because some of the best trails are not only super short but all of them provide something fun along the trail like fun rock scrambling and typically lead to an incredible high elevation view or water feature.
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The Walker Sister Cabin is my family's favorite historic site in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It makes for a perfect afternoon outing for the family, and the kids (and you) will love walking through the cabin and imagining the lives lived here by the Walker sisters during the early 1900's.
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Should you choose Elkmont Campground or Cades Cove Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Having camped at both as children and as adults, we give you the breakdown of the pros and cons of each.
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The Middle Prong Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of our favorite hikes in the winter. If you’re lucky, you may even witness a frozen wonderland of icicles and cascades frozen in their tracks along the tributaries of the Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. No matter the season, the Middle Prong Trail is an easy and pleasant hike in the Smokies.
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Two of my favorite family hikes are located on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock, NC. I have to admit, however, that I will always choose these hikes with or without the kiddos. They are just that good. Both Rough Ridge and Flat Top Tower trails offer incredible vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains and are worth every step.
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One of the many different sections of graves found in Arlington National Cemetery
Reagan Airport has a metro stop which takes you to several popular tourist sites in just a few minutes. The closest of these is Arlington National Cemetery, one of my favorite places in DC to take kids. There is history and peaceful grounds to explore as well as a chance to teach the kids about honor and respect for our servicemen and women.
Read moreThe hot temperatures have subsided, the leaves have started to turn, the apples trees are ready for harvest, and the water cooler talk has turned to college football. It must finally be fall! Now is a great time to get the family together to enjoy an easy scenic hike, go apple picking, pitch a tent, or stroll down Main Street. So pack up the family and check out these 3 great fall getaways to Asheville, Brevard, and Bryson City, NC.
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The pedestrian bridge leading to the island in the middle of the Potomac River.
While Washington. DC is a fantastic family vacation destination, packed with museums and historical monuments, sometimes you need an activity that just lets the kids run a little and provides you with a little serenity. Enter Theodore Roosevelt Island, an urban forest dedicated to our conservationist 26th President. Take a walk in the woods just steps away from the National Mall and find my favorite off the beaten path memorial in DC.
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