Taking the Kids: Getting out of the car at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Eleven and 12 year olds, meanwhile, are encouraged to be good stewards of the park -- picking up a bag of litter, for example. Adults certainly will learn a lot too!
In the park, there's also the opportunity for Citizen Science projects at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont within the national park where families can join in. Check out the (hashtag)SmokiesCOOL music video series made by kids visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park telling the stories of the Smokies set to popular tunes. Visit www.vimeo.com/channels/Tremont or search social media using (hashtag)SmokiesCOOL.
Just be careful if you see a bear! (There are 1,500 in the park.) Their behavior can be unpredictable. Always remember that bears in the park are wild, not like in a zoo. Don't approach them. In fact, park officials say you should stay at least 150 feet from wildlife and under no circumstances should you feed them.
How about a hike to a waterfall? Seeing a roaring waterfall is a high point of visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park and they are always kid pleasers. There are nearly 20 to choose from here. The hike to Laurel Falls is one that is categorized as easy. (The trailhead is 3.8 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center toward Cades Cove on Little River Road.) The waterfall is 80 feet high, but this trail is level.
Remind the kids not to climb the rocks near the waterfalls. They are very slippery, even if you are wearing great hiking boots. No one should try to climb to the top of the waterfalls or swim in the pools at the bottom. That's how people get hurt, the national park rangers say.
On any hike, everyone should stay together and keep to the established trails. You should also have high-energy snacks, water bottles (it's not safe to drink from streams here), a small first-aid kit, rain gear, extra layers and extra socks (in case your feet get wet. Magnifying glasses help keep kids engaged on the trail as do binoculars to see the wildlife and birds.
Ready to play "I Spy" on the trail?
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