Tennessee Family Vacation

     You guy's, we had the best vacation. We traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a much needed family vacation. Gatlinburg is such a beautiful, fun mountain spot with so many great attractions and scenery! The first day of our trip we stayed in Memphis, Tennessee and just went swimming at the hotel. Of course it started raining on us, but the boy's enjoyed it and had a great time! The next day we made it to our beautiful mountain top cabin in Cosby, Tennessee. Let me tell you the steep mountain we had to make it up to get to our cabin was a little scary and adventurous. The views at the cabin were magnificent. We found our cabin using Airbnb. 

    The first night we decided we just wanted to let the boy's let loose and have fun so we took them to the island to let them just ride rides and get all of their energy out. They had the absolute best night just riding rides together and Logan our 3 year old is absolutely not scared of "coasters" at all. It was a great time and there are many shopping areas, food choices and fun for the family. 

    After such an exciting first day, we went to a few gifts shops in Pigeon Forge and then headed out to Townsend where we went tubing for the first time ever. It was called River Rat tubing. While the water was still a little chilly, it was so fun enjoying tubing in the Smokey mountains. It was about a two hour ride. There were areas that would send you down the river rapidly and sometimes you would just be floating. It would have been more relaxing if just the husband and I went but every time the kids got to far from me, mom panic kind of sat in. Logan was tethered to me, but the other two would get ahead of me sometimes. We also ended up seeing a snake sitting on a rock and got into the water when we passed by, so there's that as well. Overall it was a great experience. 

    That night we ended up going back to the island because our passes were for 2 day's and we wanted to see all the fun that goes on there at night. The only thing I suggest if you are not use to mountain driving, don't drive up a mountain at night, it was very scary and our cabin was 30 minutes uphill from every place we were at. 

    The next day we were headed to the anakeesta which is so beautiful in itself and what the owners have done with the place and their idea was just amazing. They give you the option to ride a ski lift/tram up to the top of the mountain or a bus that takes you up the mountain. As much as I love the mountains, I have always been terrified of heights..so we took the bus up and I promised I would ride the tram down thinking the bus would not be as terrifying for me. We got almost to the top and I started feeling nauseous and I couldn't help but tear up. Of course being a mom of three boy's they were all asking if I was ok. So the husband started off to get me a beer to calm my nerves. They have so many beautiful views of the mountains, literally at the top. They have rope swings, rope bridges, a mountain coaster ride, a few restaurants, a beautiful garden area, ice cream and we ended up riding the tram down the mountain. I kept my eyes closed most of the ride down! ;) 

    We then went to the cabin and just enjoyed smores and the scenery, being at the cabin and relaxing our last night there. By the last night we were all ready to be at home to see our dogs and our animals. While we were gone junebug and modi stayed with Garrett's mom and our goats, chickens, pigs, ducks and two other dog's were taken care of by Garrett's uncle and he did a great job with them! We were so excited we all went out back before even going in the house to get some love by our animals. If you ever go to Gatlinburg, message me I have so many great "thing's to do" that I would suggest for people with kids and people without kids!