This post is sponsored by CamelBak but the opinions expressed here are my own.
Smoky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful destinations to visit in the Fall. We had the pleasure of doing so this year and I quickly learned you’d need weeks, even months to explore all the park has to offer. If you’re like us and don’t live near it’s probably impossible for you to do so. Based on our trip these are our three favorite things to do in the Smoky Mountains with kids if you have to pick and choose.
Before you head to the Smoky Mountains be sure you have water with you. I never leave the house without packing my CamelBak MultiBev water bottle.
Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains with Kids: Laurel Falls
Getting out and hiking in the Smoky Mountains is what it’s all about. However, there are some strenuous hikes in the park. If you have kids like us or just doing anything strenuous on vacation just isn’t your thing this is the one trail you should do. The trail is 2.6 miles round trip and if my 4 and 6 year old could hike it alone, you can too! We even saw pregnant women and a family with a 3-wheel stroller, although I’m not sure how they made that work.
Once you get to the top, it’s well worth it. There is a bench to sit and enjoy the view and you can even continue on to a longer trail. You will want a drink of water by now though, it’s the perfect time to pull out your CamelBak MultiBev. With two girls who, let’s face it, will find anything to fight about, I love that the bottle has a detachable cup making it easy for them to each have their own drink!
Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains with Kids: Cades Cove Scenic Loop
If hiking isn’t your thing but you still want to get the best views of the Smoky Mountains and have a chance to see the infamous bears in the area, this is where you want to be. The 11 mile one way loop takes anywhere from 2-4 hours to get through. This is because the speed limit is 20 miles and there are lots of trails you can hike. People also tend to stop to see the amazing wildlife just like this bear we saw on the side of the road!
Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains with Kids: Chimney Tops
Another beautiful stop while exploring the Smoky Mountains is the Chimney Tops. Especially in the Fall, the colors you see here are beautiful. There’s a decent size parking lot right in front of it that will make it easy to enjoy.
The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.