Hello Smokey Mountains

This year Lauren and I knew it was time to introduce our baby girl to the great outdoors! We decided this was the year and the trip where we would introduce baby girl to a rustic lifestyle… well as rustic as we could get with a 2.75-year-old!

Lauren and I decided The Smokey Mountain National Park in Tennessee was the place. Our little travel buddy did so good on the plane ride there (and back) and I have to say, she walked, hiked and explored way more than we and I thought she would. We’re already proud parents, but we were like daaaaaaaaamn girl, you’re still going?

We had a plan

Day 1 – Get settled into Tennessee…check

Day 2 – Prepare for and execute hike…check

Day 3 – Gear up: Have fun @ Dollywood…check

Day 4 – 4th of July Hike and Grill…check (Maddie didn’t see fireworks because it didn’t’ get dark until around 10:45, and she was passed out waaaaaaay before then)

Day 5 – Indoor swim park…check

Day 6 – Gear up, Hike & find the falls.

Day 7 – Indoor rainforest & mini-golf

Day 8 – Head home & model in the airport (last part not planned, sometimes you’ve got to wing it)

FULL DISCLOUSRE:

I’ve never been one to take credit for things I didn’t do, so I have to come clean. Lauren did all the planning. Without her, I would have played everything by ear and we wouldn’t have accomplished all that we had. So, Kudos Wifey! You made the trip a success! You are our rock and our guiding light. Super Wife!

Was vacation a success?

Long story short, Yes.  We hiked, we explored, we theme parked, we grilled, we swam, we mini golfed, we ate ice-cream, we came home. Here are a few images that help tell our story… And man, oh man, how about that modeling show Maddie put on in the Tennessee airport on the way back home. Haha.