I never met a waterfall that I didn't like. We did a driving tour along Little River in Great Smoky…read moreMountains National Park to see if we could spot some wildlife. The Sinks is a lovely waterfall along the river. There is a small parking lot with about a dozen spaces where we found parking. An observation area is a short walk from parking. A sign describes the area and that the falls were manmade. During the late 1800's the river was used to transport logs/timber to the nearby town of Elkmont. After a storm, flood waters caused a jam in the river. Dynamite was used to restore water flow. The blast resulted in a twist in the river and creation of the waterfall. A set of stone steps leads up a hill, offering lovey views of the falls. There are dozens of waterfalls in the Park. Sinks is one of the few that is drivable, which is great for people that cannot hike. I picked up a Waterfalls map at the visitor center that I found interesting and informative. Parking passes are required to park in the lot. There are no amenities at the falls. Plan 15-30 minutes for a stop and photos.

The Sinks is such a fun outdoor experience! Our boys, ages 11 & 13, loved it! The parking is not…read moregreat though, with only about 15 spots in the parking lot and nowhere else to go. It's super busy in the summer, so just be prepared for that. We had to wait about 15 minutes for someone to leave so we could park. That wouldn't keep us from going back, though.

The view was amazing, the kids enjoyed seeing the falls. It was easy to navigate but hard to find…read morewhen you first pull up if you've never been there before. It is not wheelchair accessible, and can be a bit of a steep climb. Parking is on the side of the mountain. We had a great time while we were there and there is a small swimming hole at the bottom of the falls.

It's not where it says it is on the google and apple maps. We asked a park ranger where it was and…read moreshe put us on the path. We went on a Tuesday and luckily for us we had the place to ourselves, an occasional hiker would pop in and look around and one other couple came to swim. The water was crystal clear, cool mountain aqua. No trash or other intrusive nonsense was present and the spot is absolutely serene. We swam for a few hours and wrapped by jumping off the big rocks into the "deep end" . Good times for sure, beware of bears and all that jazz.

Laurel Falls is a great starter trail for Families that are introducing their children to hiking in…read moreGatlinburg. There are plenty of interesting facts to be shared, different types of plants and wildlife along the trail. This time we didn't see many animals but the trail was a bit more crowded that day. I would not recommend taking a stroller or wheelchair on this trail. It is barely paved and there are many roots. Parts of it are very steep as well. It's a great place to practice mindfulness on the way up. There are enough roots and rocks on the path to force you to focus on being present and walking carefully. It's a peaceful trail that gives you a great view of the forest. The falls are still there but not as deep as they used to be. The rocks are very slippery! I definitely recommend water shoes if you have them. The way down is a bit harder than the way up. If you have issues with your legs or balance, I recommend using a support of some kind. There are no benches but you should be able to find large boulders to rest on.

Beautiful very easy to walk trail. More like a walk actually, close to the main entrance in the…read moreSmoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountain National Park has been on my bucket list for many years. I was hoping that…read morespring break would be down season at the Park, but the Park was busy!!! We had a fabulous visit to this vast natural wonder. We learned that Park is the largest natural habitat in the continental U.S. The signature "smoky" appearance of the mountains is caused by an evaporation of organic rich moisture released by the vegetation within the Park. We started our visit by stopping at the visitors center to pick up a parking permit ($5/day) and maps ($1). I was glad we picked up maps because there is very little internet connectivity in the park, so we lost our navigation tools. The leaves were not on the trees yet (April) so we had magnificent uninterrupted views of the mountains and skylines. Spring wild flowers were in bloom. And we actually saw a mother bear with two cubs crossing the road. Each day during our visit we explored a different part of the park. We hiked to waterfalls and enjoyed scenic overlooks. We enjoyed exploring historic cabins and cemeteries. Popular sites were crowded and sometimes we had to wait for parking. Plan to arrive early. The park is filled with parking areas to pull off and enjoy the views or hike. Rest areas are available at many of the major sites. Leased dogs are only allowed in camping and parking areas and on two of the many trails. Bring good walking shoes, a hiking stick is helpful, water and sun glasses. You probably need to bring snacks, but keep those secure from wildlife.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!…read more This is my first time coming to the park and it was an amazing sight to see. It is something that I think everyone should experience. I am already wanting to go back to spend a little more time than what I did. We came by here on our way to another place. We were supposed to come back by here but didn't get the chance. So another trip it is!

This hike is beautiful and the scenery all throughout this hike is great! You can even walk behind…read morethe falls; so cool! The trail is about 3 miles roundtrip and is pretty easy with a bit of an incline/hill. Should be manageable for all ages and levels. Enjoy the beauty!

This was our second hike on a trip. We were looking forward to exploring the waterfall trail. It…read morewasn't as long as yesterday's hike, but there was still a notable elevation. We arrived early in order to beat the crowd. It was raining off and on, so the rocks were slippery. That's why we use hiking poles. All in all it was wonderful. We did see bears before and after this hike. Fortunately, we were in our vehicles. We made enough noise so that they didn't come around- this of course as their home. We had an excellent time. Parking is sparse near the trailhead.

As a local content creator here in Gatlinburg The Gatlinburg Hussey, I highly recommend hiking Mt…read moreLaconte in Gatlinburg, TN Smokies I've done it 2 times and I was almost 280 the first time and 200 the second time I tell all of my subscribers to do this and if it's too tough, try a smaller trail Please bring the kids too and have them explore nature ahd and get them off the phone and have their hands get dirty

Mount LeConte is the highest mountain located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in…read moreSevier County, Tennessee. At 6,593 ft. I have hiked around the mountains, and enjoyed, what each season's offers. Fall the leaves changing colors, snow in the winter, and Spring and summer the vegetation it is so alive. Good hikes, history, water falls, creeks, wild animals! Fireflies put on a nightly show in the summer! I must say there are so many people, it cannot be as relaxing, at least for me, I'm kind of a hermit. Nature is my sanctuary, it is home, I am comfortable when out in it! My native friends say it calls, and holds much knowledge.

This location is closed. Yelp needs to update its information. Do not come to this location. Check…read moreother websites for update info.

What a great little place. Wanted to do a short hike in the Smoky's but didn't have my trekking…read morepoles along. (Can't take them in carry-on, TSA rules) Had hoped to rent some here. Nice man working there just let me borrow one for the day. Wouldn't accept money or even a security deposit. Enjoyable hike he recommended up to the Grotto Trail. We returned the pole before closing, even tho it would've been ok to bring it back the next morning. Enjoyed talking with owner and his wife. Worth dropping in! Really appreciated the southern hospitality.

Walk to the fall is nice - the fall is a bit average - it is not very large. We enjoyed the walk…read more There are some logs and puddles along the way for kids to enjoy.

This is a nice sized waterfall. The best part is how easy it is to get to it. While others require…read moremiles of hiking... this one is under 10 mins. It's easy to access by foot with children or for older folks that can't walk far. The short walk to the waterfall from the parking lot is beautiful and shaded by trees. You walk alongside the river the entire way. Once you reach the waterfall there is a small bench to sit and admire. If your trying to find waterfalls that are safe and easy walking distance this is the perfect one to visit! Although the sign says "do not climb" plenty of kids were walking up and down the areas above and around the waterfall. I would not suggest this. Nearly gave me a heart attack when my son ran up.

10/10. This was such a fun experience. It reall felt like a cool day in the jungle. We went during…read morethe week in May. Feeding the birds was well worth the extra $3. Getting to hold the baby birds in the nursery was a unique experience. They were playful and sweet. If you want a souvenir picture I suggest not paying in advance for it if your going in couple/group. The picture we got was a single $45 versus the paying double the ticket price per person in advance. We then had lunch at the cafe wich was really good. Be prepared the road coming in is very steep just FYI.

We came here, on a whim. We saw it on a tourist pamphlet and decided to try it…read more The drive here, is outside of the main town, though a narrow road, that leads up the mountain. The driveway is steep, so be careful. Once there, the parking lot is a little small, however we found a spot pretty easily. You enter up a ramp, pay at the check In booth. Here you have a chance to buy the nectar feeding tickets, $3 each. I would 100% recommend this, if you want to be up close and personal with some birds. With military discount, nectar feed, and taxes for 2, it was about $72. Once inside the park, you walk trails, seeing the beautiful birds, some on posts, hanging out as you walk by. There are signs on some of the posts, don't feed/pet as you enter and walk around. You get close to the birds and plenty of photo ops. Some birds are in their cages, some just on posts as you walk around. Part of the tour you get awesome smoky Mountain View's. Soon your at the feeding/petting section. You walk into the area, there are still signs and rules, don't pet the ones that say no petting or feeding on their posts. When touring this area there's plenty of birds to pet, pick up, hold, feed. The feed costs a quarter, so bring some, or a few small bills 1s or 5s to buy feed. Some parrots here are loving and friendly. Once you're done here you continue the tour, shortly you'll be at the Nectar feeding area. The staff gives you a small cup of nectar and explains what will happen. Once the door is open, be prepared to be swarmed by small beautiful birds. They swoop in landing on your arms, shoulders, head. I think I had at one time about 6-7. This lasts about 10 minutes. Once you leave there you continue the tour seeing more beautiful birds and the nursery, then end at the gift shop/deli before heading out. Overall would recommend coming here if you love parrots, and birds.

Cool place to hike to the waterfall! The lady was at the counter was super friendly and…read moreknowledgeable! Definitely a great experience!

We visited Foxfire Mountain at the end of March. I think we were the only ones in the park. We did…read morejust the hiking (no zip lines) but that was enough for us that day. It was great being out in nature and hiking some of the well-kept trails. Give it a try if you're interested in taking a break from the city for a little bit!