Was more than I thought. Great experience. Small parking area. A little hard to get out of but…read moreworth it.

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.

Great walk/hike. All paved so accessible to all, short hike but steep so it does get your heart…read morerate up but not too long so those without endurance can make it. Our 4 year old did better than us but we ended up carrying the 2 year old by half way. Views are amazing. I wasn't worried about my kids up there as the railings are solid and high enough they couldn't climb on them or over them. The viewing area was large enough for at least 5 small families, probably more. I loved that it was free. The drive up was steep but worth the drive. There is room near the parking area for picnics in the grass.

This is a fun, minor hike (I believe it is about a half mile. Great views, peaceful, not very…read morecrowded normally.

Stay Away! I hate it here!! I'd like to keep these beautiful trails all to myself! Nothing to…read moresee here with your pups. The parking is terrible, the Rangers are not helpful at all, and the restrooms are the worst! Just let me come here alone and enjoy this splendor Mother Nature has created! But in all seriousness, I love it here! You should check it out.

Holy mole! This is a fabulous state park. Totally free parking, incredible restroom facilities - I…read moreknow that might sound dramatic but they had air conditioning in them! This is something Florida needs to jump on board with. And there was so many great spots for ground camping as well as areas for campers/RVs. We spent a couple hours at the park doing the hike to the waterfall. It was pretty leisurely and the grade is mild so it made for a comfortable trek. If you are planning to hike here, drive as faaaaaar as you can before parking. If you choose to park in the first lots you'll be walking about a mile just to get to the trail head. The trails were beautiful and the waterfall is so fun! You really can climb and explore it, I would suggest bringing plenty of water to drink and shoes that you can walk through the water in.

This stop has been on my list for awhile, and I'm not really sure how I hadn't made it yet…read moreconsidering the amount of times I've road tripped to the Smokies... but here we are! Got to see a bear on the way coming from Oconaluftee, which meant the day was perfect no matter what else happened. The weather was a little rainy, scattered storms here and there, and the cloud cover wasn't great for a great view from the overlook, but.... The parking lot view was still excellent, and the overlook itself was cool to see, and there was a Passport stamp station and Visitor Center, loads of camp style restrooms, with plenty of parking, so, absolutely worth the stop!

This is a pretty easy and quick hike up a paved walkway to the observation tower. We came in the…read moremorning and were unable to see anything because of the thick fog so just keep that in mind.

Pretty easy trail that goes up almost the entire way. Took us about two hours or so roundtrip…read more Overall a beautiful and peaceful hike with amazing mountain views.

Today was our second time back to Alum Cave Trail, and we did the 2.3 miles to Alum Cave Bluff and…read morethen turned back, for a total of 4.6 miles. You can go on for a total of five miles to reach Mt. Leconte, but since the weather was turning and it was starting to rain we cut our hike short. Like others, I suggest getting to this trail head early, as at 7:30 am half the parking lot was full!! We love this trail in particular for its endless water features, lots of scenic spots to take pictures, unique bridges, and the breathtaking view from the top. Even with the bad weather today, it was something spectacular watching the fog lift above the golden trees. If you haven't been, this trail is definitely worth your time and attention. You will want to wear some sturdy walking shoes for this one and maybe even bring a walking stick!!

This is a great, fairly easy, hike. The paved trail is nice, however it's in need of some serious…read moremaintenance/repair in many places. That said, it is a trail in the mountains... Laurel Falls is beautiful and worth of some good photos and selfies. I've seen bears on this hike, which is a nice bonus. PARKING: be prepared to wait or park at one of the several overflow lots (which can add extra "hiking" to your journey). Well worth the effort!

Beautiful and scenic. A bit more strenuous than I'd thought it would be. Still, quite lovely and…read morecool

The water is always nice at Mead's Quarry Lake. Enjoy fantastic scenic views while paddleboarding…read moreacross the clear blue water. Paddleboard and kayak rentals are available. This beautiful park includes hiking trails, overlooks, woodlands, and a lake observation deck perfect for watching the sunset by the water. Small update: The lake observation pier has been removed due to repetitive vandalism.

I tried coming here during summertime and it was a mad house and not one parking spot left. So I…read morewent by to check it out. There was a sign I forgot to take a picture of a ton of rules and regulations. Unsure if you could even bring a floatie because literally says no to everything else. They do have a dock you can walk on but the water is dark and murky. Just looks creepy and I don't think I would want to swim here in the summertime.

This place is amazing! Very quiet and tranquil offering nice trails for walking and biking…read more Observe various migratory birds as well as river fishing. Plenty of parking as well as picnic areas and public restrooms. Definitely worth a visit.

We had to check out this park because we are avid birders and it actually has birding in its name!…read more The trails are paved, wide and well marked with a color coded system. You can sit and watch the feeders if you are not up for a hike. We saw a nice variety of birds and loved all the late season wildflowers. Restrooms were clean and well stocked.

Grotto Falls was such a fun family adventure! We hiked it with our three kids, and everyone had a…read moregreat time. The trail was beautiful, the waterfall was awesome, and the kids did surprisingly well on the hike! And we got a bonus Smoky Mountain experience before we even reached the trailhead and we saw a mama bear with her cubs along the drive! Talk about setting the tone for the day! Beautiful scenery, a fun hike, and memories the whole family will be talking about. Definitely one of our favorite adventures in the Smokies!

Grotto Falls is a beautiful hike and definitely worth seeing. Walking behind the waterfall is a…read moreunique experience, and the trail is shaded with gorgeous scenery along the way. The biggest challenge is getting there. There are only about 10 parking spots on a one-way road, with very few pull-off areas along the entire route. We actually drove there twice and couldn't find parking either time. We ended up having one person drop us off and pick us up later at an agreed-upon time since cell phone reception on the trail was very spotty. The hike to the falls is mostly uphill for about 1 mile, and I had to take several breaks. I wouldn't consider it toddler-friendly. The hike back is much easier since it's downhill, but you still need to be careful. The trail is full of roots, rocks, and slippery terrain that blend into the dirt, making it easy to slip, trip, or twist an ankle. One member of our group was injured, so I highly recommend wearing quality hiking boots with good traction and ankle support. Despite the parking challenges and moderately difficult hike, the waterfall is beautiful and worth the effort if you're prepared and arrive early.

Sharp's Ridge Memorial Park Trails are located in the heart of north Knoxville and run along Sharps…read moreRidge Memorial Park Drive. Just a hop, a skip and a jump from the Broadway exit off I-40 is the road that leads you up Sharp's Ridge. Beneath the radio/television towers located on the ridge are 4.7 miles of trails, a picnic area and breath taking views of the Knoxville skyline. The trails are nicely maintained and good for beginners. I highly recommend checking out this local treasure one any warm sunny day.