Vacation to Chattanooga/Gatlinburg in July

 This summer, we took what quite probably will be our last vacation as a family of six.
We spent a week sight seeing and hiking in Chattanooga and Gatlinburg.  It was an amazingly relaxing and memorable trip.


Riding to the bottom of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga.

I was surprised by how much the kids enjoyed the incline railway.

But they enjoyed this monster treat even more

once we walked across the road from the railway station.

David and Joh shared this bad boy of a dessert.

This was the signature ice cream creation

at the local ice cream shop.

It was a simply (though ginormous)

banana split.

We also visited the aquarium while in Chattanooga.

There was a lot to see that did NOT involve water or fish.

But there was plenty enough water fun at the KOA.

After shifting from Chattanooga to Gatlinburg for a few more days of fun,

we enjoyed a fun dinner

at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede.

Our meal for the evening looked like this.  Delicious, right?!

Notice anything missing?

You are served this wonderful meal 

and then are politely informed 

that there will be no utensils provided.

Yup.

At the Dixie Stampede,

you eat with your fingers.

Everything.

We then spent a few days

hiking in Smoky Mountain National Park.

When we weren't hiking or playing in the creek

or hanging out at the KOA

we were racing down the side of the hills

on the Alpine Slide.

We even went back for an extra trip down the slide

at midnight one evening.

Yes.  Midnight.

Our last full day of vacation was a trip even farther east.

We marked one very big house off of Emily's bucket list.

We visited the Biltmore Estate.

It was beautiful.

And there aren't enough words to describe the grandness of the place.

So I won't even try.

Happy Friday!!!!