Adventures In Gatlinburg: Chimney Tops Picnic Area

There are a lot of picnic areas in the Smokey Mountains National Park, but we spent a lunch at Chimney Tops and it was a great choice! The picnic was definitely secondary to climbing in, around, and through the boulder-filled creek. The kids could have done this all day, and for miles and miles.

Do you think Grandpa is wondering if he is expected to follow Catherine as she leaps away?

Gussie gave me about a thousand heart palpitations while we were there. He HAD to leap. Every step was a leap. It didn't matter if it was a big leap or a small leap, or if the rocks were wet, or even if they had that green tint that warns you they are slippery... no, he was leaping. And this is why teaching by natural consequences doesn't always work for his type - he took a thousand risks and didn't come close to falling once.

But Grandpa was ready to fish him out before he got to the faster moving water, just in case.

The boulders were a little too daunting for Agnes's current level of clambering skill, so she focused on tasting all the nature.

Gussie is very pleased with his environment.

I'm pretty sure this butterfly didn't fly away because it had a damaged wing, but the kids were really glad to be able to watch it.

It's nice that Agnes will hang out with other family for short bursts so I can play with the big kids!