The Natural Tunnel State Park is without a doubt one of the boys’ favorite outdoor spots to go. All of our boys love trains, but our oldest is a true train fanatic…
There is nothing like a beautiful waterfall hike on a hot summer day. Throw in multiple creek crossings along the way and it makes a perfect trek for kids! Our boys love hikes with creek crossings
Bryson City is a town rich with history, however not all of its history has a favorable ending. The Road to Nowhere is a landmark that reminds longtime locals of government promises left unkept. During Word War II, the Fontana Dam and lake were created…
Jacob’s Nature Park is a 28 acre wildlife habitat and level 1 certified arboretum built along Sinking Creek near downtown Johnson City, TN. This park was developed in memory of Jacob Francisco…
Pine Ridge Falls is a perfect hike for kids of any age. It is relatively short with a very small elevation gain. There is one small creek crossing along the way that we were able to easily navigate by hopping rock to rock…
Watauga River Bluffs Trail is a lesser known trail just outside of Johnson City in Watauga, TN. It sits on a 50-acre natural area in Carter County along the Watauga River. The land was designated as a nature preserve in 1998 to protect the Carolina Pink..
Laurel Run Trail is a scenic trail within Laurel Run Park in Church Hill, TN. A fun fact about this park is that it was used in the movie, The River, in 1984…
Margatette Falls is my favorite waterfall hike near home. The trail follows a beautiful creek, giving you gorgeous scenery the whole way. The first time we did this trail, the boys had just turned 4, 6, and 7.
Sitting Bear Mountain is a relatively short hike with the spectacular views of the Linville Gorge and a really cool rock feature. I would recommend this trail for the age 5 and up group.
Lover’s Leap Loop trail is a moderately difficult loop that connects with a small portion of the Appalachian Trail. The summit has spectacular views of Hot Springs, NC and the Nolichucky River. Before or after your…
Spring is here!!! We are so excited that we could do this hike on a perfectly clear day. The weather is beginning to warm up but it is at least 10-15 degrees cooler on the mountain, so we still brought light jackets. Max Patch is a great…
For those of you who live in Johnson City, this trail is a great choice for days when you are looking for something close by. There are multiple routes to choose from on Buffalo Mountain that interconnect. We combined the Fork Knob trail with a section of White Rock Loop to get to the “Tip Top” area…
This is a perfect hike for kids or anyone new to hiking who wants to “dip their toes in the water,” both literally and figuratively. The trail is really more like a leisurely stroll along the creek in the woods as there is 0 net elevation gain. Limestone Creek Trail lies within David Crockett Birthplace…
Sill Branch Falls is an excellent hike for kids in the 0-5 range, while at the same time being lots of fun for older kids as well. It is a well marked and straight forward route. To be clear, we have only been to the lower falls…
Massie Gap is a well known spot along the Appalachian Trail where you will likely find yourself in the company of beautiful wild ponies. This area is a part of Grayson Highlands State Park which contains…
Rocky Fork State Park has been recommended to us many times. The first time we attempted to go, the park was closed due to ice and downed trees. We tried again this weekend and were so excited to check out Rocky Fork’s newest trail, White House Cliffs…
Bays Mountain Park has always been one of our go-to nature outings with the boys. We go at least once a month if not more and have been going since the boys were very small…
I have so many fond memories of this waterfall. Laurel Falls was one of the first hikes that I ever went on. (Fun fact- my first hike wasn’t until I was in high school.) I have been to Laurel falls around 5-6 times, but always took the same trail from the US-321 S trail head in Hampton, TN…
If you are looking for a short hike with incredible views in East Tennessee, this is a great option. Nolichucky Ridge Cliff is part of the Appalachian Trail in Erwin, TN. The trail head is right across the street from the Nolichucky Hostel and Uncle Johnny’s Cabins and Camping.
Blue Hole Falls is generally referred to as simply, “Blue Hole,” by people in the area. It is a very short an easy hike with a beautiful waterfall view. The unfortunate thing about really short hikes is that they usually come with a lot of traffic…
Beauty Spot is a well known area in East Tennessee because of its gorgeous 360 degree views of North Carolina and Tennessee. There is a parking area close to the main overlook so it gives you lots of options for how far you want to go…
Roan Mountain- Carver’s Gap holds a special place in our hearts because it is one of the first trails that we would frequent when the boys were babies. It is especially memorable because when my second son was a few months old…
The Devil’s Bathtub is a well known hiking trail that brings people to Fort Blackmore, Virginia from all over the country. In fact, both times that we hiked this trail we met honeymooners from out of state. It wasn’t until after…
Martin’s Creek Falls is a charming waterfall that is tucked into a magical little cove in Erwin, TN. We never run across a lot of people there, maybe one or two …
The pay-off at the end is beautiful, but I have to say that Rock Creek Falls trail will probably be one we save to do again when the boys are a little older. The falls were gorgeous and it was a beautiful hike along a creek, but…
The Hawksbill Mountain hiking trail definitely falls into one of my top 5 favorites that we have done with the boys. It checks off almost all the boxes that we look for before heading onto a trail with our crew…
With its graded, crushed gravel pathway, it is a great trail for walking, running, and biking. Our family has been enjoying this trail since it opened in 2014 when we would take walks pushing a double stroller…
The TVA opened the Yelling and Dam Builder bike trails in 2020. They are labeled as multipurpose hiking/biking trails. They could make for a decent nature walk, however, there is no landmark destination and the dirt rollers designed for bikes would make them a little awkward for hiking.
Tannery Knobs is one of the boys’ favorite spots to go and get out ALL their energy! We live about 5 minutes away, so we frequent this bike park multiple times a month. I am so thankful for the people who brought this park to downtown Johnson City…
The Virginia Creeper trail has become one of my favorite “can’t miss” yearly activities that we do. We have always gone in the summer, but I have had friends go year round and their pictures are beautiful. For clarity, when we do the Creeper Trail, we always take the…
Dennis Cove Campground will not disappoint. It is minutes away from Laurel Falls and the Appalachian Trail. This campground is part of the Cherokee National Forest. Coon Den Falls trail head is within walking distance from the campground…
I never went camping growing up. Well, I slept in a tent in a friend’s backyard once but we had full access to the house, so I’m not sure if that counts…
