Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park

Rachel — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:02:00 +0000

Recently, over Memorial Day weekend our family took a tent camping trip to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park. I never knew that there was actually a real Jellystone but apparently there are campgrounds throughout the United States. This trip was one of the BEST vacation trips we’ve taken as a family!

Each campground offers different amenities but most offer a playground, mini golf, activities for kids, hayrides, some have kayaks, and you will definitely see Yogi at some point.. The accommodations include showers & bathrooms, electric & water hookups for tents, RVs spots or they even have cabins. Whatever type of camping you choose, they all come with a picnic table and fire pit. Be careful about leaving your picnic basket out, Yogi might find you, lol!

We had the lucky opportunity of staying at Great Smoky Jellystone that borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just past Gatlinburg, TN. The campground was well maintained, kid-friendly, nicely landscaped, and made us feel very comfortable.

Here’s how our trip played out:

We arrived at 10pm, set up our tent in the dark while our kids tried to help us. Since it was so late we didn’t get to see much so went to bed.

Day 1

In the morning we woke up to a beautiful sunny day, it even felt a bit chilly but in warmed up quickly. We made pancakes, bacon and eggs and then went off to venture the campground. We took a short hike, played in the streams and went to the pool. There were activities but we decided to do our own thing.

Later, we ate lunch and took a little nap and then went on another hike. We came back to the campground where it was time to go on a hayride with Yogi and to snatch a picture with him. After, we ate hot dogs and went to a karaoke concert where many kids and families participated including us, we sang the Alphabet song that our 2 year old chose to sing.

Hayride fun with Yogi

Day 2

The next day, we enjoyed the same breakfast as the day before and played in the streams and pool once again and then to an activity area where Lincoln got his face painted. At this point, we were thinking we were so glad we stayed 3 nights because we wouldn’t be ready to leave. We decided to take a trip into Gatlinburg where we ate lunch and then took a 1.6 mile hike on the Trillium Gap Trail up to Grotto Falls.

We forgot our child backpack carrier so mostly my husband carried our daughter Julia but I’m pleased to say our 3 year old Lincoln hiked the whole entire way up to the falls, which was about the distance of a 5k round trip. The falls were a site to see and there were many tourist hiking as well. When we got back, we ate dinner, showered and enjoyed a country concert, then enjoyed a campfire & smores.

Day 3

This was our final day and most of the other campers were packing around us. After a quick muffin breakfast, we started to clean & pack up. I must say and I’m sure everyone would agree that setting up, even a tent is much more fun than packing up. Once we were done, we took a trip to the office/store where we got some souvenirs and checked out. Before we left the campground, we played in the pool for an hour more.

This experience was a trip that all of us will NEVER forget. The owners and their family are GREAT people and we would highly recommend camping at a Jellystone Park Campground, especially Great Smoky Jellystone. Being able to spending time together and leave behind all of the chaos of life was great for us. No laptops, No cell phones, No working, just our family spending time together. If you are looking for an inexpensive trip with your family, check out Jellystone Park!

Do you go camping or planning to go this summer? Have you been to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park?

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5 FUN Outdoor Ideas for SUMMER!

Rachel — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:06:00 +0000

In the world of TV, video games, and other traps to keep you indoors, it’s important to us to teach our kids to still have fun outside no matter how hot it is, especially since there is a rise in childhood obesity these days.

Summer is here and although it’s HOT, it’s time to get outside and play with your kids! It can be so tempting, especially on those VERY hot summer days to stay indoors and veg in front of the TV so I have compiled this list.

5 FUN outdoor ideas for SUMMER:

1. Go to a splash pad

We LOVE these! If you have never heard of a splash pad, it is kinda like a water playground. Check out your local park & rec to see if there is one close to you.

2. Go to a pool

Whether it is yours, a friends, or a pubic pool, you’ll get some natural vitamin D along with a lot of fun and laughter with your kids. Don’t forget your floaties or the natural sunscreen!

3. Go camping

There are TONS of things to do when camping! Hiking, exploring, collecting firewood, playing a game, eating camping food, just to name a few. Camping is a time you and your kids will never forget, put away all technology and just spend time together. (if tent camping, I suggest a campground with showers and a pool if possible)

4. Go fruit/veggie picking

Strawberry season is now and towards then end of summer it is blueberry time. The kids will love getting to pick their own (and eat some while picking) you are outside together, and you can get as much or as little as you want, and farms are often much cheaper than the grocery store. Click the link to find out where you can pick you own in your state.

*Growing a garden is another idea. If you have a garden, have your kids help you maintain it and care for it.

5. Go to a national park

You can have a picnic , go on a hike, play in a stream, explore God’s beautiful creation, etc. You will get some exercise while having fun in the sun! There are also junior ranger programs for younger kids or you can volunteer several ways including: cleaning, giving tours, maintaining trails.

How are you going to have fun outside with your kids this summer?

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