Grotto Falls Trail

Grotto Falls. It's a hiking trail in Gatlinburg, TN that Jeffrey and I have done EVERY time we visit. It's a short trail and it ends with a beautiful waterfall. Actually, the trail keeps going past the waterfall, but we have never continued. Maybe we can do that next time. We always pack us a lunch to eat once we get to the waterfall. It's a nice way to relax and just soak in the beauty around you, and also to sit down and say to yourself, "Heck yeah! I made it!" 

If you know me well, you will know that I'm not an outdoors woman. I do love looking at gorgeous landscaping and scenery and being out in the fresh air, BUT... I do NOT like the bugs and snakes and all the creepy crawlies that are out there. At ALL. 

Since the kids were with us and wanted to do a trail with us, we decided that this one would be perfect for them. 

And so we begin...

Nathan is fully prepared. He has his map (actually it's a map of the state of Tennessee) in case he gets lost and he has his binoculars, or binAculars as he calls them. He was on a mission. 

                         Lacey did well for awhile, but eventually this is what happened...

    The kids ran, hopped over exposed tree roots, climbed over some small rocks...

                                           Stopped nicely when asked for a photo op...

                                              until we finally made it to the waterfall. 

We found us some rocks to sit on and sat and enjoyed our lunch. Nathan loved jumping around from rock to rock. He said he was the best rock jumper ever. :)

Nathan and Lacey were pretty tired when we finished, but I think they had fun. And thanks to a nice lady, we were able to get a family photo.