Any Tips for Smokey Mountain Trip

What a coincidence. Today is our last day here in Gatlinburg before we head home to Illinois. We are here with my parents and our kids 13, 10 & 6.
We have done all of these things: Dollywood, prepared to get wet. Both big and little rides. Shows are nice but take time.
My favorite thing was whitewater rafting. I went twice. Once with everyone on the lower river. Then again on the upper "big" rapids without my youngest and the old folks. There are several rafting companies, we used Smoky Mountain Outdoors.
My husband golfed a couple times. We did a couple hours at the Arts & Crafts circle. I enjoyed shopping in downtown Gatlinburg more than the crafty stuff. Check out Michaels Sportwear for good deals on tshirts.
My parents took my youngest to the Aquarium (while we were big rafting) and said it was one of the best aqauriums they have ever seen.
For the National Park, we all hiked up the Trillium Trail to Grotto Falls. It was about 1.5 hours to hike up and half that time going down. The view is gorgeous on the way up and at the falls. Have the kids bring their water shoes to play in the water at the top. Don't forget water bottles for the hike. It's hard work, but even the youngest and the oldest made it.
We did Hillbilly Golf and Davy Crockett golf. Davy Crockett is nicer and more fun.
My Mom and I went to the Elvis museum in Pigeon Forge. We are fans, so we had to fit that in.
We stayed in a nice cabin in Gatlinburg. All the restaurants were good. The "hole in the wall" pancake place was just as good as the more expensive dinner place. Good luck, let me know if you want more info (as if I didn't already give you more than you wanted). Have fun, it's one of the more beautiful places I've ever been.

I love the Smokey's. We hit Gatlinburg for ice cream and gift shops. I love the roaring fork motor trail - you follow a river and have many places you can get out. Go up to the top of the mtn with the car - I think it is Cadillac mtn - starts with a C

Have fun

MH in EGV

We went last year with our girls who were then 5 and 7. One of the highlights for them was horseback riding - they each got their own horse, and loved it. We went to a stable in the foothills, and the trail took us over a small stream, and through the shaded, rolling hills. It was a lot of fun. Their other favorite thing to do was just go hiking. We had our two dogs with us so could only stick to a few trails in the park. One of the trails followed alongside a stream, and we found a beautiful swimming area with huge rocks in the middle. The girls could stay there for hours, hunting for butterflies and other insects, swimming, skimming rocks, building dams, etc.

Have fun!

Dollywood is lots of fun and also there is a Dollywood water park that is great. There is also a mini-golf course that is fun to do in the evening. The course is up on a hill and is lots of fun. The smokey mountain national park is fun if you enjoy being outside and walking/hiking. There are many beautiful look out points. There is one spot in the park where you can stand on the state line. We have a picture of our kids one standing in TN and the other standing in NC. Have fun!! It was one of the best driving trips we took as a family.