Wide Open Spaces

After seven months of not going anywhere, we finally packed up and headed south for a Fall break week in the great outdoors. My cousin's son was getting married in an outdoor wedding and we decided to head to the Gatlinburg/Knoxville/Pigeon Forge area the week before to enjoy the sights. I feel like I have to whisper this because I know some people LOVE Gatlinburg and go every year. I am not one of those people. The crowds, the kitsch, and the Little Vegas feel isn't for me. Mountains and waterfalls and fresh air? I'm all for that. But you have to fight through all that other stuff to get to it, so it can be frustrating when you spend a couple of hours each day in traffic. Lesson learned - if you're going to the area, rent a cabin and get supplies and stay there the entire time. All that said, the area and the people are very nice and hospitable.

The boys loved the quirky museums and such that we visited, including our first stop at Ripley's Aquarium.









Despite the look on Evan's face!









If you were not aware, if something reads "Do Not Open," Evan will open it.



And like I said, he dances everywhere.



We also visited the Crime Museum, where *of course* there was a saloon shooting range.











I'm nor sure which of these I find most frightening.





And we couldn't go on a family vacation without visiting someplace historic. This old Civil War era fort was within a local park.









We also checked out the Knoxville Zoo. Perfect for a 1/2 day and the weather was great!











Because it was almost Halloween they made the carousel run backwards to be spooky.





Notice the witch's feet behind Evan.



We found a farm with a pumpkin patch, corn mazes, and zip lines about 30 minutes away that was so much fun.











And Grandma and Grandpa joined us for a few adventures after they arrived for the wedding.







What is it about feeding farm animals that is so fun for kids (when they don't LIVE on a farm)?





And slides from the barn...



Hmmm....



I will never get tired of pumpkin patch smiles.



Laurel Falls and a few wedding photos to be posted separately!