Splash and Relax at Wilderness at the Smokies

Did you see that drop!?” “Oh, that looks awesome!” That’s what you hear as you walk around the resort at Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, Tenn (1424 Old Knoxville Hwy., Sevierville, TN 37876; wildernessatthesmokies.com; 877-325-9453). The recently opened Wild Vortex water slide provides a rush you have yet to experience: A sudden vertical 39-foot drop from the top sends your body sliding at 2.5 G’s in less than two seconds through a loop before splashing you to the end. This breathtaking slide is just one of the many attractions at this popular resort — a five-hour drive from Ohio.

PLAY
Get into all the water slides in the Wild WaterDome Indoor Waterpark. On the Storm Chaser Thrill Ride, you never know which direction you’ll face as you drop through the fully enclosed slide on your raft. Slide and splash through the water to the tune of a thunderstorm complete with sound and lighting effects. If that’s not enough, grab tubes and ride down one of the two Trail Twisters Tube Slides — one is pitch black inside! There are small water slides in the toddler area or the Washout Mountain play structure, then after all that fun, sit by the wavepool and let the waves crash over you like at the beach. Or, if you want to feel what the surfers do in the ocean, take your chance on the Smokies Surf Rider. Eyeing that, I headed to the pool and hot tub — and all of this inside! Want to be outdoors? Grab your gang and head toward Lake Wilderness Outdoor Waterpark for even more splashing around in yet another wavepool at Washout Wilderness Rapids. Lazily relax on a tube on the Catalooche Creek Adventure River, then finally, dry off under a rented poolside cabana or grab a lounge chair when you’re ready for more — but dry — fun.
    Wilderness Adventure Forest has lots to offer for children of all ages. For an additional cost, you can get a day pass or game card and enjoy more than 100 arcade games, laser tag, glow putt-putt golf, miniature bowling, Tree Top Towers Indoor Ropes Course, a rock climbing wall and more. There is also a Cubs Climbing Den (free) with a multi-level treehouse. If you happen to have a birthday in the family coming up rent a party room!

EAT
There are a few places to choose from if you want to dine at the resort: Hidden Trail Bar and Grill for breakfast, lunch (seasonal) and dinner; Thirsty Miner Restaurant for breakfast and dinner buffets, lunch (seasonal) and dinner; Mountain Marketplace and Deli for coffee, fresh pastries, sandwiches and more, and there are also a few snack bars located around the resort for quick pick-me-ups. Or, save on your food bill by choosing a room with a full kitchen. Cook meals for the family — that’s one way to save big — and shop at the grocery store, just minutes away.

SLEEP
Now that you’ve had your fill of fun, take it easy in your room. Every room is equipped with TVs, a DVD player and more, and there are also suites that include a dining area, living room and gas fireplace. Having a resort with so many attractions allows you to have tons of fun, so it’s nice to be able to just slip back to your room for a nice little nap before heading for more fun!

Beached on Tybee Island, GA

From sand castles to lighthouses to animal spotting, you are sure to find something fun to do with the entire family in tow. Plan now for that perfect beach vacation during fall break.
 

"Are we there yet?” A common question we hear from the mouths of our anxious little

ones while on the road to somewhere fabulous. When we mentioned the word “beach” to our 6-year-old daughter, Lilliana, that question was asked repeatedly as she was itching to get into the ocean. With little brother, 2-year-old Seth, on board, the four of us set out on an adventure we soon won’t forget. Beach time fun on Tybee Island in Georgia.

Beached on the Beach
Our trip took an unexpected twist as we learned we were headed toward a tropical storm. Beryl was making it’s way toward the Atlantic coast, and we didn’t know where it was going to land. But, that didn’t stop us … or any of the other beach goers.

We were bound and determined to stick our feet in the sand and have fun. Little did we know that during a tropical storm, the undertow is stronger than usual. Needless to say, the double red flags were flown and the beach was closed to swimming, even when the sun decided to finally show. So, we looked for seashells and still made the most of our beach time. We took a stroll down the pier and watched the fishermen try to get the catch of the day, and enjoyed watching the swirling ocean slam against the pier. We strolled along the streets and enjoyed window shopping. That right there is enough to make someone hungry.

Get Your Grub On!
If you want to eat somewhere casual and exciting, you must make your way over to The Crab Shack (40 Estill Hammock Road; 912-786-9857; thecrabshack.com). While you wait for your table, enjoy viewing and feeding baby alligators in front of the restaurant, see a few exotic birds within the Gift Shack or watch for dolphins that sometime swim into the area out by the dock. The Crab Shack is nestled right on the edge of the banks of Chimney Creek. There are a few tables that sit right by the water, and you may be lucky enough to spot a dolphin or two. The seafood here is fresh and phenomenal. I, personally, am very picky when it comes to seafood, but always up for trying new things. The Homemade Deviled Crab Plate is different and very tasty, but the crab legs were my absolute favorite. There’s something for everyone here, so don’t worry about non-seafood eaters — the Pulled Pork Sandwich is yummy!

If you’re not up to dining out and your accommodation is equipped with a kitchen, enjoy cooking the fresh catch of the day. We were just around the corner to the most wonderful fresh fish market I had ever been to, Bowie Seafood (801 First St.; 912-786-8211). Here, you can get crabs, shrimp, oysters, pick from a variety of fish and more … all caught each morning. We watched them slice our fish right there. They have all you need to season your dinner, too. It’s also fun watching the live crabs trying to escape from their crate while waiting for your order.

From a Bird’s Eye View
If you are not afraid of heights, then a climb to the top of the lighthouse at Tybee Island Light Station and Museum is in order (30 Meddin Ave., 912-786-5801; tybeelighthouse.org; $8 adults, $6 ages 6 - 17, free ages 5 and younger). Be ready for a 178 step climb up because it won’t be just the view that will take your breath away. We went the day after the storm cleared and the sky was blue as can be. You can see for miles around. This lighthouse has been around for more than 270 years providing guidance to mariners coming to the Savannah River. Once you get to the top, hang on to the little ones as it can get pretty windy. Seth was a little scared, but Lilliana loved every minute of it, including the climb!

I Spy …
For a more leisurely outing, there are several opportunities to play a game of I Spy with your children. Captain Mike’s Dolphin Adventure Tours (Lazaretto Creek Marina; 800-242-0166; tybeedolphins.com; $15 adults, $8 ages 12 and younger) is a fun way to get up close to our finned friends. It was only minutes after we were out in the ocean that we spied several dolphins. Lilliana was amazed to see so many and thrilled to keep yelling out, “There’s another dolphin!” Even Seth was pointing and beaming with excitement to see so many. I don’t know if it was because of the shrimp boat near by, but we came across nearly 20 dolphins all at once. We were even so lucky as to see one jump completely out of the water! The dolphins came very close to the boat and the guide was quick enough to keep us near them without interfering with the waterways and other boaters. The guide also gives a little history behind the area and how to spot a baby dolphin. This was the most spectacular encounter we were so blessed to have enjoyed together as a family.
   
For those of you who are into more scary sorts of creatures, you should take a drive over to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. There is a free four-mile drive at the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive (fws.gov/savannah) and it’s filled with wild alligators and beautiful birds of all kinds. It’s open from sunrise to sunset and is located 35 minutes north of Tybee Island (seven miles north of Savannah). Get your cameras ready because it’s hard to spot an alligator and they soon disappear. We were fortunate enough to spot several, and some even just a few feet away from the car. This was the most exciting part of our adventure for our son, Seth, as he recently learned to say “alligator” and he knew what he was looking for.

Where to Stay
Even though the beach was closed to swimming, we were still able to wet our imaginary fins at the cottage’s private pool. The Splash Shack, a vacation rental home from Tybee Cottages (877-524-9819; tybeecottages.com), is the place to stay. We were so at home here that the storms didn’t keep us from sleeping soundly. This quaint little cottage is the perfect size for a small family and it’s filled with all the amenities including a laundry room, full kitchen, living room, dining room, two bedrooms, one bath and a fenced-in-yard. Because most of our days here were spent inside due to the storm, we played games and had great family bonding time. This house had toys in the living room for the toddler set, board and card games for the older kids, books for parents to read, a few family movies and, of course, the private pool (pictured). As if that isn’t enough, this little home away from home is walking distance to Tybee Island Light Station and Museum and a local park. 

NOTE: All photos were taken by Kiera Ashford.

Let Your Spirit Run Free

On a recent visit to the Crystal Coast (North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks), I had the chance to visit Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Shackleford Banks. This jaw-dropping experience is something the entire family can enjoy. It will make you appreciate the area even more.

We took a ferry from the Local Yokel Ferry (252-728-2759) — first ferry on Harkers Island, one mile past Harkers Island Bridge. As we were driven out to visit Cape Lookout Lighthouse, you pass the magical Shackleford Banks. Here, you can catch a glimpse into the world that seems virtually untouched as the wild Shackleford horses roam freely around the island. The wonderful tour guide slowed to a standstill as we came upon the little island. Many of us took out our cameras and snapped away. Tears came to my eyes as I witnessed these magnificent creatures swim through the ocean going to different parts of the island. Even the colts were swimming right along with their mothers.

Like I said, breathtaking isn't it? These horse live amongst themselves and survive with just the minimal. There were a few lost during the last hurricane, but even a determined mother gave birth to her new little one during that hurricane — he was named Aftermath. He had to be removed from the island, however, to allow the mother to regain her strength and continue to strive. He is being well taken care of on the adoption farm under the watchful eye of Carolyn Mason (The Foundation for Shackleford Horses, Inc., 306 Golden Farm Road, Beaufort, NC 28516; shacklefordhorses.org). We were able to visit the farm and get a first hand look at Aftermath and all his cuteness (see below).

Anyone that loves horses will appreciate what this foundation does for the wild Shackleford horses. They are truly something we should cherish and take care of. There just are not many places left where you can go and see something so wonderful. It is definitely something I didn't expect to see so close to home.

Once you have had a chance to get over the emotional experience of seeing these beautiful wild horses, get ready to embark on a hike up the many stairs of Cape Lookout Lighthouse (nps.gov/calo/index.htm). This lighthouse is unique because of its diamond pattern. The diamond patterns help point sailors in the right direction — the black diamonds point east and west as the white diamonds point north and south.

Take a tour and try the climb for yourself. The view from above — although a bit on the VERY windy side — is spectacular! This was the first lighthouse I have ever climbed to the top. You must be of a certain height, however, to climb these steps. So, be sure to make the appropriate plans when traveling with your little ones.

Come on! Be a FUN•FAM and take your family to the Crystal Coast!