Family Idea #2: Hiking to Listen

This is the second article in a series of ideas on how to take the ideas from Re-Energize Your Relationship book and apply to vacationing in the Smokies.  We hope Lightning Bug Lodge is a place for you to strengthen relationships and gain new perspective.

Idea:  Chapter "A walk on the Wild Side" encourages couples to escape the house and reconnect through walking, "Walking is wonderful.  Need to clear your head of clutter and put problems into perspective?  Take a hike."  Get outdoors and listen to your loved ones.

Action:  Walking around the neighborhood is start.  Kick it up a notch by adding a new view.  How about hiking in the Smokies?

Plan:  Two hikes rumored to be relatively secluded in Townsend, TN (the quiet side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

1.  Indian Hills Falls trail

The stats:  8-11 miles out & back, 5.5 hours, easy/moderate, rated 5/5 stars by hikers

Where:  Park at Institue at Tremont visitor center, take the Middle Prong Trail

What's neat:  old railroad bed, logging community artifacts, Panther Falls

Tip:  Go left at 4 miles (the trail takes you in that direction, but there's no sign)

2.  Spruce Flats Falls & Chestnut Top Wildflowers trail

The stats:  2 miles out & back, difficult, 1,400 ft. to 1,700, rated 5/5 stars by hikers

Where:  Park at Tremont visitor center, take Lumber Ridget Trail to Buckeye to Falls

Tip:  dropoffs, narrow, and rocky, but at the end rewarded with a waterfall