Spring Break camping with Kids

[skwid]

Hello everyone,

My wife and I are looking to take the kids camping for spring break for 4-5 days and we'd love to tap the knowledge here on RV.net. I have two daughters about 5 yrs old and we want to go somewhere with a lot of children's activities or Resort style place I suppose. They are usually down for anything really...

We're in the Louisville, KY area and don't mind a 4-6 hour trip pulling our camper. We've been to quite a few places around here but like always we're finding new places year after year.

Any suggestions from the community?

Thank you in advance!

[wbwood]

We liked the lake at Julian price , but the campsites and roads need serious overhauling. Drive through Linville and much better.

Moses cone was cool also.

[tragusa3]

Found it! It is called "Wiseman's Overlook". If you look on google map, Wiseman road is just a few blocks south of the parkway. It shows as about a mile of paved and then it is gravel for a long ways. Okay for 2wd in reasonable weather. I would not do it in a rainstorm. You'll be driving long enough to think you made a wrong turn, but it is clear when you get there.

The Moses Cone Memorial and house was pretty cool too.

We preferred the Linville Falls campground to Julian Price.

[wbwood]

tragusa3 wrote:
A few things to research are the Hiking trails at the falls themselves, go to all 3 lookouts, they're all worth it! If you pack a picnic and spend some time sitting and soaking the view in, then it is a full day activity. It was for us. There is another trail that goes down to the base of the falls. It's fairly strenuous, but was an adventure for us and a stunning spot to hang out.

Go to the Linville Caverns....on second thought, if you're in Kentucky, you likely have seen better caves, we haven't.

There is a drive to an overlook that follows a fairly rough gravel road for about 6-8 miles. It was the most stunning spot we've seen in all of Appalachia. I'll find out the name for you if you message me before going. Or perhaps someone else knows?


The Linville Viaduct is worth seeing, but was actually a let down for me. It is an engineering marvel if that's your thing.

And of course, Grandfather Mountain itself! They have a good website that gives an idea of all it offers.

Let me know of the road you were talking about.

The viaduct is cool. Was fun to walk underneath it. Not much more than 30-45 minute visit though.

We really like Price lake at Julian price memorial park. Hope we can find more places like that where only canoes and kayaks are allowed, no motor boats.

[wbwood]

tragusa3 wrote:
Linville Falls / Grandfather Mountain makes a great trip too! It doesn't have all the touristy stuff, but is beautiful country. My young kids loved it, but they enjoy hiking and such as much as the city activities. The gorge itself has a character unlike anything else in the area.

wbwood, I imagine Linville is a staple trip for you?

Actually our go to place is normally Stone Mountain State Park. We've been going over to Boone a little more as well. This past year we stayed at Julian price memorial park on the BRP one weekend. The Linville falls campground there is nice. No hookups but still a neat place. Linville Caverns is fun to do.

The good part about gatlinburg/pigeon forge is that you have the GSMNP there. And just across it is Cherokee, which kids love. A good day trip.

[tragusa3]

A few things to research are the Hiking trails at the falls themselves, go to all 3 lookouts, they're all worth it! If you pack a picnic and spend some time sitting and soaking the view in, then it is a full day activity. It was for us. There is another trail that goes down to the base of the falls. It's fairly strenuous, but was an adventure for us and a stunning spot to hang out.

Go to the Linville Caverns....on second thought, if you're in Kentucky, you likely have seen better caves, we haven't.

There is a drive to an overlook that follows a fairly rough gravel road for about 6-8 miles. It was the most stunning spot we've seen in all of Appalachia. I'll find out the name for you if you message me before going. Or perhaps someone else knows?


The Linville Viaduct is worth seeing, but was actually a let down for me. It is an engineering marvel if that's your thing.

And of course, Grandfather Mountain itself! They have a good website that gives an idea of all it offers.

[skwid]

tragusa3 wrote:
Linville Falls / Grandfather Mountain makes a great trip too! It doesn't have all the touristy stuff, but is beautiful country. My young kids loved it, but they enjoy hiking and such as much as the city activities. The gorge itself has a character unlike anything else in the area.

wbwood, I imagine Linville is a staple trip for you?

Hmm, I've never heard of linville falls area. I just looked it up and it looks great. I will be making a trip there for sure!

[tragusa3]

Linville Falls / Grandfather Mountain makes a great trip too! It doesn't have all the touristy stuff, but is beautiful country. My young kids loved it, but they enjoy hiking and such as much as the city activities. The gorge itself has a character unlike anything else in the area.

wbwood, I imagine Linville is a staple trip for you?

[wbwood]

tragusa3 wrote:
You need to get to the smokies more often if you're only 4 hours! 🙂

Lol. We often forget that we are within a 4 hr drive to Gatlinburg ourselves. And we have not camped there yet! We have in Cherokee back in 2010. Stayed in a cabin numerous times, but not in the rv.

[Bob___Ann]

I too say Gatlinburg, Pigion Forge, Smokies in TN

[tragusa3]

You need to get to the smokies more often if you're only 4 hours! 🙂

[skwid]

Thank you to everyone for posting great Ideas. I am for sure going to mark all these up for future trips. I think we will probably do the Gatlinburg thing this time around. It's been years since Ive been there and I think the kids will probably like it. It is only about 4 hours from where I'm at.

Thank you again.

[AlabamaTraveler]

How about Nashville? Several campgrounds in the area. We really like that city.

[eluwak]

Another for Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge... Don't forget Dixie Stampede, Hatfield & McCoy, Aquarium, Obergatlinburg, etc. Plus you're right outside the Smokeys if you want a hike or something. So much to do around there that young kids would have a good time with (ours did) 🙂

[wbwood]

Merrykalia wrote:
I agree with Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown and Busch Gardens, but that is WAY over his 6 hour limit and would probably be better if were later in the year, like the end of May or first of June - weatherwise. I also think all kids should go to DC to experience the monuments, Smithsonian and the National Zoo. (All of which is free, it's been paid for by our tax dollars!) They have a much better grasp of these things when they get into school. I know it has helped both of ours and they are 1st and 4th this year.

All over his 6 hr limit....