Ober Gatlinburg

We took the tram (not as scary as I expected - although C had to be talked through it) ....and then the ski lifts (again C had to be talked through it but by the time we did it again, he was a pro) These took us all the way to the top. The tram took us half way up the moutain to the "lodge" - restaurants, gift shops, carnival rides. The ski lifts take you all the way up.- at the top it is gorgeous. as a any parent of teen/tween age kids, I so wish they could truly appreciate what they were seeing. At their age I hadn't been farther away from home than a few hours west in Pa to see family. But hopefully they will remember when they are older. We kept hearing, "I miss the beach" a few times yesterday but it is getting less. we parked and rode the trolley most of the day which made the day a bit longer with waiting, and riding, but much cheaper than parking and much less frustrating than finding parking. we went up to the artist section of Gatlinburg and K got to see a few professionals throwing pottery. She was tickled with that.

The most exciting part of yesterday was coming *this close* to seeing bears! When we were just getting on the ski lift to head up the second leg of the mountain yesterday, the crew announced that the alpine slide (this really cool tobaggan ride that comes down the moutnain - C and I did it - fun fun!) anyway I digress....they announced that this ride was closed temporarily. Why ? There was a momma bear and three cubs trapsing around up there. We missed it by minutes literally! By the time we got up there, they had chased them into the woods and were shooting firecrackers to scare them off farther. SO close! we could have paid $4 a person to peer over the side of a concrete "natural habitat" and look at some at the lodge, but there was no way I was supporting that venture. We could see them from the tram...and that was no "natural" habitat.

everyone is starting to stir - so I better end......I headed out this morning for a walk along the "river walk" here at the condo. Apparently I learned this morning, a lot of the "amenitites" are still under construction....the canoes I was looking forward to are grounded....we forgot C's fishing rod...going to pick up a cheapy today...so things have been "not as we expected" a tad...but it is still wonderful and I am all for teaching my children to make the most of it. Yesterday was a busy day. today we are hiking to one of the falls in the park. Was going to pick the one that we can walk behind but it is one of the smallest...so I may chose the tallest instead! oh my family will just love me!