In this episode, I’m breaking down our family’s spring road trip from Milwaukee to Georgia. We turned the drive into a journey of its own, hitting two National Parks, an epic mountaintop adventure park, and discovering the magic of the full-cast Harry Potter audiobooks. Whether you’re looking for the best snack stops or how to see a black bear from a safe distance, this episode is for you!

Survival Tips for Long Hauls

  • The Backpack Strategy: Let kids (ours are 5, 8, and 10) pack their own bags with favorite travel toys like magnetic puzzles, LEGO tins, and coloring books plus some treat snacks! Here are our favorites:
  • Smart Snacking: Use individual Tupperware containers that you keep refilling to pass snacks back to each kid and minimize messes.
  • Audio Magic: We listened to the Audible full-cast recording of Harry Potter. It kept all three kids (and parents!) riveted for hours.
  • Bring trash bags and wipes

Mountaintop Fun in Gatlinburg: Anakeesta

If you want the feel of a Swiss mountain adventure without the international flight, Anakeesta is a must.

  • Alpine Coasters: We recommend the Hellbender for a smoother ride with younger kids.
  • Playgrounds in the Trees: Multilevel treehouses and the "Bird-Venture" slides kept our kids moving.
  • Wildlife Sighting: We spotted a black bear from the Treetop Skywalk!

National Park Highlights

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

  • Every Kid Outdoors: Since we have a 4th grader, we used the Every Kid Outdoors pass to get into the park for free!
  • Junior Rangers: Don’t skip the visitor center. The rangers at Sugarlands were incredibly patient and the badge ceremony is a core memory for the kids.
  • Cataract Falls: A perfect, short hike behind the visitor center for little legs.

Mammoth Caves National Park

  • Book Ahead: Cave tours sell out! We did the Mammoth Passages tour—perfect for families as it’s about an hour and avoids the tight squeezes.
  • The Science: The museum here has amazing dioramas showing how water carved out over 400 miles of caves.

Travel Hacks & Rewards

  • Hyatt Place is Home: We love the extra space for a family of five and the reliable free breakfast.
  • Chase & Amex Offers: I share how I used Chase Offers and Amex Resy credits to score 5% back on hotels and even a totally free meal at Loco Burro in Gatlinburg.

Work With Me: Curated Adventures

Love these ideas but don't have time to research the time zones, hotel points, and junior ranger requirements? I can help! Visit the Curated Adventures tab on my website for custom itinerary design. I’ll look at your trip through the eyes of a mom and a Speech-Language Pathologist to ensure it’s absolutely right for your unique family.

Listen to the Full Episode!


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Head over to Instagram to see photos of our adventures! @AdventuresWithKidsPod