Niagara Falls A natural Wonder of our World

Niagara Falls is one of the reasons why we came back to Buffalo. Truly a beautiful place that will leave you breathless. And there are lots to do. If you are visiting as family group, there's definitely something for you and the kiddos to do beyond Niagara Falls nearby. All of the power of the water flowing and imagining people have gone over the US side in a barrel and survived. Spectacular that you deserve to walk around and take so many selfies. There's also the boat ride and zip line too. Such a must see in your bucket list of this grand majestic freak of nature to marvel upon.

 

The Falls are truly a sight to behold for an hour or even just a few minutes.

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14 comments AdBenture, New York, New York State Park, Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls State Park, Shades of Autumn, United States, Waterfalls

Visit the Niagara Falls in the Winter

We have been gone to Buffalo, NY for nearly seven years.  Finally we get to see Niagara Falls again  on the US side. We had a bit of time before we headed back to East TN, so we decided to stop here. We used to live nearby but I am still captivated every time I visit the falls and always enjoy the experience!

Niagara Falls is a beautiful natural wonder that everyone should come see in their lifetime to appreciate the awesomeness of mother nature.  We came here on Christmas time 2018  it was snowy that day there were no crowds and  it is freezing but Niagara Falls is well worth stopping by.

I used to dread the winter, but at this moment I fully embrace the change of season.  I love taking this time to have fun, find peace and inspiration in the rebirth after the darkest and longest night of the year. When nature has completely shed everything and when animals go into hibernation.

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64 comments New York, Niagara Falls, United States, Waterfalls, Winter Getaways

Cataract Falls Hike in the Smoky Mountain

We enjoyed our short hike to Cataract Falls,  one of the most popular falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Located just a half mile behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center, Cataract Falls is an easy hike with a small set of stairs near the falls.  The first part of the trail was flat and featured a small foot bridge that crossed the creek next to a tree that had some very interesting features.

At the end of the hike you will find a beautiful waterfall. The waterfall is comprised of two low-flow streams totaling a 25-foot drop into a small pool below.  After periods of rain, the waterfall is quite impressive!

📌  Hike the Smokies Challenge

Our very first hike at Smokies.

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19 comments Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Hiking Trails, Tennessee, United States, US National Park, Waterfalls

Visit the Twin Falls at Rock Island State Park

This scenic and tranquil setting nestled along the Caney Fork River is a wonder of nature.  Rock Island State Park is one of my favorite places to visit in Middle Tennessee.  This state park offers a campground, picnic areas, hiking trails and waterfalls.  There's  few trails in Rock Island:  the area by the Great Falls, the Downstream Trail  and  the Upstream Trail with view of the Twin Falls which is what we did.  Although the upstream trail is an easy walk from the observation area the stream is rocky so you have to be careful getting in.

Planet Earth has countless jaw-dropping landscapes, but of all its stunning scenery, waterfalls are the most impressive.

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32 comments Rock Island, Tennessee, Tennessee State National Park, United States, Waterfalls

Visit the Whispering Winds Covered Bridge and Lost Mine Falls

Everyone is familiar with theme parks or amusement parks, but have you ever heard of an adventure park? Adventure park is a place where family can come to explore and discover the outdoors. The  Foxfire Mountain Adventure Park is famous for that, located 12 miles outside the city limits of Gatlinburg , Sevierville or Pigeon Forge.

It is a family oriented adventure park that has beautiful easy to moderate trails. This trails will lead you across multiple unique bridges from log to covered and cable  bridges, including America’s Longest Swinging Bridge with gorgeous vistas and awesome waterfalls.

"Whispering Winds Covered Bridge",  is home to thousands of wishes where you can hang a wish to blow in the winds of prosperity. 

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30 comments Bridges and Sights, Family Attractions, FoxFire Mountain, Outdoor Activities and Adventures, Sevierville, Tennessee, Theme Parks, United States, Waterfalls

The 10 Must-See Waterfall Hikes in Tennessee

Welcome to East Tennessee, the home to the nation's most visited national park— the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tennessee is famous for beautiful outdoor scenes. With its beautiful blend of rustic scenery, smoky mountaintops, rolling hills and countryside, it’s pretty clear Mother Nature lay her place in Tennessee. 

As one of the Appalachian Trail’s highlighted states, Tennessee is a paradise for backpackers and hikers,  and the state has plenty of hot spots for black bear sightings. Challenge your self  and your family! Join numerous hikers that have logged over 100+ miles and the park will reward you with mileage pins.

Here are 10 must-see hiking trails and waterfalls in Tennessee, in no particular order. (Click each waterfalls name to view more photos.)

1. Hike to Ozone Falls

Located just off U.S. Highway 70, Crab Orchard, Tennessee. This stunningly grand Ozone Falls is a 110-foot waterfall with a pool below it has been a popular tourist attraction for more than a century. The waterfall was named Ozone, because the mist from the falls was believed to have healthy qualities. Today, the waterfall is protected as part of Ozone Falls State Natural Area and it's just a short hike — less than a mile — and easy, but the trail that takes you to the pool below is strenuous, especially on the way back up.

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34 comments Crossville, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee, Tennessee State National Park, Travel Tips, Waterfalls

The Downstream Trails at Rock Island State Park

If you like waterfalls this is a nice place to stop off we were on our way  home from Nashville. We decided to stop over in Rock Island State Park and do some short hike.  We took the steps down to the falls area and have to say they are moderate, treacherous in both directions - wear proper hiking shoes, its rocky and some part is muddy.  Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of the Twin Giant Falls our GPS is not being helpful either. Instead we are leading to one of the few small waterfalls in the area.  This is our first time in Rock Island and we will go back soon to see the famous Twin Falls. 

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8 comments Hiking Trails, Rock Island, Tennessee, Tennessee State National Park, United States, Waterfalls

The Hen Wallow Falls

We hiked up to Hen Wallow Falls on June 18. This was a great two hour hike at least 4.5 miles round trip . Maybe, little over two hours if you take your time.  The entry of the trail is beautiful. It feels like you are walking into a tunnel of beautiful greenery. The trip to the falls is almost all up hill and very uneven (lots of roots) in parts. The elevation gain is just over 550 feet but the total round trip elevation gain is just over 1,100 feet. There are several places along the trail on the way up to stop, take pictures, and catch your breath if needed. 

This isn't an easy hike, and it's not as popular as some of the other waterfall trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The amount of water flows at the fall is depending on the time of year the amount of recent rainfall, still can be a very enjoyable experience.  We brought snacks with so we were able to hang out at the base of the falls for awhile. If you are looking for a short day hike to a waterfall away from the crowds this trail is a good choice.

Here's one of the tree bridges on the trail.

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Leave a Comment Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Summer Getaway, Tennessee, Tennessee State National Park, Waterfalls

Falls Creek Falls State Park - Part 2

This is our second trip to Falls Creek Falls this time we  hiked the trail  down to the bottom of the big falls. It is a strenuous hike over some rocky areas, but it is well worth it. Going up is physically challenging. The fall doesn't have much water flow to it but it is one of the tallest I have seen. It's like being in another world. You can get in the swimming hole  at the bottom of the falls and it was amazing. There is only one trail that goes in and out , expect that it could be crowded at times. The rocks at the bottom are a tad scary, because some of them are loose so be careful. We were sitting on the rocks at the bottom of the falls for about 30 minutes. 

If you are a person who likes to spend time outdoors or hike, you will truly enjoy a day here. Be sure to plan on making it a day trip, it's in the middle of nowhere. Happy hiking!

Falls Creek Falls State Park

10821 Park Rd

Spencer, TN 37367

One of Tennessee's gem

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11 comments Crossville, Fall Creek Falls, State Parks, Summer Getaway, Tennessee, Waterfalls

Cinematic Ozone Falls

Spring is fast approaching and we're both itching to get outside and breathe in the fresh air. We wanted to do a short hike with lots of cliffs and waterfalls. So we decided to check out the Ozone Falls which I have read that this is the area where a battle scene in the "Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book"  movie took place in 1994. (pretty cool , huh?) 

Stunning Grand Ozone Falls

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21 comments Crossville, State Parks, Summer Getaway, Tennessee, Tennessee State National Park, United States, Waterfalls