Vacation Bryson City Area (Raleigh, Emerald Isle: rent , work, house)

[jbear182]

Would it be worth an 800 mile one way trip to this area for a summer vacation for my family (wife two daughters 2 and 5)? Is the place crazy with tourists in the summer? Is there a lot to do. We are starting our vacation planning late and need help!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by jbear182

Would it be worth an 800 mile one way trip to this area for a summer vacation for my family (wife two daughters 2 and 5)? Is the place crazy with tourists in the summer? Is there a lot to do. We are starting our vacation planning late and need help!

It will be busy in the summer, but fall is really the tourist season (people want to see all the fall foiliage). I would say a definite YES to this trip if your kids were a bit older. There is tons to do, but dragging a 2 year old along to do it might be tough. First of all, do you really want to drive 800 miles with a 2 year old????? You are braver than me In Bryson City you are near to some great hiking and fun family-friendly whitewater rafting. Not to mention being so near the Great Smokey Moutain National Park. But with such young children - I'm thinking you might want to wait a few years. Just my 2 cents.

[jayhawks]

Loves Carolinas, do you have any suggestions then for families with young kids? Our youngest is 3 months, oldest is eight. Sorry for interrupting this thread jbear, maybe you'll get more suggestions from my question as well. We are hoping (and praying!) my husband can get transferred to NC in two to three years. May have to go to Dallas first though.
We at least want to start vacationing there. I already know I'll love NC, so ready to leave the big city behind. After driving to Branson last year with my then two year old, I vowed never to do that again! She cried so hard she made herself throw up. Really cried most the way there and back. Plus all the family came down with a stomach virus. It was a memorable vacation.
So, flying in to NC, do you have any suggestions? We definitely want to see the mountains and will eventually wander over to Dollywood so my husband and son can ride the roller coasters. I will no doubt be left behind in the cabin with the young ones. It's just a fact of life for mothers.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by jayhawks

Loves Carolinas, do you have any suggestions then for families with young kids? Our youngest is 3 months, oldest is eight. Sorry for interrupting this thread jbear, maybe you'll get more suggestions from my question as well. We are hoping (and praying!) my husband can get transferred to NC in two to three years. May have to go to Dallas first though.
We at least want to start vacationing there. I already know I'll love NC, so ready to leave the big city behind. After driving to Branson last year with my then two year old, I vowed never to do that again! She cried so hard she made herself throw up. Really cried most the way there and back. Plus all the family came down with a stomach virus. It was a memorable vacation.
So, flying in to NC, do you have any suggestions? We definitely want to see the mountains and will eventually wander over to Dollywood so my husband and son can ride the roller coasters. I will no doubt be left behind in the cabin with the young ones. It's just a fact of life for mothers.

Hi jayHawks - I feel your pain - I once had a kid who threw up if we drove across town - forget taking long drives across several states!

My best advice would actually be to steer you toward a beach vacation. Renting a beach house can be a great thing to do when you have young kids. You have the surf and sand to let them toddle around in for hours and easy access to getting them down for naps or to food or potty situations quickly. Now, here's my favority part...at night once they are down for the count you and your hubby can have a very relaxing evening out on the deck, under the stars with the sound of the waves crashing nearby Ah, romance!

I would personally recommend you fly into Raleigh, rent a car and drive less than 2 hours away to either Emerald Isle or Topsail Island - my two beach faves. These places are very relaxing family friendly areas. You could go out for some meals, find the obligatory movies or miniture golf places for your 8 year old. But mostly you could relax at the beach every day and let all that fresh air tire the little ones out! Of course I do recommend one of those easy to throw up canopy's to make sure they don't get too much sun.

Now, I know you said mountains, and as you can tell - I do love the mountains - there are just not as many things to do with young children when you go to the mountains I'm afraid. Unless of course you are avid hikers and you are used to hiking for miles with a baby pack on your back? Here's a suggestion, why not do two nights in the mountains, then the rest of the week at the beach? I would recommend you stay in the little mountain town of Dillsboro - very quaint. There you can catch a ride on the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad. Google them and look at the pics - that is a great trip for the whole family. They offer several options for length of trips I believe, so you could pick what would work best for your family. But kids of all ages love that open air train ride, don't miss doing that for sure. If I can think of any other suggestions I'll post them

[lovesMountains]

more...After rereading your post it does sound like you would particularly want to go to Dollywood, right? Well, here's my input on that...Fly into Knoxville - rent a cabin in or near Gatlinburg for a few nights. Then drive down into Great Smokey Mountains National Park to get into NC - it is a beautiful drive! Make your way over to Dillsboro or Bryson city and situate yourself there for a few days. You can catch the train I told you about in either of those locations so plan where you want to stay around doing that. Between Dollywood and Dillsboro there are many beautiful things to see - I'm sure you would not be bored

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

I still love trains! I know boys are typically more into the big, loud, moving type of things, but your daughters might enjoy it too. Trains leave Dillsboro and Bryson City.

Maybe you can go while Thomas the Tank Engine is there!

[jayhawks]

I meant to say lovesMountains. Thank you so much for responding to me though, these are some very good suggestions. The beach will be nice if we can ever get to NC to live. Don't want to vacation there since we have a beach an hour from us, although I'm sure yours is much nicer. But love the train ride idea to go along with a mountain vacation.
Also thanks cowboy wilhelm, what a cute pic of Thomas. My girls do love him as much as their big brother did. Although I'm getting rid of the train table, it's just IN the way.
Thanks for the help.

[jbear182]

I was just kidding - sorry about the confusion. Both kids have been on longer road trips in the past to destinations that were worth the drive. They both travel well. The question was if Bryson City was worth the trip.

[berryjuice4life]

Originally Posted by jbear182

I was just kidding - sorry about the confusion. Both kids have been on longer road trips in the past to destinations that were worth the drive. They both travel well. The question was if Bryson City was worth the trip.

Your very lucky. my 2 umm well lets say can u say STOP FIGHTING...LOL...they are good just like to annoy each other my son is 12 and my daughter 8...
No problem about the Joke I just think feelings were hurt that is all....

[jbear182]

Don't get me wrong, my kids do the same and they are only 5 and 2.