Hiking the Great Smoky Mountains with Your Tween

Avid hikers often forgo their favorite activity when it comes to a testy tween. Those formative years between early childhood and teenager-hood can be rough on the whole family when it comes to vacations and outings. The Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee can be an easy solution to the problem offering a variety of hiking and backpacking trails that range in difficulty and length.

The trails in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park are labeled with easy to understand information so its not hard to cater to your families specific vacation needs. It is important to choose a trail that will be easy to follow and allow the whole family to take a leisurely pace and enjoy themselves to the fullest.

When hiking with tweens its important to consider the physical shape of both you and your tween. If physical activity isn't part of your everyday activity taking a short, simple trail will be the best bet. The Clingman's Dome is perfect for first time hikers with a tween. It is a short.5 mile hike with an observatory at the top. It is the highest point in the Smokies. The trail is wide and paved to make the hike even easier. Look Rock is also popular with new hikers. There is also an observation dome here, this one with a panoramic 360 degree view of the Smokies.

Hikers and tweens who are athletically inclined will enjoy the Andrews Bald Trail. The 3.6 mile hike is moderately difficult with wet areas and some steep inclines. Many different species of trees and shrubs are seen along this trail and wildlife watching is popular among families who take this route. The Little Cataloochee Trail is a moderate to easy 5.2 miles near a campground. A very scenic area, it is best to arrive here early to avoid crowds.

Successful hiking in the Smokies with a tween-ager entails proper planning as well. Pack all the necessary gear from water wear to snacks and water. Remember things like bug spray and sunscreen. Always check to make sure your tween is wearing comfortable yet rugged shoes that will help to gain traction on slippery rocks and steep hillsides.

Spending the day or even a weekend hiking in the Smokies is an experience you and your special tween will always remember. After the hike there are many other attractions nearby like water parks, amusement parks, live shows and tons of great eateries and hotels. Make it one of life's moments.