Smoky Mountain Deer Farm

One of the things we found when searching for things to do in the Pigeon Forge area was a deer farm. The kids thought it sounded like fun and who doesn't love the opportunity to pet and feed animals?! Actually, once we got there I found out I didn't. They are nasty. Seriously. We were the some of the first visitors that morning and apparently the animals were ready to be fed. They swarmed us.

Sailor loves animals, it doesn't matter what kind. She didn't hesitate to feed any animal there.

  These are Sika Deer, a spotted Japanese deer.

And they were hungry. You could barely walk through them.

Tucker and Cutter refused to go in the pen, instead they fed them from the safety of the other side.

She would stick her hand in any pen they allowed.

 

Elk

Isn't he amazing?!

Hank loved getting to feed and see them.

 

I wish I had recorded this conversation. Hank was letting him know how lucky he was that he was on a farm and not where he could shoot him.

Reindeer! I was most excited about seeing these guys.

To my surprise, Cutter fed them. I guess that close to Christmas he wanted to make sure they were healthy.

See, I fed some animals. I just didn't touch them. And washed my hands before we left. And sanitized

This kid cracks me up!

Everyone loved the baby goats.

And then a battle broke out with some bigger ones.

So guess who had to get up close and watch the fighting goats.

Mountain Farm Museum

This was located just outside Cherokee and at first the kids really didn't want to stop, but once they got the chance to roam around and read some, they loved it. The buildings and houses have been brought in from various parts of the state and they have it set up to show you what farm life was like years ago.

Enjoying a little trail time.

 

We were blessed with some seriously beautiful weather while visiting, look at those gorgeous skies!

 

 

 

 

Mountain Snow

Our second day in the mountains we made plans to drive across the mountains for a visit over in Cherokee, NC. I got super excited as we could see snow up higher in the mountains. Sailor doesn't remember seeing snow and Cutter has never experienced it. I knew they wouldn't have an opportunity to play in it, but just knowing they might see some had me thrilled.

 When we came to an area that we could pull off and park, I immediately had Hank stop. Cutter was so excited and wanted to make a snowman. Poor guy had no idea there wasn't enough snow for that.

 

 They spotted the icicles and were gone!

 Those are some happy kids.

 The big boys had to go do a little exploring also.

 

 As we continued to the top of the mountain, we found ever more snow. It was beautiful!

 These next two pictures were taken at the same location. It was the highest point of the mountain and the beginning of the Appalachian Trail. This particular spot had an amazing view but no snow.

 Just a few steps away you entered a winter wonderland. The wind was blowing something fierce and the kids didn't like it one bit.

 Proof we were on the trip too.

 The views were spectacular and this gave the kids a great understanding of why they are called the Smoky Mountains.