We are freshly back from a long weekend in Sevierville, TN.  We stayed at the lovely Wilderness Resort at the Smokies.  It is the home of the Wild Water Dome, which is supposed to be the largest indoor water park in the region... and it IS pretty big.  Good thing it is indoors, too, as it was a chilly weekend and we really enjoyed playing in the various water features. 

But, as I was pulling the 2,000 pound cart, loaded with everything a 5 year old or a 1/5 year old could need for a life on the road, I began to think of other trips... 

• When I was around 13, my dad and I "camped" in a '76 Aspen Station Wagon for three days while cruising the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  We were able to roll out sleeping bags and sleep in the back of the care without having to move gear to the front seat...  
• My friend Pat Johnson and I drove to Moab, UT and went 4 wheeling while delivering a Jeep to Salt Lake City.  For 5 days of driving and playing, and being prepped for heat, cold and lots of time outdoors, I had a large duffel and a medium duffle.
• The NAR Convention took me to Vegas for five days a couple of years ago.  I took a rolling duffle and a computer backpack. 
  

For this trip (Friday to Sunday) we had a cooler, four suitcases, two computer bags, 6 "miscellaneous" bags (reuseable grocery bags), a fanny pack, a pack and play, another cooler, a box of diapers and my wife's purse.  Despite the kids being half the size of a "regular" person... combined... they needed twice as much space for clothes.  And then the support crap... 

How do people travel with thse small people with a small car?  We have a minivan and while it wasn't packed to the rafters, it was well packed.  For our trip to Florida last year... it WAS packed to the gills. 

So... other notes?

Hit WonderWorks.  They have locations in other cities as well.  Both kids enjoyed various aspects... but I think Gail and I liked it more... 

Plan to spend some time in Smoky Mountain National Park...  We didn't get to this time, but we have both spent a good deal of time in the park...

Hit one of the multi-level go-cart tracks along the US441 strip.  They are a lot of fun... 

... when the camera battery is recharged, I'll try to post up some pictures...