The day started with delicious donuts from The Donut Friar. If you are looking for fluffy, made from scratch donuts, this is the place to go! They have been serving donuts in downtown Gatlinburg since 1969. I have fond memories of my dad getting donuts from The Donut Friar during all of our many trips to Gatlinburg.
Tip: The Donut Friar only takes cash. There is an ATM inside the store for unknowing customers. On a cold day, sit and enjoy donuts and coffee in the seating area on the 2nd floor.
After getting our sugar “fix”, Rainbow Falls was the hike for the day. It’s located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the Gatlinburg loop. On our drive to the trail, we saw a bear cub crossing the road. I love bears, so seeing one is always exciting. Like most bear cub encounters, the mother was probably nearby. We, however, stayed safe inside the vehicle and just slowed down to watch the cub as it made its way deeper into the woods.
The Rainbow Falls hike is a little challenging because of the elevation changes, but a beginner could definitely do it. It’s an out and back hike, so round-trip it’s approximately 5.6 miles. Hikers in decent shape should be able to complete this trail in about 3-4 hours. Surprisingly, it must not be not uncommon for families with young children to hike this trail as we encountered several along the way.
There are 4 points of interest on this trail: an overlook, a bridge, a small waterfall and of course the main attraction, Rainbow Falls. Along the way, you will have great views of both the lush forest and distant mountain ridges that are beautiful and daunting at the same time. And on sunny days, a rainbow appears in the mist of the main falls giving hikers a beautiful and rewarding scene for their efforts. We visited on an overcast day so we did not get to see a rainbow, but that only gives us a reason to go back at a later time.
We took along a backpack, ponchos (because it was suppose to rain), and hiking sticks. We met many people on the trail that did not have hiking sticks, and although you definitely could hike without any, we made good use of ours. There were a lot of muddy areas due to all of the rain that week, so combined with the already uneven terrain, the hiking sticks made it much easier to move along the trail.
A light rain moved in as we started back down the trail. Just as we completed the hike, the rain really began to fall. Thankfully, we were able to make it back to our vehicle before needing the full protection of the ponchos. Others weren’t so lucky. If you love to hike, Rainbow Falls is a great trail to explore!
Copyright: All photographs in this blog and website are original and produced by me unless otherwise stated. I love to share but please contact me for permission before using.
Holding a nickel in front of Monticello and comparing images. Home of a president, founding fathers and the author of the Declaration of Independence. So much history here. 🇺🇸
#americanhistory #ustravels #virginia #foundingfathers
I had the chance to experience the Tulip Festival in Ottawa, Canada last year and it was magical 🌷 The beauty of thousands of tulips in bloom, good food, and the fun atmosphere made for an unforgettable day!
#ottawatulipfestival #canada #travel
There’s nothing quite like this beautiful natural wonder! We came last May as part of my daughter’s graduation trip.
Click on my link to read more about it.
#niagrafalls #adventure #waterfalls #maidofthemist
Let the journey shape you!
#travel #wander #explore
Unforgettable moment when we hiked in the Hoh Rainforest – spotted a bear! 🐻 Nature always keeps you on your toes. So grateful for these wild encounters, but always respecting the distance.
#BearSighting #HikingAdventures #travel #washingtonstate #hohrainforest
Chasing waterfalls! Rainbow Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains never disappoints, even when the skies are gray. It’s a great hike with the sound of the cascading water and the beauty of the misty surroundings. Nature’s wonders never stop amazing me.
#GreatSmokyMountains #RainbowFalls #HikingAdventures #OvercastVibes #WaterfallChasing #Explore
So where would you go? Follow me and let’s explore together!
#travelblogger #wanderlust #usatravel #northamericatravel
#canada #québec #adventure #travelnorthamerica #waterfalls #canyonsainteanne
We love Universal Resort in Orlando, Florida and can’t wait until Universal’s Epic Universe opens this May! Click on the link in the bio to see my family’s top 5 current rides.
#universalstudios #florida #themepark #harrypotter #islandsofadventure #familytrip
The Louisiana Purchase State Park in Arkansas is a definite must for a history buff or anyone who likes to stop at out of the way places.
#arkansasstateparks #louisianapurchasestatepark #travelnorthamerica #travelhistory #arkansas
We set sail in May on the Norwegian Escape for our first ever cruise. It was an unforgettable 7-day Western Caribbean adventure.
We arrived at every port on time, the onboard entertainment and activities were fantastic, and the food was delicious. Every moment was amazing! We couldn’t have asked for a better first cruise. Can’t wait to share all the exciting experiences –
First stop: Roatan!
#NorwegianCruise #WesternCaribbean #CruiseLife #Travel #VacationVibes #exploreroatan
Get out and explore!
#washingtonstate #roadtrip #adventure #capeflattery
Pacific Northwest Part 3….
#travelblogger #seattle #vancouvercanada #roadtrip #vacation #travelfun #washingtonstate
https://wanderinghearts.blog/2024/01/27/collaboration-magic/
Day trip to Sanibel Island, Florida
#travelblogger #sanibelisland #beach #florida #travel #daycation
https://wanderinghearts.blog/2025/02/15/sanibel-island-florida/
Olympic Peninsula – check out my blog to read about part 2 of our Pacific Northwest roadtrip trip
#travel #washingtonstate #olympicpeninsula #adventure #roadtrip #wanderlust
https://wanderinghearts.blog/2024/01/27/growth-unlocked/
Pacific Northwest roadtrip part 1…. Visiting the Columbia River Gorge
#travelblogger #pacificnorthwest #columbiarivergorge #wanderlust #adventure
https://wanderinghearts.blog/2024/01/27/beyond-the-obstacle/
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is amazing! Want to know some great places to visit? Check out what we did one summer on our family vacation….
https://wanderinghearts.blog/2024/01/27/teamwork-triumphs/
#travelblogger #michigan #upperpeninsula #munising #lakesuperior #kitchitikipi
I wanted to do something this year that was active and intentional and that fit with my love for traveling. So, my husband and I decided that we would try to add more hiking into our year. We have hiked all over the country as we have traveled, but this year we wanted it to be more intentional. We debated on how to choose our hikes, but eventually settled on choosing one area and hiking as many trails in that area as we could…. #travelblogger #smokeymountains #hikingthesmokies
http://wanderinghearts.blog/2025/02/13/hiking-the-smoky-mountains-hikes-1-2/
A must-see place in Washington State! #travel #travelblogger #washingtonstate #wanderlust
https://wanderinghearts.blog/2024/01/27/the-art-of-connection/