An Amazing Free Alternative to Chimney Rock

If you frequently read our blog posts,  you may recall a recent entry entitled “8 Tranquil Spots not to Miss in North Carolina”.   This post featured some amazing outdoor experiences in and around the Asheville area.   On this same trip, we made a startling new discovery while pondering whether or not to visit the more touristy Chimney Rock attraction, known to so many.  It is no secret that our Frugal Family Travelers often get excited when we find a new place “off the beaten path”.  So, it was ultimately a pretty easy decision in the end to visit this spot! 

“Jump Off Rock” in Laurel Falls, NC became the target of our next adventure!  We drove up steep winding roads roads,  through the beautiful Laurel Falls neighborhood and ultimately made it to the top of the mountain with ease.   We parked the car and were pleasantly surprised to learn that the overlook was just a short distance away. 

At 3,025 ft., the panoramic views from “Jump Off Rock” are truly some of the best you will find while traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway.   Not only did we soak up the views but enjoyed a nice picnic lunch while trying to keep the blanket from sailing away from frequent gusts of wind.  After our picnic, we explored the three hiking trails available.  The trails were clearly marked and the signage explained the approximate hike times and difficulty ratings.  The trails  were also well maintained with diverse features which provided opportunities for discovery.  Overall, our experience here was one we will never forget.   Standing on “Jump Off Rock” to behold the beautiful mountain scenery, while at the same  time experiening the wind on our faces, was an experience that mere words can not adequately express.  So, if you find yourself in this area, add it to your travel itinerary.   You won’t be disappointed!  

Directions:  4433 Laurel Park Hwy, Laurel Park, NC 28739

Cost: Free

Note: Pack a pick basket and blanket!  Be prepared to enjoy the breeze and the amazing panoramic views!  The ease of access would make this an excellent point of interest for those traveling with small children as well as those with limited mobility. 

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.

Oh! Shenandoah!

It is no secret that our Frugal Family Travelers love to hike and soak up the scenery to be found while outdoors.  For this reason, we planned a visit to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and were excited  to add this buautiful location to our list of National Parks visited.  Picturesque views of the mountain vistas can easily accessed by car, from the scenic Skyline Drive, or for the more adventurous at heart, a hike through the woods.   This park truly offers the mountaintop experience for those of all levels of activity.    Scenic hikes or drives, waterfalls, swimming, cabins, camping of all types can be experienced while in Shendenoah.  Be sure to stop at a Shenendoah National Park Visitors Center at the start of your trip and speak with a park ranger for directions and tips for hikes appropriate for parties of various ages/skill levels.   We did this and it helped to maximize our time in the park.   The ranger on duty was very knowledgeable and suggested the Rose River Loop Trail. She supplied us with maps and directions to the trailhead.   This hike turned out to be just the right amount of adventure we were seeking for the time allotted in our schedule.   The pictures below speak more than mere words!

Directions:  Click here for directions to the Harry F. Byrd Visitors Center 

Tip:

If  hiking, pack plenty of water, apply sunscreen and bug spray.  Pack a first aid kit and let someone know the trail on which you are hiking, as cell service is not always available on hikes, or can be very limited.  

Alert:

Bears are present!  We encountered one while hiking.   Be aware and be prepared!  Follow the link to discover how to safely deal with this sort of encounter. 

Note:

For families traveling with a 4th grader, the Natuonal Park Service is currently offering  free or discounted entrance fees into all National Parks by completing a simple form on their website.   Take advantage of this offer and visit a National Park!  Click here to get your pass:    FREE FAMILY PASS

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.

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Lookout Mountain Parkway Series Post 1: Noccalula Falls

Frugal Family Travelers recently embarked on an adventure to explore the Lookout Mountain Parkway!  Spanning for approximately 93 miles from Gadsden, AL to Chattanooga, TN, the parkway offers mountain views, hiking, birding, waterfalls and small towns with a rich history!

When thinking of the Lookout Mountain Parkway, many may recall visits to Ruby Falls, Rock City and possibly even an exciting trip up the incline railway!  However, on this trip, our focus was to find experiences off the beaten path! This post and future posts in the series will highlight our discoveries in a effort to inspire other Frugal Family Travelers to explore some of these great places!

Series Post 1:  Noccalula Falls 

Directions: 

1500 NOCCALULA ROAD, GADSDEN, AL, 35904

Cost: 

Free (if just viewing falls from parking area);  For full access to park: Adults $6.00;Seniors (55+) $4.00;Youth (4-12) $3.00;Children FREE

Note:  cabins, RV/tent sites available 

Noccalulla Falls Park features the best view of the 90 ft falls and is therefore well worth the admission price.  Park offerings include access to the authentic pioneer village, the 5 mile gorge trail to the base of the falls, a petting zoo and train which circles the park.  We were lucky that our visit was during the Christmas season, when the park was transformed with an amazing display of lights.   During our visit the area had experienced an extreme drought and therefore Noccalula Falls was not nearly as impressive as it is would be during a typical visit. 

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.

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Looking for a Holiday Getaway? Enjoy this Alabama Oasis

 

Located a little over 4 hours from the Northshore of New Orleans, Chewacla State Park, in Auburn, Al, is the perfect spot for a quick "getaway" in the fall, winter or a full summer experience.  Activities such as mountain biking, camping, hiking, fishing and boating abound in the park and are certain to satisfy the desires of both the thrill seeker and outdoor enthusiast!   One of the prominent features in the park is the 26 acre lake and the 6 cottages, both constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp. in the 1930's.   One is certain to find a spot for respite at the foot of the water fall created as the water spills over the damn onto the rock laden stream bed below.  In fact, many such spots can be found at Chewacla State Park so consider adding this place to your bucket list!  It won't break the bank and will provide an opportunity to make numerous memories with your Frugal Family Travelers! 

(Be sure to click on all highlighted text within the blog for additional information regarding activities, including websites, special instructions and travel directions!)

Tips: 

Pack water, sunscreen, and insect repellent!!

Note:  This is a great place to picnic!

Directions:

124 Shell Toomer Pkwy, Auburn, Al 36830

 

 

 

Be sure to check the area for letterboxes!!  To discover more about letterboxing Click Here to read the information previously posted on our blog.
   

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.

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White Water Tubing!!

Our Frugal Family Travelers love the water!  In fact, any chance we get to be in the water, on one of our adventures, we take advantage of the opportunity!  On a recent visit to Tennesse we discovered River Rat Tubing, which is located in Townsend.  Townsend is adjacent to the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas and is just a short driving distance.   River Rat is a family owned and operated business which offers the best tubing experience in the area, including mild or wild tubing trips on the Little River!   Being that our Frugal Family Travelers are younger, we chose the mild trip!   Our float trip did not disappoint and was very adventurous!   The mild trip begins right at the main outpost in Townsend with transportation provided back at the end of the trip!  Check it out if you are in the area.   You won't be sorry ou did!!   Enough said......the pictures below are worth a thousand words!!

Cost: 

$15.00 per adult, $12.00 for children 6-12. Children five and under are FREE!  Rates include free transportation, life jackets and ALL DAY tubing fun on either or BOTH the upper and lower Little River.

Tips:  

Pack sunscreen, a small net to carry a bottle or two of water or sunscreen on the water

Directions: (click below to open Google Maps)

Smoky Mountain River Rat

205 Wears Valley Rd

Townsend, TN 37882

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.

National Forests are National Treasures--Bankhead National Forest in Northwest Alabama

Lots of folks travel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year.   The Smokies are certainly beautiful but with a reported 10 million visitors in 2014 alone, the park can be very crowded, especially during the summer months.   Why not "shake it up" a bit and try visiting a National Forest?  National forests, in the humble opinion of Frugal Family Travelers, are a best kept secret with adventures to be had by visitors, young and old alike.  If you enjoy hiking, picnicking and a peaceful respite by a waterfall, consider a trip to Northwestern Alabama to visit the Bankhead National Forest. It is certainly not as crowded as the Smokies and will not disappoint those seeking outdoor beauty.  Frugal Family Travelers recently paid a visit here and discovered some picturesque places that make this location worth a visit!    It is important to note, that this national forest is vast and therefore very easy to get lost without proper directions.   We strongly suggest making a stop to the ranger station for maps and detailed directions.  We visited and found the staff very friendly and helpful!  Frugal Family Travelers does provide directions to the sites we visited in this post because some are "off the beaten path" and not listed in literature by Bankhead National Forest.   These particular trails are very primitive and not always well maintained. Also, be aware that these hikes are strenuous and can lead to areas with steep "drop offs".  Furthermore, it is not uncommon to discover yourself on an unpaved road when following driving directions to a waterfall or trailhead!  The above information is not meant to scare any of our readers or discourage your visit but to make you aware of  what is to be encountered on your journey, should you choose to visit this location.  As stated above, this is an amazing location and our Frugal Family Travelers definitely viewed this as a highlight of our trip.  See the pictures below which outline each of the places we visited in the forest and also directions to each location. 

Cost:  

We encountered a fee area in the Sipsey Wilderness Picnic Area and parking lot with an honor box requiring $3.  Bring some dollars with you, in the event you encounter a fee area like this.  However, we did not come across any other fee areas.

For information about camping click here!

Directions:

Bankhead Ranger District

1070 Highway 33 Double Springs, AL 35553

The following pictures show the trail leading to Turkey Foot Falls.  It is one that is "off the beaten path" in that it is not listed in the national park literature: 

TURKEY FOOT FALLS AND CANYON--- There are 2 very nice sized waterfalls, 3 with sufficient rainfall, a rock shelter, and remains of a 1936 ford sedan located here. To see this place, park in the upper parking lot at the Sipsey River Picnic area, walk across the wooden bridge between the 2 parking lots, just as you cross, turn right and pick up the trail, follow it up into the canyon. You will come to a small falls on the creek, its about a 3 foot drop, continue on and you will come to the fram of a 1936 ford sedan. As you continue on up the canyon, you will pass a rock shelter and some large impressive bluffs. Shortly you will come to lower turkey foot falls to your right, cross the creek just past where they meet to get over to the falls. Come back across the creek and head up the hill to your right and walk next to some more bluffs. In a few minutes you will have to drop down a steep and slick hill to the creek to cross over to get up to turkey foot falls, or mize falls as some call it. When you leave you can walk out the way you came in. 

(Directions above credited to http://sipseywildernessphotos.webs.com/)

The following pictures show the trails leading to the upper and lower Caney Creek Falls:

CANEY CREEK FALLS AND CANYON--- The directions to the upper falls can also be obtained by the National Park Service.   However, the directions to the lower falls can be found below and are not provided by the National Park Service.  To first reach the falls, go west on hwy 2 from hwy 33 about 4 miles, there is a small parking area on your right, with a gate blocking a road, park here and follow the road for about 30 minutes (about a mile) to the falls. It is in a residential area and not easy to find.   Talk to a ranger to be clear.   Follow this trail to the upper falls.   Once you are at the upper falls, cross the creek below the pool, be very careful crossing here, once across, you can walk around to your left under an overhang, which is really nice, you can even have a picnic on the sandbar. Head downstream to the lower falls, follow the creek, there is a trail to follow. You will have to cross the creek 3 times on your way down, but its worth it. The lower falls are much wider, but without enough rain, they wont be very wide. The lower falls also drops into a pool. To get down to the falls, continue on downstream on the right side, you will be walking on a side of a hill, the trail then turns left and goes downhill, and yes, it is very slick here, make your way down around a nice rock shelterand back upstream to the falls, once there, there is a smaller falls to your left. Above this smaller falls a short piece is another waterfall, its not very big, but it is nice. The walk downstreamfrom the upper falls will take at least 45 minutes.

(Directions above credited to http://sipseywildernessphotos.webs.com/)

The following picture represent Kinlock Falls:

Take Highway 33 South; turn right on Highway 278, then take a right on Highway 195 North.  Go approx. 11 miles, turn right on CR 23 in Rabbittown (this road will become Forest Serice Road 210).  Stay on CR 23 and when it turns to gravel approx.  3/4 mile, immediately before the bridge there will be a pull off area.  Falls are on the right side of the road.  Note: this is a narrow road and the pull off is quite small so be prepared!  You will possibly find people sliding down the falls and or swimming below.   Talk to a ranger about the water levels and dangers involved BEFORE doing so.  There is no lifeguard on duty and this area could be very dangerous for swimming with varying water level!  Kinlock Falls can be heard as soon as you exit your vehicle and is just a short walk from the main road.

Tips:

Hike times vary for those of varying age and skill - factor in extra time.   Never enter a long trail at dusk! Pack a first aid kit, water, bug spray and snacks! Most of the time there is NO cell service in the National Forest so let someone know when you enter and depart a trail. 

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Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission.  As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.