Smoky Mountains Adventure: Day 1

After originally kicking around the idea of driving out West to spend a few weeks exploring several state parks, we modified our plans due to time restrictions and instead decided to check out the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. We drove halfway to our destination on Saturday, and stayed the night in Louisville. While there, we visited the Louisville Slugger Museum. Well worth the trip!

{Wow! I had no idea how involved bat making is. Each MLB player gets roughly 100 bats per season, and while there we watched Cody Bellinger's bats get carved out of a square chunk of wood. Each bat takes roughly 40 seconds to cut, and then goes through a series of steps that smooth and lacquer it before being finished. A tour for every baseball fan, that's for sure!}

{We each got to take home a souvenir bat, which came in handy for pictures with all of the wax players.}

{We each had the opportunity to hold actual game-used bats from some of our favorites. Caleb: Ozzie Smith; Me: Mark Grace; Jacob: Babe Ruth; Camryn: Kris Bryant; and Mason: Ronald Acuna, Jr. Mason told me that holding that bat sent chills through his body. I love his love for the game and that he feels all the feels!}

Then back to the campground, where the kids swam in the pool, bounced on the air mat, played a variety of lawn games, and then we went for a walk along the trail where we came across this cave:

{Chilling under the LED lights of our camper. Hardly roughing it!}

{Molly made herself feel right at home. Drinking water from the dish while lying down on the lawn. Lazy dog!}