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1700-ft elevation increase in 2 miles at 84 percent humidity and 83 degrees made this trek feel like work. The scenery along this trail is amongst the most beautiful we have witnessed in the Smoky Mountains yet. Lush vegetation and flowing water all around create a mystical ambiance as you hike up this trail jutted with rock and root. You cannot hike on two legs to the summit of the Chimney Tops themselves (or I should say I wouldn't recommend trying). It is a climb to the top that is steep with a very long hard fall for those too reckless or don't respect the mountain. But stay focused and be conscientious of what you are doing and it is a manageable climb up (I suggest keeping your gear light for this final stretch).

No worries if heights is not your thing; the view from the base of the Chimney Tops is beautiful as well, providing near panoramic view of the interior of the park. The only view blocked is by the Chimney Tops themselves and to gain the full 360 you must go up – which I did not do. I climbed about three-quarters of the way up and the rains set in. I stopped to consider the risks and as I felt the rock getting wet and slick and watched the Search and Rescue helicopter make its second pass with a stretcher tethered to it I called a rain-delay and am postponing the summit to another day.

Day 1 we hiked the Rainbow Falls trail which is a few miles into the park from the Gatlinburg entrance. It is 2.7 miles to the falls on a moderate grade and terrain. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. It is early September and the leaves haven't much begun their colorful transformation before departing their accompanying tree but later this month and early next the canvas will be a different show. Water flows through the park along this trail and there are several smaller yet equally gorgeous falls all along the way. The uniformed hiker might think they have found Rainbow Falls and turn around in haste after meeting some of these wonders but it is worthwhile to continue another hour or so up the trail to find the actual falls that give the trail its namesake. The water streams toward the rock cliff in a lemming like manner, plunging itself a hundred feet straight down and crashing on the rocks below and continuing its tumble down and down, rock after rock. We were there in the afternoon and passed it twice in the span of two hours and the view was different each time as the sunlight streaming through the trees hits the water differently. Later in the day there was a purple hue to the falls which gave it a wondrous vibe.

We hiked on up the trail which leads to the top of the mountain. The terrain remains the same but the views from higher and higher up are clearer as you proceed above the trees you were earlier buried under. We didn't reach summit mostly because there was a football game I wanted to watch. We turned around and made our two and a half hour descent back down the mountain. All told, it was about a 7 mile journey and worth every inch.

My family and I booked an adventure tour to Coba Chen, the tallest pyramid of the Mayan ruins in Mexico. The day trip Biking, hiking, swimming, and zip line through the jungle trees. blah blah