Spring is one of the best times of year to live in Haywood County. For families with students, the warmer weather presents an opportunity to get out and enjoy the area as it comes alive with new colors from blooming wildflowers and trees.
Haywood Christian Academy cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get out and enjoy the beauty surrounding Waynesville. Here are seven ways families can make the most of spring in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Your favorite trails and vistas will change from day to day and season to season. Spring is a great time to observe that transition in action. You can hike the same trail two weekends in a row and still see dramatic changes.
Make a list of a few kid-friendly hiking routes to visit early in the season, when the trees and flowers are in full bloom (e.g., Balsam Knob, Turtleback Falls, Mount Pisgah). Assist your children in making observations about what they notice, such as:
The only wild elk herd on the East Coast roams around our part of the Great Smoky Mountains. While you can see them in many locations in our area, you are almost guaranteed to catch a glimpse of them at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee.
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which departs from Bryson City, will transport you and your family back to a time when steam engine trains were the dominant mode of transportation in western North Carolina. This will be a fun spring activity that your family may want to turn into a tradition.
Just minutes from Waynesville and Haywood County, thrilling whitewater rafting is offered. Rafting the Nantahala, Pigeon, or Ocoee Rivers with your family can help you bond. You may start with a short trip this spring and work your way up to more difficult waters in the summer.
The Great Smoky National Park is a short drive away and serves as a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are hundreds of hiking routes, waterfalls and wild animals waiting to be seen in the park.
While most plants will still be too young to be planted through March, now is the ideal time to plan and prepare for gardening. Starting a garden will teach your children a variety of important lessons, from the importance of hard work to herbology.
This is the year to start your garden if you want to ensure that your family spends time outside in the spring, summer, and fall.
This is a great time of year to explore alternatives to public education. If you are ready to talk with our team about how your child can thrive at our private Christian school, contact us today.