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Kids walking across a log in the Smoky Mountains

Vote for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Win “Best National Park for Kids” Award

There’s no better place to vacation than the Great Smoky Mountains! If you agree, we need your help! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been nominated for an award – “Best National Park for Kids.”

There is a list of 20 national park nominees and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was trailing behind in the #2 position. We need your vote to win!

How to Vote for the Great Smoky Mountains National ParkKids standing by trees in the woods

  1. CLICK HERE to vote for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  2. Scroll to find the Great Smoky Mountains National Park listing.
  3. Click “Read More and Vote,” then click the big blue VOTE button to submit your vote.
  4. Return to the website every day to vote each day between now and Monday, July 4, 2016 at noon.
  5. Share this article with your friends to help us get more votes.

Father and son hiking in the woodsWhat Makes the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the Best for Kids?

Kid Friendly Hikes

The Great Smoky Mountains is great for kids and families! We know kids don’t really like to get out and go hiking just for the benefit of walking. They need to explore. With many kid-friendly hikes in the national park, we recommend Kephart Prong Trail for families because it gives kids a chance to see the history of the Smoky Mountains and there’s a lot to look at along the trail – not just the beautiful trees and sights of the mountains. There’s an old logging railway and some of the remainder of the Civilian Conservation Corps camp. There’s also plenty of wildlife to be seen along this trail, so that will keep kids on the lookout!

For more information about other kid friendly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, click here.

Junior Ranger Program

Kids between the ages of 5-12 can become a Junior Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at any national park visitor center for $2.50. Have your kids complete the activities in the booklet (puzzles, word searches, scavenger hunts in the park, etc.) and return it to a park ranger at any of the visitor centers. Your kids will receive a Junior Ranger badge, and they’ll have fun, too.

Ranger-Led Programs

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers ranger-led programs from spring through fall. There are some programs set up just for kids and families, too. These programs include demonstrations, hiking and workshops and more.

Click here for a calendar of ranger-led programs and events.

Items for Kids in Visitor Centers

At the Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor centers, you can find a great selection of maps, informational books, music and more. Kids and families especially love the visitor centers because there are many items targeted just to kids. You can find stuffed animals, national park-themed toys and games and children’s books about the park.

Be sure to share this with your friends so everyone can help us vote for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as the Best National Park for Kids!