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BirdDoggin · 03-18-2013, 05:09 PM

Thank You!! If the weather is good we hope to stop in about 3 weeks and enjoy some wonderful Tennessee hospitality and a good stretch of the legs

DaveTN · 03-18-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BirdDoggin

Thank You!! If the weather is good we hope to stop in about 3 weeks and enjoy some wonderful Tennessee hospitality and a good stretch of the legs

The Inn serves great buffets but you need to drive or bike as it is on the other side of the lake from the campground. We have taken the paddleboats (campground side of lake, only 15 minute walk to them) and crossed the lake to the Inn. Easy 15 minute paddle to get there, only 4 bucks to rent a paddleboat!

Great golf course if you play, great hiking as well. Very safe and friendly, enjoy!

stonekeepers · 03-19-2013, 06:36 PM

The only thing you have to worry about at FCF relating to your dogs (and kids) is poison ivy. I have gotten it from my dog in the past. Also, the trail down to the falls can be slippery and somewhat difficult, so you may not want to take your dog there. We usually don't take ours on the trails, but then, I have a "sissy" lap dog.

I think there are some parks where you can't take dogs on the trails, but all of the TN State park campgrounds are pet friendly.

DaveTN · 03-19-2013, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonekeepers

The only thing you have to worry about at FCF relating to your dogs (and kids) is poison ivy. I have gotten it from my dog in the past. Also, the trail down to the falls can be slippery and somewhat difficult, so you may not want to take your dog there. We usually don't take ours on the trails, but then, I have a "sissy" lap dog.

I think there are some parks where you can't take dogs on the trails, but all of the TN State park campgrounds are pet friendly.

Agreed on both points but there are lots of other trails even a sissy dog would like!

stonekeepers · 03-20-2013, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveTN

Agreed on both points but there are lots of other trails even a sissy dog would like!

Lol. Dave, my dog is an eight pound Havanese/bichon. She rarely barks or makes any noise unless she meets a big lab, pit bull or Great Dane. Then she goes ballistic. I worry about her provoking a fight and getting hurt. Most dogs we have seen on hiking trails tend to be larger.

I was hoping to break this behavior but have not been successful. Small to medium dogs are not a problem for her.

And, I like to take photos. It's really hard to manage the camera with a dog pulling on the leash. We take her for walks around the campground where I am not as likely to lose my balance. Some of the trails at Fall Creek Falls are tough for this old lady.

BirdDoggin · 03-20-2013, 10:07 AM

Thank you for all the information. We try to avoid the heavily traveled paths (at any park) with the dogs as that seems to end up with more head aches than is necessary, and the dogs never seem to just want to stop and enjoy the view. So my wife and I plan on walking around the falls on our own.

But my human drag-er (a 2 two year old Irish setter) and I will spend our time together on the lightest traveled paths. We also have been to parks that have allowed dogs but only in the campground and not on the trails (in Kentucky). This leads to the kitchen table "sit in", just to let me know he is not happy with being relegated to the fiberglass box prison with limited outdoor activities. Once he goes for a good walk he no longer finds it necassry to be on the kitchen table in full defiance of the rules.

I love paddle boats!! We paddle half way out, then I relax. Not sure why my DW doesn't like them as much as I do, same with a tandem bike.

BirdDoggin · 04-25-2013, 02:41 PM

Great Park! Thank you all for the heads up! We will be going back as it is one of the most scenic and well run state parks we've been to.

DaveTN · 04-25-2013, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BirdDoggin

Great Park! Thank you all for the heads up! We will be going back as it is one of the most scenic and well run state parks we've been to.

Glad you liked it, it is my go to park to just relax!

stonekeepers · 04-25-2013, 05:05 PM

DaveTN,
Have you been to Defeated Creek Park in Carthage? We drove up there on Sunday afternoon to check it out and it was absolutely one of the nicest campgrounds I have seen in TN. It's a Corp of Engineer park, so it does not have planned activities like the state parks, but the lake is beautiful, the grounds are immaculate, the sites are large and well-kept and some have sewer connections. There are several playgrounds and a beach and boat ramps.

Now...to figure out when we can go camping. :-)

DaveTN · 04-25-2013, 05:11 PM

Never been there but I will check into it ASAP

stonekeepers · 04-25-2013, 05:18 PM

You might want to drive up on a Sunday afternoon to view it and pick a good site. We parked in the picnic area and hiked through the very large campground (155 sites). There is also a mountain bike trail and a hiking trail...seems like it was several miles.

The reason I say to check it out first is that there are two ways to get there. The one our GPS sent us on was windy, curvy, twisty with limited shoulder. I was really glad we were in our small car instead of the motorhome.

As we were leaving, we noticed that there was a major road (i think hwy 85). We went back a different route and it was much nicer.

Defeated Creek is a "destination" park...it's not on the way to anywhere. But, it appears to be a hidden gem. I can't believe we have lived here for so long and never been there.

DaveTN · 04-25-2013, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonekeepers

You might want to drive up on a Sunday afternoon to view it and pick a good site. We parked in the picnic area and hiked through the very large campground (155 sites). There is also a mountain bike trail and a hiking trail...seems like it was several miles.

The reason I say to check it out first is that there are two ways to get there. The one our GPS sent us on was windy, curvy, twisty with limited shoulder. I was really glad we were in our small car instead of the motorhome.

As we were leaving, we noticed that there was a major road (i think hwy 85). We went back a different route and it was much nicer.

Defeated Creek is a "destination" park...it's not on the way to anywhere. But, it appears to be a hidden gem. I can't believe we have lived here for so long and never been there.

Ill be in Franklin for a soccer tournament in 3 weeks, how far from there is it?

stonekeepers · 04-26-2013, 04:51 AM

It's probably at least as far as Fall Creek Falls. We live close to Woodbury and it took us about an hour and a half from here. It's close to Carthage off I-40 east. Once you get off the interstate you still have about 20 miles I think.