Our extended family recently returned from our trip to the Smoky Mountains. With nine of us ranging in ages from 11 to 72, it is hard to find activities that will entertain a majority of us. The one thing we agreed on, is we really wanted to try out whitewater rafting. After scouring pricing and packages online, we decided to book with Outdoor Adventures. We donned bathing suits and water shoes, packed up our nerves and headed to Hartford.
A total of 8 of our family took the Upper Pigeon rafting trip. Most of the boats seat 6 people plus a guide, however, Outdoor Adventures does have "The Big Boat" that will seat 8. If you have a larger family and do not want to be split into two groups, you may want to call ahead to request the big boat.
Most of our family had not been whitewater rafting before, and some of the nervousness was obvious. Our guide, Kyle, really MADE the trip for each one of us: entertaining, informative and soothing to the most nervous family members (without being condescending). At one point, he had the little girls singing songs from the Little Mermaid as we crashed over waves! He really held everyone's attention.
The Class III & IV rapids on this trip make it the perfect introduction to whitewater rafting: experiencing the thrill without being overly dangerous. Teenage boys, 11 year old girls, their moms and grandpa ALL agreed that this was one of our favorite family activities while on vacation. As a bonus, no family members were lost in connection with this activity.
Go a little early or bring your waivers with you to make sure you aren't rushing around before the safety demonstration. Dressing rooms/restroom are very clean. If you forget your water shoes, don't panic! The gift shop sells all sizes for under $15 per pair. T-shirts and other souvenirs are economically priced with interesting graphics.
Everyone we came in contact with at Outdoor Adventures was helpful and friendly. We would definitely recommend this trip to anyone in the Smoky Mountain area!