High Country Holiday (ca. 1960)

with hundreds and hundreds of places to choose from exciting vacations are within the grasp of almost all Americans these days no matter what their holiday tastes are for millions of American families much of the fun of any such trip is in the planning that is if they all agree on what's a good vacation there seems to be a difference of opinion in the Bennett family though and Charlotte Bennett obviously is taking no part in the planning so she's out voted on this Summer's vacation the Bennett family will camp out in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when the Bennett family decided to take a camping vacation they joined a growing throng of outdoor lovers who have learned that today's equipment and convenience make this kind of vacation easy it's easy too on the pocketbook for there's no need to buy a lot of expensive equipment to enjoy camping here's some of the equipment the Bennetts will carry these are basic pieces required for Comfort a cotton canvas tent sleeping bags a gasoline stove and a food chest are the major items everything has a place proper packing means easier unloading and setting up once the campsite is reached everything loaded and they're on their [Music] way at last they enter the park probably the most popular of any in the country located on the Tennessee North Carolina border it Embraces 800 square mil of unspoiled Wilderness the mountains are wrapped in an eternal smoke likee Haze that rises from the dense plant growth this beautiful Park forms a majestic climax to the Appalachian Highlands many Peaks rise above the 6,000 ft level first stop for the bennets is Park headquarters they want advice on campgrounds and there is no better person to give it than a park [Music] ranger he's anxious that all Park visitors enjoy their stay in the [Music] mountains spacious well- tended campsites abound in the smokies and campers have a variety of choices Rangers keep tab on each Campground and know which are crowded and which have [Music] room katuchi Campground tucked away in a high mountain valley sounds [Music] intriguing arriving at Catalucci the Bennetts begin a search for a campsite other campers already are tasting the joys of outdoor life popularity of family camping is seen in the many umbrella tents dotting today's campgrounds they'll easily sleep five persons this one colored Glacier blue demonstrates how tent makers cater to feminine [Music] tastes flexible lightweight tents of new and unusual design lend the campground an almost holiday [Music] air a tent combining advantages of the umbrella style which has no unhandy Center pole with those of the roomy wall tent was chosen by this camping fisherman like most modern tents it's made of cotton canvas a strong porus fabric that turns the rain but permits free passage of air this ability to breathe means no moisture will collect inside the tent to drip down on the unwary camper this colorful orange tent nicknamed the Mount McKinley won its title after passing rugged tests on North America's highest peak where it with winds up to 80 mph made of rugged cotton canvas called airplane cloth it weighs only 11 lbs and can be pitched in 5 [Music] minutes finally on the banks of sparkling Catalucci Creek the Bennetts choose this campsite nestled under the hemlock and [Music] pine everyone has a job to do as the car is unloaded but Charlotte wanders off and perches on a nearby table by following some simple rules dad and Donnie find the task of setting up camp comparatively easy they choose a smooth grassy spot with a gentle slope to ensure [Music] drainage from the time the first Corner Stak is driven in until the final tent hes are erected seems only a matter of minutes when you pitch right in this is a new style Ranch House tent that has three full rooms for plenty of elbow [Music] space in fact it's so unusual that even Charlotte feels she must come and look it over so this is my home away from home screen Windows eh not bad at all Donnie with an eye to comfort brings in his flannel lined cotton sleeping bag a sewn in tent floor ends worries about things that crawl and creep zip the door closed and you're snug and protected feeling that there's nothing better to do Charlotte offers to help her mother but what's so interesting aha camping can't be all bad Charlotte decides God she's coming over here and I bet I look horrible but she needn't worry Dan Hughes really likes the outdoor type girl as much as he does the Out of [Music] Doors he gives only passing attention to talk about fishing pleased at finding someone his own age as a campground neighbor then gets so warmed up to his subject of camping and to his audience that he completely for forgets he was in the midst of cooking uh-oh now he sees it oh well well nothing to do now but start all over mother is saved from worrying with a bulky campfire she finds cooking on one of these little stoves just about as easy as it is at [Music] home here's Charlotte again and some changes have been made she's helping enthusiastically now because because she talked mother into letting her set an extra place at the table after all she does feel partially responsible for Dan's Fiasco with his own dinner when Charlotte sounds the dinner gong even tales about the big one that got away have to wait a colorful cotton fly stretched overhead as a handy roof gives today's outdoor Diner welcome protection from sun or rain food never tastes better than when served out of doors [Music] bedtime comes early in the mountains Donnie is sure of a full night's rest in his water resistant cotton sleeping bag he sleeps in warm dry Comfort father calls lights out and the Bennett Camp is plunged into silent Darkness days start early too and a Mountain sunrise Heralds another morning as day follows day the Bennetts find they can enjoy the beauties of the park from the comfort of their car some of the park animals even come down by the road to greet [Music] them but the best way to get to know the mountains is to forsake the aole for the trail more than 650 M of winding Woodland paths beckon the horseback rider or hiker [Music] on the trails they discover Beauty only nature can create bright sunlight cool Mountain Air and plenty of time all the ingredients for a picnic so the bennets and Dan pack a lunch into roomy nap [Music] saacks Rippling Rock Li streams break the Stillness of the Mountain Trail the water is so inviting that Father and Son take time out for little fishing but no luck this time [Music] lunchtime finds the party at Laurel Falls one of the more accessible Scenic spots in the park and what better way to end the busy day than before a crackling [Music] campfire each day offers new things to see and do Charlotte and Dan ride a Sky Lift to top Crockett Mountain for a grandstand view of the little town of geinberg Tennessee and the surrounding [Music] mountains no trip to these Highlands is complete without a visit to one of the beautiful man-made Lakes Fontana is typical the boom and boating has made cotton canvas as much at home on the water as in Camp whether used to cover an entire boat or as a convertible type canop canvas provides welcome protection from Sun and [Music] Rain a colorful canvas hood is removed from the motor it protects points and plugs from moisture around the boat dock and from blowing dust and grit on the [Music] highway the Young Folks move out on their way to explore a nearby Cove the planets are attracted by the roominess of this canvas bck raft just right for a day's fishing once at The Cove Dan sets out in a boat that's handy to use and lots of fun it's a cotton canvas packet boat that folds up for easy carrying ideal for fishing or duck hunting Hollow ribs give it ample flotation for additional safety Dan wears a cotton shirt that automatically inflates in the water whether it's fishing or just having fun water sports always provide an enjoyable way to pass a summer day as a fitting climax to their Smoky Mountains vacation the Bennetts go to one of the highest points in the park to watch the sunset the breathtaking view leaves the Bennetts hushed and thoughtful such experiences are frequent for camping [Music] families the close of the perfect vacation Charlotte and Donnie are helping but Charlotte seems to be looking for someone and here's the answer Dan has come to say goodbye Charlotte willingly quits work after all a young lady must be courteous to her guest as the saying goes there's no accounting for women look at Charlotte resisting departure while she was the one who didn't want to go camping but the time comes when she must go as the family leaves Charlotte has to admit this vacation was a lot of fun especially meeting [Music] Dan driving out of the campground they pass another family [Music] arriving everyone in the car is excited about camping well almost everyone [Music] scenes in the great Moki Mountains National Park were filmed through the courtesy of the US Department of interior National Park Service