Laurel Falls is a paved trail. I want to be clear about that — it is a paved, maintained, genuinely accessible trail with very little elevation change and a waterfall at the end that is legitimately beautiful. It is also the first hike where my kids walked the whole thing without asking to be carried, which makes it one of my favourite hikes.
We went in late April when the rhododendrons were coming in and the crowds hadn't arrived yet. The kids ran ahead on the flat sections and slowed down exactly when the light got interesting. I don't know if they knew they were doing it. Either way, I got the shots I wanted and they got to say they hiked a real trail, and everyone went home happy.