Shake Things Up and Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

It’s summer, and it seems like everyone is packing up and heading to the beach. So why not shake things up for your summer vacation and head to the mountains? The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 800 square miles and with 9 million visitors each year, is the nation’s most popular park. Part of the draw is the quaint mountain town of Gatlinburg and nearby Pigeon Forge, home of Dollywood. It’s a great spot for a long weekend or a full week of outdoor activities and family fun. If you are thinking that the mountains are calling this summer, here are some tips that will help you have a great getaway in Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains.

  

Where to Stay: To decide, ask yourself if you want to cover a lot of ground or stay close to your chosen mountain home during your vacation and if you want to experience Dollywood during your visit. A stay in the touristy Pigeon Forge makes sense if you want to visit Dollywood. It also would allow a visit to the small town of Townsend, which has a small entrance to the national park. If Dollywood isn’t in the plan, I’d definitely suggest staying just outside of Gatlinburg. You can also opt to stay right in the town, which is full of kitschy charm. Our little boy is a huge fan of the Guinness Book of World Records, so we had to take a couple of hours for the Guinness museum. It was a hoot, and it’s part of the fun in Gatlinburg to do that sort of thing. There are several inns and hotels right in town, but in just 5 minutes you can be up the mountain in a chalet with the beautiful Smokies around you. We chose a cabin through Mountain Laurel Chalets, and the folks there couldn’t be nicer. Our cabin was rustic with a few repairs needed here and there, but we didn’t need anything fancy. The selection was wide and varied, and we loved that we were helping a family-owned company that did experience some damage from the 2016 wildfires. The devastation from that even is still evident throughout the Chalet Village, but our section was untouched. As you hike through the trails, look for the ashen-colored underbrush as evidence of the fires and marvel at the new growth and nature’s resilience.

In town: Take time to meander down the streets of Gatlinburg, taking in the shops and novelty activities. There are some things you can do for free, such as the lobby are of the Guinness museum. Watch out for free samples at the sweet shops and popcorn shops as well. Ober Gatlinburg is the area on top of the mountain. Remember those kitschy attractions I mentioned? There’s a haunted house, aquarium, the Gatlinburg Space Needle and more. I’d suggest picking a couple and going for it – that’s part of the fun. The chair lift attraction that you can access from town won’t take you there. You can only get to Ober Gatlinburg via the funicular, which was pricey for us at $15 a person, or with a vehicle. Our cabin was near the entrance to the Ober Gatlinburg parking lot so taking our own car was an easy choice. Once there, we did both the Alpine Slide, which is just a car sliding on a tube dug into the mountain; and the Ski Mountain Coaster, which is on raised rails and goes faster. There is also an ice skating rink, mini golf, a wildlife exhibit, chair swings and a seasonal water slide. You can grab a burger and stroll around the shops or just take a scenic chair lift ride.

In the park: The closest entrance into the Smoky National Park is just minutes outside of downtown. The official entrance is Sugarlands Visitors Center. Go there to stock up on maps, guide books and even made-in-the-Smokies souvenirs. Trails are everywhere. We opted for Rainbow Falls, a medium-advanced level 2.7-mile hike that took us four hours round trip. It was worth it for the 80-foot waterfall! Pick a hike that is right for you; stock your back pack with waters and go for it. Plan to stop for rests along the way – there are plenty of spots for breaks and even picnics on every trail. You can read about other trails and hiking in the Smokies here.

Don’t miss: Be sure you take a day and drive into Cade’s Cove, the 11-mile closed loop road that is one of the unique area’s in the United States. It’s a rare mix of wildlife preserve and American History. The area was home to Appalachian settlers in the 1800s, and at its height was home to nearly 60 families. With a backdrop of beautiful mountains and a lush, green valley in the center, Cade’s Cove is breathtaking. Drive to 17 historic stops including churches, farms and cabins. The highlight is the working grist mill, blacksmith shop and gift shop. Families would bring their corn to be ground at the mill, and it is fascinating to see it work now just as it did 115 years ago. If you don’t go for the history, go for the wildlife. We saw deer, wild turkey and on the way out of the cove, a family of black bears. Pack a lunch, take the bulk of the day and head to Cade’s Cove – it was one of our favorite parts of our trip.

Where to eat: We brought food from home and made dinner most nights in the small kitchen in our cabin. But we couldn’t resist a pancake breakfast at The Pancake Pantry, a Gatlinburg mainstay. The pancake places are on every corner. Don’t feel like you MUST stand in line at the Pantry. They were good, but we are sure we would have been just as happy down the street. For lunch we had amazing pizza and calzones at the aptly named Best Italian. If you like calzones, don’t miss the ones here, but find a friend to share with you. It truly was as big as my head. We drove just out of town for a treat at Mad Dogs Ice Cream and Donuts and had delicious homemade ice cream that hit the spot after our Rainbow Falls hike. We were disappointed in the Smoky Mountain Brewery, where we grabbed a snack one afternoon, and didn’t make it to The Hungry Bear or the Local Goat, suggestions from friends. Since we will definitely be back, we’ll hit those next time!