The Smoky Mountains have become a summer tradition for me over the last couple of years. My mom and I pack a cooler filled with fresh blueberries, sweet tea and some Publix sugar cookies for the 10-hour drive from Florida to Tennessee, my suitcase full of hiking gear and too many hair elastics to count stuffed in the trunk. The best part of the drive is the winding road over a mountain in the Smokies into the small town of Gatlinburg. The drive should take an hour, but usually lasts three because I feel compelled to stop at every outlook to enjoy the endless mountain ridges and occasional fog that engulfs the forest floor.
I think “endless” is the perfect way to describe the Smoky Mountains. Endless beauty. Endless adventure. Endless fun. I’ve visited the area a couple times now and I still have places I’m dying to see. There just never seems to be enough time. Below I’ve compiled a list of my favorite destinations I’ve encountered so far. Make sure not to miss them when you head to the Smokies!
1. Visitor Centers - Great Smoky Mountain National Park
The Smoky Mountain Visitor center should be your first visit when arriving. It might seem odd, but it's the perfect place to decide what exactly you're going to do during the week. There are dozens of pamphlets that give detailed information on hikes, waterfalls, and outdoor adventures. The best part is that they are only $1! Not to mention that the building is beautiful and the park rangers/staff are extremely friendly.
Don't want to wait to start planning your trip? Click the link for the online Visitor Center information here.
2. Ramsey Cascades
Since I was mentioning outdoor adventure I thought I'd share my favorite waterfall hike—Ramsey Cascades Trail. This hike is not for the faint of heart. It's a total of eight miles and is listed as strenuous in the Visitor Center's guide. You'll have to climb uphill, over a fallen tree, and through some loose rocks, but it's totally worth it! The falls are like nothing I've ever seen and the crowds are sparse. Start preparing your mind for the walk now and don't forget your water bottle. You won't regret it!
Want to learn more about the Ramsey Cascades Trail? Click here for more information.
3. Cades Cove
Cades Cove was once a bustling town in the Smoky Mountains, before the land was declared a National Park and the townspeople relocated to other areas of Tennessee. Cades Cove is a drivable loop about 24 miles from the Visitor Center. You'll see the old settlers homes, quaint churches, open fields, hike Abrams Falls Trail, and pet horses. It's not unlikely that you'll spot a few deer, bears, or coyotes wandering around too. If you choose to go here you're sure to have an eventful day.
Be on the lookout for my article specifically on all the wonders of Cades Cove and check out their website here.
4. Pancake Pantry
If you're a breakfast person like me, then the Pancake Pantry is perfect for you! The breakfast joint is located in the center of Gatlinburg along its bustling main street. The restaurant specializes in pancakes and crepes offering a list of 24 options including; sweet potato pancakes, Georgia peach crepes, and banana pineapple triumph. It's OK if you lean toward a more savory taste palette. They have plenty of omelette and sandwich choices too.
Check out Pancake Pantry's full menu here! Happy eats!
5. Ski Mountain Coaster
I can't deny that Dollywood is located just a little ways away in Pigeon Forge and is full of rockin' rollercoasters, but I think the Ski Mountain Coaster in Gatlinburg has something special to offer. The coaster ride lasts five and a half minutes and winds right into the mountainside. The best part is that the coaster experience is controlled by the riders! That's right, you choose how fast and how slow you go. Handles are located in the back of the Coaster Carts that when pressed forward, speed the cart up and vice versa. This is the perfect coaster for GoPro video action!
Buy tickets for the Ski Mountain Coaster here.
6. FoxFire Mountain
FoxFire Mountain has the longest swinging bridge in the United States! The experience is really focused on prosperity and good fortune. Before crossing you write a wish on a strip of paper, cross the Bridge of Prosperity (the swinging bridge), and then hang your wish along with the others in the Whispering Winds Covered Bridge. You can also throw a pebble down a well to wish others in your life good fortune and build a cairn for good luck. FoxFire Mountain not only offers the swinging bridge experience, but rafting and ziplining as well. Sure to be another fun filled day!
Check out all FoxFire has to offer and make your reservations today! Click here.
Hope you love The Smoky Mountains and neighboring towns as much as I do! Happy travels!
