While the Great Smoky Mountains appear to be the perfect vacation destination for those who love the outdoors, the mountains can seem daunting to others who love air conditioning and indoor plumbing. However, the cities surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville) offer many activities and amenities in addition to the beauty of the mountains. Here are some ways to spend your time outside the campground.
Places to See
Downtown Gatlinburg - Completely surrounded by mountains, Gatlinburg provides the city feel while actually in the middle of the woods. While it may be small, downtown Gatlinburg offers many attractions such as the space needle as well as good restaurants (discussed below) and unique shops. Gatlinburg also has a fantastic Ripley’s Aquarium. This small city is definitely worth stopping by when you are in the area.
Tanger Outlets - For all the hardcore shoppers, Tanger Outlets in Pigeon Forge provides loads of great deals on well-known brands. They have a wide variety of shops from Nike to Coach to Harry and David; the entire family will find somewhere to shop. All of the stores offer their products at discounted prices that you can’t find at any of their other locations. Tanger Outlets is a fun experience for all ages.
Food to Eat
No Way Jose’s Cantina - Located right beside Ripley’s Aquarium, No Way Jose’s Cantina has great Mexican food for a reasonable price. Like most tourist destinations, some restaurants will charge higher prices for mediocre quality food, but No Way Jose’s keeps the prices low and the quality high. The restaurant is easily accessible from many of Gatlinburg’s parking lots as well as Gatlinburg’s tram system, making it easy, fun and affordable.
Pancake Pantry - One of the shining jewels of Gatlinburg restaurants is the Pancake Pantry, known regionally for its exceptional pancakes. This restaurant offers unique pancake combinations as well as a plethora of other breakfast items such as eggs, bacon and hash-browns. While the prices may be a bit higher and the wait can be quite long, the food is definitely worth it. Whether you’ve just spent the night in a nearby hotel or you’ve woken up in a campground and wanted a good breakfast, the Pancake Pantry is perfect.
Things to Do
Go Hiking - For those who are willing to get a bit adventurous in the wilderness, the Great Smoky Mountains has many hiking trails of varying difficulty levels. For an easier hike, try Spruce Flat Falls by the Treemont Institute, which leads to a beautiful waterfall. For a more difficult trail, the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail offers a great experience and ends with incredible views. When looking for more information on hiking the trails, the app AllTrails provides great information and difficulty levels for a majority of the trails in the area.
Visit Dollywood - While this may seem cliché, a visit to Dollywood is a favorite of even the locals of the area. Dollywood offers both children’s rides as well as rides for thrill-seeking adults. The park is well designed, and its theme embraces its Smoky Mountain location and heritage. The park also celebrates many different festivals, including a Gospel festival, a bluegrass festival and during the holiday season, it puts up a large collection of Christmas lights. Dollywood provides a great deal of fun for everyone who visits.
Overall, the Great Smoky Mountains offer activities for everyone. Those who love the outdoors will find plenty of campsites to stay at, trails to hikec and cabins to visit. People who enjoy more traditional touristy attractions can find their fill in the surrounding cities. Everyone will enjoy a trip to the mountains.
