Things to Do &

Places to Eat

Our Favorite things to do in the Smokies:

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK:


On your first visit to Smoky Mountain National Park, be sure to stop in the Sugar Lands visitor center (Main entrance to the park) to watch the 20-minute movie (it's a beautiful beginning to understanding the Smokies), also nice gift shop. Then on to the park ...



HIKING :


Easiest :

– Trail behind Sugar lands visitor center (super easy, completely flat, ends with a

small waterfall, only about .5 mile round trip)


Moderate :

– Laurel Falls - 4-mile round trip hike, a great waterfall at the end SEE MORE

Clingman's Dome (at the Top of the Smokies) on the Appalachian trail

Appalachian Trail (Top of the Smokies - simple trail - go as far as you want)

The Sinks Waterfalls - trail behind waterfalls

Elkmont Camp Ground trails - along the river

Harder :

Grotto Falls

Abrams Falls in Cades Cove



DRIVING in the National Park :

– Bring a Picnic lunch / Eat anywhere you stop or at a campground.

– Road to Cades Cove, can exit at Townsend road and return without going all the

way to Cades Cove, picnic somewhere along the route

– Cades Cove Loop (Slow but very beautiful, lots of scenic historic buildings to tour,

2 churches, 2 cemeteries, 8-10 homestead buildings along the loop)

– Road to Clingman's Dome / Appalachian Trail (Top of the Smokies) has great views



SPLASHING / throwing stones in the river :

– Anywhere on the river that has a low flow

– A favorite no-name spot (Google maps plus code = M8F4+QX Townsend, TN)

– Middle Prong Little River bend (Conjunction of Townsend turn-off & Little River Rd)

(Google Maps plus code = M76R+5H Townsend, Tennessee)



TUBING on a slow river :

– Smokey Mountain River Rat Tubing - just outside of Townsend - 205 Wears Valley

Road, Townsend - it is near the Middle Prong splashing area (Google Maps plus code

= M7J9+C3 Townsend, Tennessee)



HORSEBACK RIDING :

– Sugarland Riding Stables (near Sugarlands Visitor Center - entrance to Natl Park)

– Cades Cove Stables (in National Park at Cades Cove - very busy)

– Big Rock Stables at Ponderosa (on Mill Creek Road, just outside Pigeon Forge)

– Walden Creek Stables (on Walden Creek of Wears Valley Road)

– Next to Heaven Stables, (on Wears Valley Road – Guide free rides)



DINNER SHOWS :

– Dolly Parton's Dixieland Stampede - great horse show, good food too

Hatfield and the McCoys - fun show, good food as well

– Lumberjack Feud - Good show, terrible food, located by the Smoky Mt Brewery



SHOPPING :

– Tanger Outlet shops (HUGE) in Pigeon Forge for shopping many name brands

– The Village - 27 QUAINT shops behind Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg.

– Old Mill Shops, great pottery shop with live potter, ice cream, cooking shops



ARTIST COLONY :

– Glades Road near Gatlinburg, many shops with various creations, head to Alewine

Pottery.



ACTIVITIES :

– The Island - State Fair styled area with lots of activities, shops, and restaurants,

a Ferris wheel, fun to walk around and sit to watch the dancing water display

sitting in rockers.

– Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster (Long wait, 2-minute ride, On Wears Valley Rd.

– Hill Billy Golf - Mini Golf on the side of a hill (Good one in Gatlinburg)

– Zip Lines - Smoky Mountain Zip Lines (on Mill Creek Road), extensive routes.

– Dollywood Amusement Park & Waterpark

Our Favorite Places we love to eat in the Smokies...

Gatlinburg Area:

- Crockett's Breakfast Camp (a must-go, new and only open till 1:00 pm)

- Pancake Pantry (only open till around 3:00 pm and only accepts CASH)

- Park Grill OR Cherokee Grill (Same owners)


Pigeon Forge Area: offers newer and more places to eat.

- The Old Mill Potter House Cafe (also great ice cream next door), uses real pottery (This is NOT the actual Old Mill restaurant which is across the street. We avoid the original one because of the crowds and food).

- Smoky Mountain Brewery (Awesome pizza) / Tuesday evening 1/2 off special

- Ice Cream: Old Mill creamery OR Marble Slab Creamery (next to Burger King)


Groceries:

- Walmart Supercenter (further out in Pigeon Forge)

- Food City in Pigeon Forge, 3064 Teaster Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 (newer and well-stocked, closer to Gatlinburg)


Dinner Shows:

- Dolly Parton's Dixieland Stampede - great horse show, good food too (Cornish Game Hen)

- Hatfield and the McCoys - fun show, good food as well

- Lumberjack Feud - Good show, terrible food, located by the Smoky Mt Brewery


Questions? Get more information here ...

GatlinburgME@gmail.com or call +1(414) 248-6423