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