A Smoky Mountain Adventure Vacation
Adventure. Nature. History. Peace and Quiet. Whitewater rafting. Your next fun and affordable adventure vacation is right around the corner in The Great Smoky Mountains. Whether you are planning and action-packed trip with friends from school or an exciting family vacation, the
Smoky
Mountains
has something to offer everyone. A trip to the
Smoky
Mountains
doesn’t have to cost much more than gas in your tank and film in your camera.
Nestled between
Tennessee
and
North Carolina
is the bulk of The Smoky Mountain National Park. A trip to The Smoky Mountains is by no means a day trip-this is at least a week long adventure that will leave you tired, but exhilarated. You won’t even miss your cell phones and television after the first day. If you are used to a vacation with five-star dining, off Broadway shows and cartoon characters in theme parks, this vacation isn’t for you. Fresh air, nature as far as the eye can see and thrilling activities are what the smokies are all about. Pack a waterproof jacket, put on your knee pads and get ready for your best vacation ever.
Available to visitors year round, it’s best to visit the park during late spring to mid fall. The only time that the park is closed is Christmas day and during severe weather conditions. However,
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
is easily accessible from through The Smoky Mountain National Park, which is an excellent skiing and honeymoon destination.
Getting There
Whether you live in driving distance from the
Smoky
Mountains
or are coming from overseas, a vehicle is a must-have for this vacation. Half the fun of getting to The Smoky Mountains is the drive and seeing the sights along the way.
If you are coming from the south, stop off at
Stone Mountain
National Park
near
Lilburn,
and climb the granite monolith. Stay for the light show if you have little ones.
From the north, make sure you stop by Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge,
Tennessee
. And from the west, take the long way and see if you can find historic Route 66 and check out some of the tourist traps along the way.
Driving through the
Great Smoky Mountains
is all a part of the adventure. Good tires and a strong stomach are a must for the many twists and turns that you will find on this range, but the beautiful view of the misty tree-tops are more than worth it.
Bottom line: Drive there or rent a car once you get there for the optimum experience. Getting around in the smokies is tough without a car, and there is a lot that you may miss.
Staying There
Tent camping, Recreational Vehicle or cabin shelter is the way to go for this rural vacation. This is the best way to capture the ambiance of your fresh air activities. Who wants to go back to a sterile old hotel room when you have spent the day fishing and hiking? Reservations can be made to camp directly in the
Smoky
Mountain
National Park
from May 15 through October 31, and there are a number of other camping venues available during season.
Don’t feel like completely roughing it? A number of bed and breakfast and summer home cabins are available for rental in neighboring towns. Small towns like
Franklin
and Silva in
North Carolina
are charming and are great for finding deals on cozy cabins. If you still can’t find anything,
Bryson City, North Carolina
is a great resource, just outside of the smokies and near all of the exciting activities this area has to offer.
For the least campy experience, avoid staying in Cherokee, North Carolina, or you may spend all your time in the gift shops or at the casino instead of getting in touch with nature. However, this doesn’t mean you should leave Cherokee behind completely, for there are many surprises in store in this community at the foot of the mountains.
Getting Extreme
If you visit the
Great Smoky Mountains
, your trip is not complete without a proper hike or rafting excursion. There are a number of levels of difficulty for each, and with more than 800 miles of trails, even the most die hard hiker won’t get bored. Many of the trails can be steep and icy in the winter, so read up on each trail before you hike.
There are over 150 trails in total throughout the park, ranging in easy day trips like the nearly five mile roundtrip hike through
Alum
Cave
trail, to backpacking the entire length of the
Appalachian Trail
. As always, make sure to bring plenty of water, wear the right shoes and bring a friend.
If it’s the thrill of the white waters that is calling your name, you will have to traverse down the mountains and into nearby
Bryson City, North Carolina
. There you can chose from a number of independent rafting companies to begin your adventure down the
Nantahala
River
.
Located in the
Nantahala
National Forest
, this river is actually pretty tame. Taking roughly three hours to travel down five miles, the majority of the falls are class I and class II, with a class III fall at the final drop off. This is a great rafting experience for all ages and will only take up a part of your day.
If it is a more adventurous river trip you seek, then try the
Pigeon
River
on the other side of the mountains near
Hartford, Tennessee
. With rougher waves and faster waters in the Upper Pigeon, this river provides a steady class III rafting experience all the way down.
For both rafting experiences, guides are available but not necessary for experienced rafters.
Two things to consider when choosing a rafting company are price and quality. Compare rates and services, because it isn’t worth it to pay less for shoddy equipment and inadequate transportation. Make sure that whatever company you choose will bring you to the top of the river then meet you at the bottom. They should also take you back to your original destination or you aren’t getting a good deal.
Other Activities
Once you have conquered your fear of hiking through treacherous trails and dodging frosty crags in an icy river, it’s time for some fun. And The Smoky Mountain folks sure know how to dish it out.
Get ready to beat your body and have some fun with tubing in
Bryson
City
. Sure the river waters are chilly, but the experience is a blast that can make you feel like a kid again.
While there are also a number of tubing options, Deep Creek Tubing in
Bryson City, North Carolina
is an excellent choice. One of the most affordable events of your trip, tubing can cost as little as $3 a person for a tube for the day. Most of the water that you will encounter on tubing trips is no higher than waist-deep, but the rocks are plentiful, so keep an eye on the little guys. Aside from getting the cold water rush, there are a number of sights to see while lazing on your tubes from waterfalls to old bridges.
Biking, fishing, and horse riding are also popular activities for your down time and are available throughout the smokies. The
Smoky
Mountain
National Park
itself has four stables and a number of bike trails and prime fishing locations. Picnics are also a must in this serene landscape. Fishing poles and bikes are also for rent throughout the smokies at reasonable daily rates.
Sight Seeing
The
Great Smoky Mountains
isn’t just about the adrenaline rush-there is also much to see! If time permits, take a day out and visit Cades Cove, hidden deep within The Smoky Mountain National Park. Cades Cove is quite a long haul, but worth it for photographers and wildlife and history enthusiasts. Here is where you will see the most animal activity and an abundance of history in this primitive settlement.
Taking a trip to Cades Cove can be like traveling back in time-no power lines and quiet landscapes as far as the eye can see. The primitive homes and buildings are pristine, and some of the old water mills are still in working condition. Deer are likely to cross your path and a number of other animals live here from rabbits and fowl and even the ominous Black Bear.
Cades Cove is a popular destination for bikers due to the slow moving traffic and many interesting stops. There is an eleven-mile stretch of one-way road that moves very slowly because people stop to look at the wildlife, so bikers probably get through the area the quickest at peak times.
This is probably boring and tedious trip for youngsters, but for history buffs, the civil war era cemeteries are a must. Many of the graves at the church cemeteries in Cades Cove bear the names of soldiers lost in the civil war, or infants and mothers that have died in childbirth. The families that settled Cades Cove are buried within these cemeteries and tell a truly unique story.
*Tip-Take photos inside the old churches and look for “spirit orbs” when your photos are developed.Clingman’s Dome is also another destination that no one should miss when visiting The Smoky Mountains. At an elevation of nearly 6,700 feet, this is the highest point in the range. Half of this peak is located in
North Carolina
, while the other half is located in
Tennessee
, and on a very clear day you can see five different states from the observation tower at the top.
The path to Clingman’s Dome is paved, making it much easier to ascend this high peak. The climb is steep and takes about a half hour to reach the top, but is well worth it. The views are unbelievable and there is a certain sense of accomplishment to reaching the top. After all, this is the second highest point east of the
Mississippi River
.
Unfortunately, many of The Smoky Mountain attractions are not enjoyable for everyone year round. Luckily, the carnival-like
village
of
Gatlinburg
offers skiing for wintertime adventure. Though most would say that skiing in Gatlinburg doesn’t compare to venues out west, it’s a very low-key skiing experience, and is a good place for beginners.
Fun and Games
Though over the years Cherokee has retained a certain campy stigma, there are still a lot of reasons to visit. The
Oconaluftee
Indian
Village
is brimming with Cherokee Indian culture and history that you won’t find in the gift shops. The outdoors drama “Unto These Hills” is also a fun event if you are looking for a show with local flavor. And of course, there are always the casinos.
Gatlinburg is also a great destination for fun. When you are tired of doing the nature thing, swing by Gatlinburg for loads of attractions. From the “Ripley’s Believe it Or Not” museum, to an aquarium, mini-golf, movies and go karts, Gatlinburg will help you purge your tendencies to get back to “civilization.”
Throughout the smokies and particularly in
North Carolina
, gem mining is a big attraction. Though it may seem a little hokey, it’s definitely a fun event for the kids, and you never know what you are going to find in your mystery bucket. Gem mining is also a cheap little venture, costing around $5 a person. Rolling up your sleeves and panning in the water like the settlers of yore is actually pretty fun for a low-key and offbeat adventure.
Of course, there is always Dollywood if you feel that no vacation is complete without a good solid roller coaster ride. Located in Pigeon Forge,
Tennessee
, this theme park was founded by none other than Dolly Parton. With a number of decent rides and attractions, and yes, some costumed cartoon characters from the kids, this is definitely a fun spot if you need a break from the great outdoors.
While you are in Pigeon Forge, don’t forget to check out this fun little town. Get an old-timey photo taken, buy some pottery and get some down home country cookin’.
What to Eat
In The Great Smoky Mountains, fast food restaurants are few and far between. From Cherokee to Pigeon Forge, it may be a long time before you can stop for food, even at one of the few gift shops within the park. If you plan on going to Cades Cove, definitely bring snacks because it is a daylong visit. Also, if you are hiking, bring lots of water or electrolyte drinks to keep up your energy and quench your thirst.
Picnics and barbecues are your best bet for
Smoky
Mountain
cookery. Not only is this the most cost-efficient and easiest way to keep fed through your trip, it’s also practical. Grocery stores are few and far between near the park, so plan and do your shopping early.
There are a number of great restaurants on either side of the mountain, but the bottom line is, bring your own food. Remember to watch out for too much sugar or salt, because the long hours in the car may make you delirious from junk food overload.
While there is no hunting allowed within The Smoky Mountains National Park, deer hunting is quite popular throughout
North Carolina
. The truly adventurous may take their hand at foraging for berries and game on this trip, and would probably do just fine.
Furthermore, wild flowers are beautiful and abundant within the park, but try to refrain from taking some home with you. It’s sort of illegal.
Why You Will Want to Go Back Again
Most vacations are not long enough to fully experience all that The Smoky Mountains have to offer. However, if you plan it right, you can tailor it to the needs of your adventurous thirst. High adventure and never-ending activities can be yours, or you can plan a few low-key days in between.
The
Smoky
Mountains
are a great region for families, couples or friends to experience nature in ways that they never have before. If you only have a few days, plan on driving through The Smoky Mountains, climb the summit of Clingman’s Dome and ride the white waters of the
Nantahala
River
.
Your
Smoky
Mountain
vacation can be as intense or serene as you choose. Adrenaline pumped or romantic, fun and action packed or relaxing, The Smoky Mountains can offer you the type of vacation you want. Even if you want to be spontaneous and just go without making plans, you will find a myriad of activities and attractions await you in The Great Smoky Mountains.
