| Area Information |
There is so much to do in the Gatlinburg area, you may have difficulty deciding what to
do. Outdoor activities, attractions, shopping, and some of the most beautiful scenery
in the entire country are at your doorstep. Here are our suggestions -
do. Outdoor activities, attractions, shopping, and some of the most beautiful scenery
in the entire country are at your doorstep. Here are our suggestions -
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The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the nation's most visited National Park,
and once you see it, you will understand why. It looks great from the front deck of the
cabin, but looks much better up close. You must make time for a visit.
We strongly suggest you stop at the National Park Service Welcome Center just inside
the park entrance near Gatlinburg. They have lots of free information, maps and
advice, an excellent video presentation about the park, and some nice souvenirs.
For additional information on what to do in the park, visit the Park Service web site at
www.nps.gov/grsm. Our favorite things are visiting Cades Cove, taking short hikes to
some of the waterfalls, enjoying the mountain scenery, and dipping our toes into the
incredibly cold water of the mountain streams. Cades Cove is the most popular area of
the park, and you should go early in the morning to avoid congestion. This is about a
one hour drive from the Park Service Welcome Center.
For the best view of the mountains, head up to Clingman's Dome and take the short
hike to the observation tower. You should be able to drive there in 30 to 40 minutes
from Gatlinburg. Warning: the temperature can be as much as 30 degrees cooler than
it is in Gatlinburg. Newfound Gap also provides excellent views.
Pack a picnic lunch one day and drive to the Chimneys campground, about 15 minutes
from the welcome center. This is a good place to chill out and enjoy the mountain
stream. This is a good place for wading.
There are quite a few hikes that you can take to enjoy the scenery. Visit the Welcome
Center to determine the length and difficulty of each hike. The waterfall hikes appear
to be the most popular.
You can also find horseback riding and white water rafting near the park. In the winter,
snow skiing is available depending on the weather. In the summer, try a round of golf
at the Bent Creek golf course just up Highway 321 from our cabin. This is a Gary
Player designed course ranked as one of the top 50 in the South. In the Fall, sit on
our deck and enjoy the fabulous view of the leaves when they change colors.
and once you see it, you will understand why. It looks great from the front deck of the
cabin, but looks much better up close. You must make time for a visit.
We strongly suggest you stop at the National Park Service Welcome Center just inside
the park entrance near Gatlinburg. They have lots of free information, maps and
advice, an excellent video presentation about the park, and some nice souvenirs.
For additional information on what to do in the park, visit the Park Service web site at
www.nps.gov/grsm. Our favorite things are visiting Cades Cove, taking short hikes to
some of the waterfalls, enjoying the mountain scenery, and dipping our toes into the
incredibly cold water of the mountain streams. Cades Cove is the most popular area of
the park, and you should go early in the morning to avoid congestion. This is about a
one hour drive from the Park Service Welcome Center.
For the best view of the mountains, head up to Clingman's Dome and take the short
hike to the observation tower. You should be able to drive there in 30 to 40 minutes
from Gatlinburg. Warning: the temperature can be as much as 30 degrees cooler than
it is in Gatlinburg. Newfound Gap also provides excellent views.
Pack a picnic lunch one day and drive to the Chimneys campground, about 15 minutes
from the welcome center. This is a good place to chill out and enjoy the mountain
stream. This is a good place for wading.
There are quite a few hikes that you can take to enjoy the scenery. Visit the Welcome
Center to determine the length and difficulty of each hike. The waterfall hikes appear
to be the most popular.
You can also find horseback riding and white water rafting near the park. In the winter,
snow skiing is available depending on the weather. In the summer, try a round of golf
at the Bent Creek golf course just up Highway 321 from our cabin. This is a Gary
Player designed course ranked as one of the top 50 in the South. In the Fall, sit on
our deck and enjoy the fabulous view of the leaves when they change colors.
There are hundreds of
deer in Cades Cove, and
they are frequently visible.
deer in Cades Cove, and
they are frequently visible.
Gatlinburg
There is quite a bit to do in Gatlinburg, and the best
source of information is the Gatlinburg Chamber of
Commerce (http://www.gatlinburg.com) which is located
on Highway 321 near our cabin.
There are several good restaurants in the area, but the
local tradition is to have a pancake breakfast at one of
the numerous pancake houses. Before or after
breakfast, check out one of the candy kitchens nearby.
You can watch candy being made and try samples.
The most popular attractions in Gatlinburg are Ripley's
Aquarium, the tram to Ober Gatlinburg, the chair lift ride,
Christus Gardens, and local shops.
One of our favorite activities is to drive the Roaring Fork
Motor Trail off Cherokee Orchard Road. It is like taking
an 8 mile hike but staying in your car. It also leads to
the trail head for the Grotto Falls hike.
There is also a nice Arts and Crafts Community off
Highway 321 on Glades Road near our cabin. We
definitely recommend the Jim Gray Gallery, which is
located in an old church, and Alewine Pottery.
There is quite a bit to do in Gatlinburg, and the best
source of information is the Gatlinburg Chamber of
Commerce (http://www.gatlinburg.com) which is located
on Highway 321 near our cabin.
There are several good restaurants in the area, but the
local tradition is to have a pancake breakfast at one of
the numerous pancake houses. Before or after
breakfast, check out one of the candy kitchens nearby.
You can watch candy being made and try samples.
The most popular attractions in Gatlinburg are Ripley's
Aquarium, the tram to Ober Gatlinburg, the chair lift ride,
Christus Gardens, and local shops.
One of our favorite activities is to drive the Roaring Fork
Motor Trail off Cherokee Orchard Road. It is like taking
an 8 mile hike but staying in your car. It also leads to
the trail head for the Grotto Falls hike.
There is also a nice Arts and Crafts Community off
Highway 321 on Glades Road near our cabin. We
definitely recommend the Jim Gray Gallery, which is
located in an old church, and Alewine Pottery.
| Clingman's Dome provides great photo opportunities |
Pigeon Forge
Thanks to Dolly Parton, Pigeon Forge is a very popular
destination city. Dollywood is the most popular attraction
in town, but outlet shopping is really what makes this
town tick. Pigeon Forge has been consistently ranked as
one of the top three places to shop by Southern Living
Magazine readers.
Our favorite outlet mall is the Tanger Outlets, which has
a Sevierville address but is very close to the Pigeon
Forge city limits. Access www.tangeroutlet.com and
select the Sevierville location to see a current list of
stores. While you are at the outlet mall, try the Chop
House for a great steak dinner. We also like Bennett's
Barbecue in Pigeon Forge. We haven't tried their
breakfast yet, which was rated as the best in town.
There are two Cracker Barrel restaurants in town if you
get the urge for some country cooking.
There are too many places to shop in town to list them
here. The Christmas shop at the Bell Tower is one of
our favorite hangouts. Your kids will enjoy the 3 story
Boyd's Bears museum and store.
Finally, there are more than a dozen dinner and music
shows you can attend. Most of these are geared to the
entire family.
For more information on what to do in Pigeon Forge, go
to the Department of Tourism web site -
(www.mypigeonforge.com).
Thanks to Dolly Parton, Pigeon Forge is a very popular
destination city. Dollywood is the most popular attraction
in town, but outlet shopping is really what makes this
town tick. Pigeon Forge has been consistently ranked as
one of the top three places to shop by Southern Living
Magazine readers.
Our favorite outlet mall is the Tanger Outlets, which has
a Sevierville address but is very close to the Pigeon
Forge city limits. Access www.tangeroutlet.com and
select the Sevierville location to see a current list of
stores. While you are at the outlet mall, try the Chop
House for a great steak dinner. We also like Bennett's
Barbecue in Pigeon Forge. We haven't tried their
breakfast yet, which was rated as the best in town.
There are two Cracker Barrel restaurants in town if you
get the urge for some country cooking.
There are too many places to shop in town to list them
here. The Christmas shop at the Bell Tower is one of
our favorite hangouts. Your kids will enjoy the 3 story
Boyd's Bears museum and store.
Finally, there are more than a dozen dinner and music
shows you can attend. Most of these are geared to the
entire family.
For more information on what to do in Pigeon Forge, go
to the Department of Tourism web site -
(www.mypigeonforge.com).
Sevierville
Sevierville is the county seat for Sevier County, which
includes Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Most likely you
will drive through Sevierville on your way to the cabin.
Sevierville will have the best selection of chain stores
and restaurants in the county. If you discover that you
forgot to bring something on your trip, stop at Walmart
or one of the other stores between Pigeon Forge and
Sevierville. Prices for small items such as film, batteries,
and certain food items are likely to be higher in the
Gatlinburg area than they would be in Sevierville.
You should not purchase any items requiring
refrigeration until after you check in at Jackson
Mountain Homes' office. There is a Food City grocery
store between their office and the cabin which has a
good selection and reasonable prices.
More information about Sevierville can be found at
www.VisitSevierville.com.
Sevierville is the county seat for Sevier County, which
includes Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Most likely you
will drive through Sevierville on your way to the cabin.
Sevierville will have the best selection of chain stores
and restaurants in the county. If you discover that you
forgot to bring something on your trip, stop at Walmart
or one of the other stores between Pigeon Forge and
Sevierville. Prices for small items such as film, batteries,
and certain food items are likely to be higher in the
Gatlinburg area than they would be in Sevierville.
You should not purchase any items requiring
refrigeration until after you check in at Jackson
Mountain Homes' office. There is a Food City grocery
store between their office and the cabin which has a
good selection and reasonable prices.
More information about Sevierville can be found at
www.VisitSevierville.com.
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