The Great Smoky Mountains
by Michelle Clark, PassPorter Guest Columnist
Looking for an escape from the
hustle and bustle of city life? A great destination for a weekend getaway or a
family vacation is the Great Smoky
Mountains.
Situated at the North Carolina/Tennessee border, the Great Smoky
Mountains
or the “Smokies” are part of the Appalachian
Mountains
and are home to Great Smoky
Mountains National
Park. Some 521,000 acres were set aside
as a National Park in 1934. With over 9 million visitors to the park each year,
Great Smoky
Mountains National
Park is the most visited National Park
in the country. This is largely due to the fact that over half of the
U.S. population is located within a
day’s drive of the park. U.S. Highway 441 travels through the park and is the
most utilized route to enter the Great Smoky
Mountains.
The Smokies
are a true nature preserve, with forest comprising nearly 95 percent of the
national
park. Approximately 1,600 black
bear make their home in the park, and whitetail deer are plentiful. Bird
watchers will delight in the 200 species of birds native to the park. Recently
the National Park Service reintroduced elk and river otters into the park. There
are over 1,600 different wildflowers native to the Smokies, more than any other
national park.
As you travel on U.S.
Highway 441 you will encounter many beautiful scenic views of the Smokies.
Newfound Gap (elevation 5,048 feet) is the lowest drivable “gap” or pass in the
park. There is plenty of parking at Newfound Gap, so be sure to stop and check
the view. Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet is the highest point in the
Great Smoky
Mountains National
Park as well as the highest point in
Tennessee. You can take the half-mile hike up
to the observation tower at Clingmans Dome. On a clear day you can see seven
states from the tower! The hike is steep but paved and pretty easy to maneuver.
Bring a jacket along, even in the warmer months it can be a bit chilly at the
top.
The park itself provides
a variety of activities for day trips or vacations. There are over 800 miles of
hiking trails inside the Great Smoky
Mountains National
Park. These trails range from short
nature trails to longer backwoods hikes. If you desire something in between,
there are several 1.5 to 2 mile hikes that will reward you with fabulous scenic
views of the mountains or waterfalls. Horseback riding is another popular
activity in the park. There are several riding stables in the area that offer
guided riding tours in the mountains.
The
Oconaluftee River at the southern end of the park
near Cherokee and the Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg are popular with trout
fishermen. Open season for trout fishing runs April 1 through November 30, and a
license and permit are required to fish. These can be obtained at the
Park Welcome Center for fishing in
Tennessee. If you plan to fish the
Oconaluftee in the Cherokee Indian Reservation you will need to purchase a
separate North
Carolina license, available at a number of
stores and locations in Cherokee.
Picnic and camping
facilities are available inside the park. Need to cool off? White water rafting
on the Pigeon River is another popular activity in the
area. You can make reservations for your rafting trip with several area
outfitters. The dense foliage of the forests in the Smokies provides spectacular
colors in the fall, drawing large numbers of leaf watchers. The roadways in the
park can be packed on autumn weekends with cars lining up to view the changing
leaves.
One of the most popular
destinations inside Great Smoky
Mountains National
Park is Cades Cove. Cades Cove is a
valley tucked deep inside the Smokies that was originally inhabited by a group
of pioneer settlers. Many of the original log homes and other buildings dating
back to the 1800s have been preserved and can be toured today. Cades Cove is
accessible by an 11-mile one-way loop road. There are three churches still
standing in Cades Cove that can be reserved for church services. Our local
congregation has visited Cades Cove and held a service in one of the old church
buildings. Sitting on backless pine benches is quite different than the padded
pews we have today! The biggest draw of Cades Cove is not the old settlement
buildings but rather, the plentiful wildlife. One trip around the loop road can
easily reward visitors with glimpses of dozens of whitetail deer and possibly
even a bear. Approximately halfway around the loop is a visitor center with
restrooms. There is a large meadow next to the visitor center that is perfect
for picnics. Since Cades Cove is extremely popular and has only a one-way road,
traffic can back up during the busier seasons. Biking and horseback riding is
also allowed on the loop road.
New visitors to
Great Smoky
Mountains National
Park will benefit from a stop at the
Sugarlands Visitor Center located on U.S. 441south of
Gatlinburg. Nearby is Little River Road, which leads to Cades Cove. Here you
will find information on all the park has to offer. The center has plenty of
maps and brochures. You can also view a short film about the park and view a
preserved animal exhibit in the nature museum. There is a bookstore and gift
shop inside the visitor’s center along with restrooms and vending
machines.
Most hotels and
restaurants in the Great Smoky
Mountains
area have brochure stands with literature on a variety of attractions in the
area. There are an abundance of coupon books for some of the area
attractions as well.
No trip to
the Smokies is complete without a visit to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Gatlinburg is currently
celebrating its Bicentennial, although much has changed in this small town since
its inception in 1807. Located at the northern entrance of the
Great Smoky
Mountains National
Park on U.S. 441, Gatlinburg is jam
packed with attractions, shopping, dining, and lodging options. The heart of
Gatlinburg is a one mile strip of Highway 441, also known as the Parkway.
There are
plenty of lodging options in Gatlinburg ranging from hotels/motels, condos, bed
& breakfasts, and cabins and chalets. Many of the hotels and motels in
downtown Gatlinburg are established, family owned facilities but most of the
well known chains have properties in town. We prefer the Hampton Inn as it is
located near many attractions, shopping, and dining. Most of the hotels in the
area offer some type of deluxe continental breakfast which can save money on
food. There are many time shares in the Gatlinburg area, so if you own a time
share you may have Gatlinburg properties in your network. If you are traveling
with a larger party you may be more comfortable renting a cabin. Location should
be the major factor in choosing your lodging. The easiest way to get to the
various attractions in Gatlinburg is walking, so you location is key.
So, what’s
there to do in Gatlinburg? What’s not offered may be a better question!
Gatlinburg offers a wide variety of attractions ranging from mini golf to
haunted houses to a world class aquarium. Ripley’s, best known for their
“Believe It or Not” Museums, operates six attractions in Gatlinburg: Ripley’s
Aquarium of the Smokies, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Ripley’s Haunted
Adventure, Ripley’s Moving Theater, Davy Crockett Mini Golf, and
Guinness World Records Museum. But Ripley’s doesn’t have a
monopoly on fun in Gatlinburg. You can also find black light golf, indoor
go-karts, laser tag, ghost houses, car museums, and other similar attractions.
Each of these attractions has separate admission that will range in price from
$8 up to $18.00 plus tax. Ripley’s offers a combo ticket which will save you
money if you plan to do several of the Ripley’s attractions. Parking is hard to
come by in Gatlinburg and will cost you at least $6.00 per day.
Besides the
usual “tourist traps”, Gatlinburg has several unique, established attractions.
Ober Gatlinburg, located above the town, is a ski resort and amusement park. You
can ride the sky lift or aerial tramway to access Ober Gatlinburg. Non skiers
can skate in its large indoor rink or enjoy go-karts, mini golf, or shopping.
But the crown jewel of Gatlinburg attractions has to be the Aquarium of the
Smokies. This 1.4 million gallon aquarium features over 10,000 difference sea
creatures in a variety of settings including a tropical rainforest, ocean realm,
and coral reef. The shark lagoon is enclosed in an underwater tunnel with a slow
moving sidewalk so you can ride while you take in the 4 different species of
sharks in the lagoon. If you plan a morning trip to the aquarium you can watch a
diver clean the lagoon by hand while two other divers ward off the curious
sharks! The coral reef tank has daily dive shows where you can watch divers
interact with over 1,000 fish. You can get “up close and personal” with stingray
and horseshoe crabs at Toucharay Bay.
If your
favorite activity involves a Visa card, don’t worry–there’s plenty of shopping
available in Gatlinburg. Over 450 shops located along the Parkway in roadside
stores and malls offer every kind of souvenir imaginable, from Dixie Outfitter
T-shirts to grandfather clocks to Crocs.
All this
activity will surely build up an appetite, and Gatlinburg offers a variety of
dining options. Pancakes are a local favorite, so you will find a number of
pancake houses that serve all day. The Peddler is a locally owned steak house
with a unique twist: the “peddler” will push a meat cart to your table so you
can choose your specific cut of meat. The restaurant was built around the
original cabin of one of Gatlinburg’s first settlers and is located on the
river. Get there early and request a table next to the river for enchanting
views.
Familiar
chain restaurants in Gatlinburg include the Hard Rock Café, Texas Roadhouse,
TGIFriday’s, and fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Subway, and
Burger King. Just want a snack? You’ve come to the right place. Walk along the
parkway (or “the strip” as it is often referred to) and you can find fudge,
funnel cakes, ice cream, frozen lemonade, and many other treats that will ruin
your diet! We like to visit Fanny Farkle’s for an original Ogle Dog (a hand
dipped corn dog) or grilled sausage dogs. Visit the Old Smoky Mountain Candy
Kitchen and watch them make taffy at the front window.
Most
travelers combine their Gatlinburg vacation with a visit to Pigeon Forge. Pigeon
Forge is located about 6 miles north of the Gatlinburg strip. Like Gatlinburg,
the major attractions, dining, shopping, and lodging are all located on or just
off Highway 441 or the Parkway. Pigeon Forge is probably best known as the home
of Dolly Parton and Dollywood, but there’s much more to do here than visit
Dolly’s theme park. The attractions in Pigeon Forge are similar to what you find
in neighboring Gatlinburg. The difference is that Pigeon Forge is much more
spread out–you don’t walk to attractions in Pigeon Forge, and there is plenty of
parking.
The
majority of the attractions at Pigeon Forge are larger and outdoors, so there
are more go-kart and mini-golf type attractions. You will find a wider variety
of hotels/motels at Pigeon Forge, and generally the rates are cheaper here than
at Gatlinburg. Common amenities at Pigeon Forge motels include free breakfast
and high speed internet. Many properties have outdoor pools with slides. The
newer lodging facilities are located north on Highway 441 towards Sevierville.
Pigeon Forge is a
shopper’s dream! Besides the standard souvenir shops, Pigeon Forge is home to
several large outlet malls including Belz and Pigeon Forge Factory Outlets.
Neighboring Sevierville has the Tanger Outlets. It’s so close to Pigeon Forge
that you won’t realize you left one town and entered another. The Christmas
Place is a unique shop which consists of 30,000 square feet of Christmas
merchandise.
Dinner shows are popular
with Pigeon Forge visitors. Dolly started it all with the Dixie Stampede, a
Southern style meal with North versus South entertainment. There are
approximately 20 different dinner theaters in Pigeon Forge. In fact the section
of Highway 441 where most of the theaters are located is commonly referred to as
“music row”. Most dinner shows require advance
reservations.
A few local
favorites include The Old Mill Restaurant and the Applewood Farmhouse
Restaurant. The Old Mill is located at a historic 1800's gristmill with a large
water wheel on the Little Pigeon River. The restaurant serves classic southern
cooking such as country fried steak or chicken and dumplings. Homemade pies and
desserts complete the experience. You can purchase cornmeal, grits, or pancake
mixes ground onsite as well as homemade jams and jellies in the Old Mill General
Store. The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant is located at The Apple Barn, which
has sold apples, cider, apple butter, and many other products for over 20 years.
If its apple related, chances are they have it at The Apple Barn. The Apple Barn
has expanded to include a Christmas shop, a winery, and a candy factory. Home
made ice cream is available at the creamery where you’ll find some of the most
delicious and unique flavors of ice cream (yes they give out free samples!). The
restaurant also serves southern cuisine but is most famous for their delicious
apple fritters. Be sure to get a sackful to take home with you after your visit
to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area!
The Smokies offer a
variety of activities for visitors from all walks of life, any time of the
year. There is sure to be something to please
everyone!
Here are some helpful
sites when planning a trip the Smokies:
National
Park Service (http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm)
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
(http://www.gatlinburg.com)
Pigeon Forge Department of
Tourism (www.mypigeonforge.com)
Related Links: Adventures by Disney: Wyoming
Return to PassPorter.com |
Ask a Question on the PassPorter Message Boards
Updated 04/06/07
Read additional articles from PassPorter.com
Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter, PassPorter News, published for more than 58,000 opt-in subscribers worldwide.
As an added bonus for subscribing, you will receive a 20% discount coupon for the PassPorter Store -- no catch!
We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our subscriber list. Subscribing will not result
in more spam! We guarantee it.
|
Copyright 1999-2015 by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
|