Smoky Mountain Attractions Must See List
If you are planning to rent a cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, you may have a difficult time deciding which of the attractions you want to visit and what activities you want to do. There are so many from which to choose. Here are some Smoky Mountain attractions that are definitely not to be missed.
The Smoky Mountains contain some of the most scenic hiking trails in the eastern United States. Some easygoing trails lead through old growth forests to waterfalls. The Laurel Falls Trail in the Elkmont area is a popular 2.6 mile round trip on an asphalt walkway. At the end of the Grotto Falls Trail, a 3 mile round trip, in the Gatlinburg area, you will be able to enjoy the spray of the waterfalls as you walk behind them. If you hike the trail in May, you will see a carpet of trilliums, white violets, and Dutchman’s breeches among the old growth hemlocks of the forest. More challenging trails include those rising to the panoramic views atop Mount LeConte and along the Gregory Bald Trail in the Cades Cove/Townsend area. The more challenging trails of the Smoky Mountains are between ten to fourteen miles in length and ascend 1000 to almost 4000 feet.
Whitewater rafting and kayaking for experienced enthusiasts may be found on the Little River between Elkmont and Townsend. This is a Class III to V run during the high waters of spring and after heavy rainfall. The southwest Tennessee foothills offer three rivers on which to canoe, raft, or kayak: the Ocoee, a Class III to IV paddle; the Hiwassee, for Class II levels; and the Tellico, for experienced Class III rides. If you are new to the sport, the Little Pigeon River in the Townsend area is Class I.
The section of Highway 441 between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg contains nonstop entertainment venues of different types. If you are looking for mountain crafts, you would do well to drive the eight miles of US 321 east of Gatlinburg known as The Glades Arts and Crafts Community. The seventy plus artisans of this community have small studios very different from the downtown tourist shops of Gatlinburg. They sell everything from hand-carved wooden birds, mountain brooms, and watercolors to fine porcelain and sculptures.
Most visitors think of Dollywood, the 90 acre amusement park which carries singer Dolly Parton’s name, when they tour this part of Tennessee. Dollywood itself can take four or more hours to enjoy. Water rides like the Log Flume and carnival rides besides the live shows at on site theatres will keep the family busy.
There are other attractions to amuse the vacationing family. In Gatlinburg, you can visit the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum or the Guinness World Records Museum, both of which contain interesting if not at times bizarre exhibits. In Tennessee’s southwestern foothills is the Fort Loudin State Historic Area with its replica of a British fort and ruins of an American fort from the late 1700's. Near Venore is the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum operated by the Cherokee tribe and remembering the life of Sequoyah and historic events in Cherokee history. Both museums can take one hour or more to visit.
If exploring caverns is more to your taste, The Lost Sea near Sweetwater and the Tuckaleechee Caverns near Townsend have guided tours which last a little over one hour each. The Lost Sea tour involves a short walk and a cruise in a glass-bottomed boat on the waters of the underground lake. The Tuckaleechee Caverns include the Big Room, a subterranean cavern about 200 feet in width and 400 feet in length. You may possibly see a pygmy bat in the cavern depths.
One last place in the Tennessee section of the Smoky Mountains to visit is the Cades Cove region. Not only can you see ten historic sites like the John Oliver and Dan Lawson Places, log cabins set off from the Cades Cove Loop Road, but you can bike or walk the eleven mile road on certain days of the week when vehicle traffic is restricted and be able to take your time. Cades Cove also has hiking trails with ratings of easy to moderate (Schoolhouse Gap, Abrams Falls, and West Prong) to very challenging (Rocky Top/Thunderhead and Spence/Russell Field Loop). For every type of family, there are Smoky Mountain attractions appealing to each individual taste.