Who's been? Wife and I are looking to go there this May for our 6 year anniversary trip. Looks like an really cool park with lots of trails and things to do. Anyone have insight on where the better places are to stay, ideally where to fly into? Looks like Gatlinburg is a main area on the east side? Please share up any places to be sure and see in the park and other things that are worth doing there.
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Smoky Mountains Natl Park?
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We normally stay in Townsend, it is about 30 miles from Gatlinburg and is much quieter. Its right at an entrance to the park and is about 11 miles from Cades Cove which is a must see.
Townsend is a very quiet mountain valley situated just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Townsend is a favorite vacation destination for church retreats and family getaways. Things to do include hiking, great mom and pop restaurants, fishing, bicycle trails, river tubing, and authentic mountain crafts.
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My Dad was born/raised in the Smokies. Ashville is an interesting town and the Biltmore is pretty cool. Cherokee has lots of stores and good shows on the history of the Cherokee Nation. Lots of tubing, fishing, hiking opportunities throughout.
Don't discount North Georgia as well. Several towns that draw a lot of tourist. You can fly into Atlanta and it's only a 2-3 hour drive up to Western NC.
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We were there in April when all the dogwood and things were blooming and it was beautiful. I have a friend that has a cabin in Gatlinburg. Check out Elk Springs Resort. Her cabin is called “ A Touch of Class”
We stayed in Pigeon Forge on our way home DC and had fun. If you have kids that’s the place to be.
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Originally posted by Phillip Fields View PostWe normally stay in Townsend, it is about 30 miles from Gatlinburg and is much quieter. Its right at an entrance to the park and is about 11 miles from Cades Cove which is a must see.
http://www.abouttownsend.com/
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Been going there since I was a kid. Go to Cherokee and get some tickets to unto these hills. It's a play out on in a outdoor ampatheatre in the evening. We usually stay in the newfoundlodge right on the river. It's cheap. Theres looking glass falls, theres sliding rock in brevard. Theres tourist type stuff in Gatlinburg. We usually grab chips and salsa w a margarita at this rooftop place, and people watch. Theres cases cove as mentioned, theres chimney rock where last of the mohicans was filmed. Theres dollywood and opryland in pigeon forge w all kinds of carnival type stuff in pigeon forge. Theres harahs casino in Cherokee. You can PM me I can think of more..
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We did the train ride and whitewater rafting, stayed in Gatlinburg in a cabin. Hiking in the Smoky, touring Cades cove, went to the top of the Dome, and seen Bears, Elk and other wildlife while driving through the park. Everything is kind of close together. So not a lot of wasted time in a car.
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This place is a hikers paradise. My wife and I went in early May last year. I couldn't walk enough to enjoy the park, but lots of stuff to see in the area. Not that many roads going through the park, I liked the gravel roads that didn't have much traffic. If you are into fly fishing, lots of rivers for that. We stayed in a cabin in Townsend also. I hate the crowds, Townsend is so much more laid back than Gatlinburg.
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pigeon forge and gatlinburg are tourists central. very crowded. We took our camper and stayed in an RV park just outside pigeon forge. Cant remember the name of it, but it had a creek running through it and it was a peaceful and quiet place to stay. As others have said, the Cherokee area is not as crowded and you can see the same basic scenery there. The roads in and around the park are narrow and can get congested. It a beautiful area of the country.
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