Advice on Smokey Mountain Destinations and Activities

Just a head's up, Smoky Mt NP gets REALLY crowded during the summer, if that's where you're talking about going.

We enjoy the NC side of the park more than the TN side. Find a VRBO in Bryson City or Sylva areas. Both offer lots of outdoor activities and are close to the park. Tubing, hiking, zip lines, etc. Sylva has a nice downtown area with shops and restaurants adn a couple of breweries if that's your thing. Maggie Valley is also in that area and a decent option.

With kids 3 & 7 the Pigeon Forge/Dollywood & Gatlinburg locations are probably your best option.
G’burg is adjacent to SMNP.

What did you do in CO that was amazing?

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What did you do in CO that was amazing?

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Rafting on the Arkansas River - there is rafting on the Nantahala River, not sure a 3 yr old can go. There are some outfitters where you can rent kayaks on a variety of rivers. Just depends on where you are staying.

Train Ride in Georgetown - Great Smokey Mountail Railroad out of Bryson City, it's ok. They do have a very cool model train museum in Bryson that is included in the cost of the train ride. GSMR has two routes and one parallels the Nantahala River and stops at the Natahala Outdoor Center; that's where the rafters get on busses that takes them to the river entry and then that's where they exit the river.
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This was taken from the GSMRR.

Colorado Springs Mountain Zoo - don't know about any local zoos in the SM but I think there is a small one (more of a petting zoo) at Tweetsie Railroad amusement part in Blowing Rock.

Summer Fun Park in Breckenridge - don't know of anything comparable.

Golf in Breckenridge - only golf I know of is at Cashiers which is southwest of Asheville. I'm sure there are other courses.
Golf in Silverthorne

Farmers Market in Vail - I think there is a farmer's market at Asheville near the Sierra Nevada Brewery but don't know anything about it. The brewery is worth checking out; they have trails and tours, and a restaurant that is good.

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The beautiful scenery and weather alone made it amazing.

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You won't see mountains as tall as the Rockies but there is some good scenery and mountainous roads to drive. The Cherohala Skyway goes from Tennessee into NC and there is the Tail of Dragon road, you can google those. The road from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC is fun. Cherokee has a casino and Native American things; lot of it is very touristy shops.
Cherokee Reservation

This is a map of some of the roads.
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There are also a lot of hiking trails and waterfalls to see. Some waterfalls are easy to walk to and some are difficult.
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This is Whitewater Falls, south of Cashiers, and it is an easy walk on a paved path.

Search this Travel Board for information about Asheville but the Grove Park Inn is worth visiting even if you do not stay there (I think they have a golf course) and the most of the ladies like a place called the Chocolate Fetish.