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Do's and Dont's for Smoky Mountains- Additional Questions
Posted on 4/30/16 at 2:27 pm
Posted on 4/30/16 at 2:27 pm
Taking the family to Smokies next month and was interested in any tips of things to do/avoid.
Best day of week to avoid crowds for popular places sites such as Cade's Cove
I will have 3 kids with me; the oldest is seven.
****Additional Questions****
I appreciate the information provided in the previous posts.
Additionally, I am considering going to a cavern and wanted to get opinions for best caverns in the area. I am currently considering Tuckaleeche Caverns, Forbidden Caverns and Lost Sea Caverns. any others that I should consider?
Looking for a fun and easy fishing for small kids thoughts on Copper Creek or English Mountain Trout Farms?
Oconaluftee Indian Village worth the drive to NC?
Best day of week to avoid crowds for popular places sites such as Cade's Cove
I will have 3 kids with me; the oldest is seven.
****Additional Questions****
I appreciate the information provided in the previous posts.
Additionally, I am considering going to a cavern and wanted to get opinions for best caverns in the area. I am currently considering Tuckaleeche Caverns, Forbidden Caverns and Lost Sea Caverns. any others that I should consider?
Looking for a fun and easy fishing for small kids thoughts on Copper Creek or English Mountain Trout Farms?
Oconaluftee Indian Village worth the drive to NC?
This post was edited on 5/9/16 at 11:47 pm
Posted on 4/30/16 at 2:29 pm to armytiger96
Do: go to Ripley's Believe it or Not! Haunted House
Dont: go to Ripley's Believe it or Not! Wax Museum
Dont: go to Ripley's Believe it or Not! Wax Museum
Posted on 4/30/16 at 3:02 pm to armytiger96
Do not do a Deliverance weekend with your buddies.
Posted on 4/30/16 at 4:43 pm to armytiger96
Go to Clingmans Dome, Tame the hiking trail to the top. It's a gradual incline trail, and you can get some great photos of the mountains from there. AP trail passes right through it.
Posted on 4/30/16 at 5:49 pm to armytiger96
Wednesday and Saturdays they close Cades Cove to car traffic until 10am or so. Get there early(about 7am) and rent bikes. Bike the loop in a few hours.
I stay away from Gatlinburg so can't help you there. I would just hike and white water rafting or kayak. Also renting tubes and tubing Deep Creek or other tubing spots is fun.
I stay away from Gatlinburg so can't help you there. I would just hike and white water rafting or kayak. Also renting tubes and tubing Deep Creek or other tubing spots is fun.
Posted on 5/1/16 at 10:27 am to Nodust
The aquarium in Gatlinburg is a very good one.
Posted on 5/1/16 at 12:52 pm to choupic
quote:
Tame the hiking trail to the top
How long of a hike is this and could an out of shape wife handle the hike?
Posted on 5/1/16 at 1:20 pm to notiger1997
Here's the NPS link to Clingman's Dome-
NPS LINK
Good luck with the out of shape wife thing. With young kids it could be challenging with your wife not being able to help.
I'll refrain from asking for pics, I'm trusting your judgment.
The altitude tops out over 6,000 feet, it's certainly noticeable for us flatlanders.

NPS LINK
Good luck with the out of shape wife thing. With young kids it could be challenging with your wife not being able to help.
I'll refrain from asking for pics, I'm trusting your judgment.
The altitude tops out over 6,000 feet, it's certainly noticeable for us flatlanders.

This post was edited on 5/1/16 at 1:21 pm
Posted on 5/1/16 at 1:25 pm to soccerfüt
Thanks, kids will be fine. Wife didn't fare so well a few years back on a steep hike east of Seattle.
I want to plan a trip up to the smokey soon, I just want to make sure we end up spending most of our time outside of Gatlineburg/Pigeon Forge.

I want to plan a trip up to the smokey soon, I just want to make sure we end up spending most of our time outside of Gatlineburg/Pigeon Forge.

Posted on 5/1/16 at 1:52 pm to notiger1997
There are two paths to take. The long way is about a mile, maybe with a gradual incline. The short way is half as long but twice the incline. The mile long hike wasn't that bad. Pack some water and take your time. Stop to enjoy the scenery. I seen some pretty out of shape people hiking that trail, so your wife should be good.
Posted on 5/1/16 at 2:22 pm to choupic
DO:
-Spend as much time in the Mountains as possible.
-Fill up growlers from Smoky Mountain Brewery so you can enjoy them on the back porch of your cabin.
DON'T:
-Sleep in. You should catch a sunrise at least once.
-Spend as much time in the Mountains as possible.
-Fill up growlers from Smoky Mountain Brewery so you can enjoy them on the back porch of your cabin.
DON'T:
-Sleep in. You should catch a sunrise at least once.
Posted on 5/1/16 at 6:04 pm to Grandioso
DO: Eat at "The Peddler".
Don't: Show up at "The Peddler" in your Dale Earnhardt cap and spend 5 minutes trying to figure out how the pepper grinder works (including jabbing your keys into the end of it).
Don't: Show up at "The Peddler" in your Dale Earnhardt cap and spend 5 minutes trying to figure out how the pepper grinder works (including jabbing your keys into the end of it).
Posted on 5/1/16 at 6:41 pm to LuckySo-n-So
LOL
The food is def something I have no expectations of for a trip there.
The food is def something I have no expectations of for a trip there.
Posted on 5/1/16 at 10:16 pm to LuckySo-n-So
Thanks for the tip. I will leave the hat at home.
Posted on 5/2/16 at 9:43 am to armytiger96
If you go to Cades Cove, go VERY early or you will not see any animals. I went early a couple years ago and we saw so many animals.
Clingmans Dome is also another thing you should do. It is a good little hike, but it is totally worth it.
Also, eat at the Old Mill restaurant. I remember it being a little expensive but this is also worth it.
I also did Hillbilly Golf. I don't know if it is still there, but it was fun. It was mini golf down the mountain.
One more thing. Have a picnic by a creek. It is a great experience.
Have a great trip!
Clingmans Dome is also another thing you should do. It is a good little hike, but it is totally worth it.
Also, eat at the Old Mill restaurant. I remember it being a little expensive but this is also worth it.
I also did Hillbilly Golf. I don't know if it is still there, but it was fun. It was mini golf down the mountain.
One more thing. Have a picnic by a creek. It is a great experience.
Have a great trip!

This post was edited on 5/2/16 at 9:44 am
Posted on 5/2/16 at 1:06 pm to a_n_d_y
quote:
Have a picnic by a creek. It is a great experience.
enter park and take one of the first roads on the left
it runs right next to the campground....creek separates you and campground.
great place for this
Posted on 5/2/16 at 2:25 pm to Fusaichi Pegasus
quote:
enter park and take one of the first roads on the left it runs right next to the campground....creek separates you and campground. great place for this
The best place for a picnic is called Metcalf Bottoms. Get there from Wears Valley Rd.
Posted on 5/2/16 at 2:48 pm to armytiger96
Do:
-Cade's Cove
-Clingman's Dome
-Tube down the little river in Townsend
-Go to Moonshine Ridge for free samples of fudge.
-Visit the Sugarlands Visitor's Center
-Go to the Island and sit by the musical fountains, and catch some live blue grass music
-Go to the Pepper Palace on the Island and try the flash bang sauce (this stuff is so hot it gave me the hiccups immediately)
-Whitewater down the Pigeon
-Wears Valley Zipline
-Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster(just before you get to the ramp that takes you up, ask the attendant to go over the rules for you again. This will give the person in front of you enough time to clear down the mountain before you go. Then you won't have to slow down if you don't want to. You control the speed and how fast you want to go)
-Dollywood for some cinnamon bread
Don't:
-Spend all day in traffic on the parkway in Pigeon Forge(Take Veterans Blvd... it runs parallel and by Dollywood)
-Eat at any chain restaurants
-Get out of the car when you happen upon a bear
-Spend too much time in town (enjoy the mountains)
-Cade's Cove
-Clingman's Dome
-Tube down the little river in Townsend
-Go to Moonshine Ridge for free samples of fudge.
-Visit the Sugarlands Visitor's Center
-Go to the Island and sit by the musical fountains, and catch some live blue grass music
-Go to the Pepper Palace on the Island and try the flash bang sauce (this stuff is so hot it gave me the hiccups immediately)
-Whitewater down the Pigeon
-Wears Valley Zipline
-Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster(just before you get to the ramp that takes you up, ask the attendant to go over the rules for you again. This will give the person in front of you enough time to clear down the mountain before you go. Then you won't have to slow down if you don't want to. You control the speed and how fast you want to go)
-Dollywood for some cinnamon bread
Don't:
-Spend all day in traffic on the parkway in Pigeon Forge(Take Veterans Blvd... it runs parallel and by Dollywood)
-Eat at any chain restaurants
-Get out of the car when you happen upon a bear
-Spend too much time in town (enjoy the mountains)
Posted on 5/2/16 at 3:56 pm to armytiger96
DO:
Spend one evening/night in Gatlinburg just for the cheesy tourist trap experience, Ober Gatlinburg, and mini golf. The kids will love it.
Drive the Little River Gorge Road and stop often. I enjoy that road almost as much as Cade's Cove itself.
Get to Cade's Cove EARLY.
Hike to some of the waterfalls.
DON'T:
Ripley's Wax Museum
Waste your money on "Earthquake the Ride!"
Spend one evening/night in Gatlinburg just for the cheesy tourist trap experience, Ober Gatlinburg, and mini golf. The kids will love it.
Drive the Little River Gorge Road and stop often. I enjoy that road almost as much as Cade's Cove itself.
Get to Cade's Cove EARLY.
Hike to some of the waterfalls.
DON'T:
Ripley's Wax Museum
Waste your money on "Earthquake the Ride!"
Posted on 5/2/16 at 4:14 pm to armytiger96
The hiking trail around the Ogle Cabin outside of Gaitlinburg was a really fun moderate level hike. It has a few rocky spots but the elevation isn't bad and there's a cool little cabin and a mill about halfway through the hike.
I would also stop in Chatanooga on the drive up and do Lookout Mountain/Ruby Falls, which is great for young kids.
I would also stop in Chatanooga on the drive up and do Lookout Mountain/Ruby Falls, which is great for young kids.
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