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Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge
Posted on 4/18/22 at 7:50 am
Posted on 4/18/22 at 7:50 am
Heading to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area for the first time this July. Renting a house for 4 nights and traveling we will have our 10 and 11 year old with us.
Any recommendations or suggestions would be appreciated.
Any recommendations or suggestions would be appreciated.
16
Posted on 4/18/22 at 7:55 am to ctb504
Any chance you are going to the Ripken Experience for baseball? We will be there also.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 8:08 am to Cool Hand Luke
No, just a random visit as an alternative to the beach.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 8:28 am to ctb504
Def white water raft....especially with kids of those ages.
Stick to the non touristy stuff and yall will have a great time. Lots to explore in the Smokies and that part of NC right there.
Great time making memories.
Stick to the non touristy stuff and yall will have a great time. Lots to explore in the Smokies and that part of NC right there.
Great time making memories.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 9:05 am to ctb504
I love Gatlinburg which is the opposite of what you would expect, but I think it's the honestly that I like. You know exactly what you are getting into, a giant mess of tourists in saltwater taffy shops.
It's not Disney nor Vegas, where they're working extremely hard behind the scenes to paint a world of fantasy. There is not cast. As long as you can understand what you're getting into, it's a lot of fun to stay there and walk the town one morning.
Other than that, get out into the park and hike some trails. Find a swimming hole, there are a few. Drive into the park and take your first right at the visitor center, there are often bears in the creek bed on the right side.
It's not Disney nor Vegas, where they're working extremely hard behind the scenes to paint a world of fantasy. There is not cast. As long as you can understand what you're getting into, it's a lot of fun to stay there and walk the town one morning.
Other than that, get out into the park and hike some trails. Find a swimming hole, there are a few. Drive into the park and take your first right at the visitor center, there are often bears in the creek bed on the right side.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 10:00 am to ctb504
It will be packed. Plan accordingly.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 10:23 am to ctb504
Posted on 4/18/22 at 11:43 am to longhorn22
Thanks! Easier said than done I know, but we’re hoping to avoid the “touristy” areas as much as possible.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 12:03 pm to ctb504
Tons of hiking. Would recommend laurel falls for easy beginner hike. paved whole way. 2.3 miles round trip, not much elevation gain. Usually crowded.
Then chimney tops if you want something more strenous/better scenery. 3.3 miles round trip, 1500 feet elevation gain.
Then rainbow falls if you want something even more (2.7 miles one way, 1700 feet elevation gain).
There's many many more, these have just been some of my go-to's.
Cliff diving at the sinks. People have been hurt before, but your kids would love it if they're adventurous. Just don't let them do anything stupid. Stay away from the waterfall and jump well away from the rocks, only in the deep water.
tubing at deep creek (far drive) or townsend.
There are other places too if you look.
clingman's dome
whitewater rafting
Dollywood can be fun.
Go see a dinner show.
Hopefully you can fill 4 days with that info.
Forgot to add Cades cove if you want to see animals/ learn about pioneer life. Lots of old churches and farm tools and waterwheels and stuff.
Then chimney tops if you want something more strenous/better scenery. 3.3 miles round trip, 1500 feet elevation gain.
Then rainbow falls if you want something even more (2.7 miles one way, 1700 feet elevation gain).
There's many many more, these have just been some of my go-to's.
Cliff diving at the sinks. People have been hurt before, but your kids would love it if they're adventurous. Just don't let them do anything stupid. Stay away from the waterfall and jump well away from the rocks, only in the deep water.
tubing at deep creek (far drive) or townsend.
There are other places too if you look.
clingman's dome
whitewater rafting
Dollywood can be fun.
Go see a dinner show.
Hopefully you can fill 4 days with that info.
Forgot to add Cades cove if you want to see animals/ learn about pioneer life. Lots of old churches and farm tools and waterwheels and stuff.
This post was edited on 4/18/22 at 12:20 pm
Posted on 4/18/22 at 3:14 pm to ctb504
We went over Thanksgiving last year and really enjoyed it. My favorite things were Cade's Cove and then just driving through the national park. So many good views and small hikes you can take that do not cost a cent. We cooked for ourselves most of the time so I don't have anything for you as far as food recs.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 3:35 pm to F73ME
Great info, thank you!
Posted on 4/18/22 at 8:51 pm to ctb504
Hike as much as possible. Pizza/Brew house on main drag is good. Log Cabin Lodge restaurant is good, its a little nicer. Great bar. NOC outdoor center is good for info and they set us up with awesome white water rafting trip. Hiking depends on ability, but the hike to Alum Cave Bluff is a good one and not too strenuous if you’re in decent shape.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 9:25 pm to ctb504
Wild Bear Tavern is a German restaurant in Pigeon Forge. Best apple strudel I’ve ever had. Don’t let the appearance next to a motel scare you off.
Posted on 4/18/22 at 11:07 pm to Cool Hand Luke
quote:
Ripken Experience for baseball
Nephews went last summer, said it was awesome
Posted on 4/19/22 at 7:55 am to ctb504
If you like amusement parks, Dollywood is a very good one.
Posted on 4/19/22 at 10:54 am to F73ME
quote:
laurel falls for easy beginner hike.
quote:
Usually crowded.
Understatement here. Any of the easy trails and parking areas are going to get crowded fast, and stay crowded, so prepare accordingly.
Many times there is no place to park. Also at top of the park there is a parking lot that fills up fast.
quote:Earlier the better.
Cades cove
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is always fun too.
Posted on 4/19/22 at 3:21 pm to ctb504
We just came back from staying this past week and I can add a few things not mentioned already.
- We had a great time at the Forbidden Caverns cave tour in Sevierville. Surprisingly everyone had a great time. We have a 4 & 7 year old but there were plenty of kids the age you said and everyone seemed like they were having a great time.
- Visited Cade's Cove but closer to 4:30 till dusk time. Saw 8 black bears, turkeys, and plenty of white tail deer. Part of the park was beautiful at sunset.
- The Apple Barn & Cider Mill. Very cool place. There is a general store with all things apple related. A cider & dessert bar with hot hand pies and donuts, a fresh bakery, Hard cider tasting bar, Candy shop, Ice cream shop, Apple wine tasting bar, etc. This was a very cool place and we enjoyed it. Wish we could have seen it in the fall when the apples are in season.
- We had a great time at the Forbidden Caverns cave tour in Sevierville. Surprisingly everyone had a great time. We have a 4 & 7 year old but there were plenty of kids the age you said and everyone seemed like they were having a great time.
- Visited Cade's Cove but closer to 4:30 till dusk time. Saw 8 black bears, turkeys, and plenty of white tail deer. Part of the park was beautiful at sunset.
- The Apple Barn & Cider Mill. Very cool place. There is a general store with all things apple related. A cider & dessert bar with hot hand pies and donuts, a fresh bakery, Hard cider tasting bar, Candy shop, Ice cream shop, Apple wine tasting bar, etc. This was a very cool place and we enjoyed it. Wish we could have seen it in the fall when the apples are in season.
Posted on 4/19/22 at 3:43 pm to lsu1919
We hiked Laurel Falls last June with a 10 and 11yr old. We arrived at the parking lot at 7:45am and had no issues finding a parking spot. We took our time, stopping for pics along the way. We made it to the top at 8:45. When we got back to the car, there was not parking to be found. I suggest getting there no later than 8am. I highly recommend the hike. That was our day 1 adventure. We probably could've combined that day with a trip to Cades Cove or even rafting. But the rafting has specific appointment times.
Day 2 we went whitewater rafting. We used Rip Roaring Adventures and had a blast! We did the Upper Pigeon. The wife (no pics) fell out of the boat and I almost fell out. My 11yr old daughter grabbed by wife and kept her close to the boat until our guide got her back in the boat. We had a good laugh. Everybody loved that day. After rafting, we ate at some food truck there in Hartford that was pretty good.
Day 3 we spent at Anakeesta. Wife and daughter went zip lining there. Again, had a great time. Very clean place.
Day 4 we went to Dollywood. We've always like the down home feel of Dollywood and the kids finally enjoy all the rides. The wife bought their Timesaver pass and that was a tremendous help. Their staffing was still low last summer due to covid so there were some long lines. Hopefully that's corrected by now but I would recommend the timesaver pass.
Day 2 we went whitewater rafting. We used Rip Roaring Adventures and had a blast! We did the Upper Pigeon. The wife (no pics) fell out of the boat and I almost fell out. My 11yr old daughter grabbed by wife and kept her close to the boat until our guide got her back in the boat. We had a good laugh. Everybody loved that day. After rafting, we ate at some food truck there in Hartford that was pretty good.
Day 3 we spent at Anakeesta. Wife and daughter went zip lining there. Again, had a great time. Very clean place.
Day 4 we went to Dollywood. We've always like the down home feel of Dollywood and the kids finally enjoy all the rides. The wife bought their Timesaver pass and that was a tremendous help. Their staffing was still low last summer due to covid so there were some long lines. Hopefully that's corrected by now but I would recommend the timesaver pass.
This post was edited on 4/19/22 at 3:58 pm
Posted on 4/19/22 at 3:53 pm to F73ME
quote:
Then chimney tops if you want something more strenous/better scenery. 3.3 miles round trip, 1500 feet elevation gain.
Last time I was there about a year and a half ago the last little stretch of this one was still closed off due to the fire in 2016. Most of the hike is fine but you couldn't access the rock scramble at the end. Still a good hike, but pretty a pretty strenuous one to not have the payoff at the end.
Posted on 4/19/22 at 7:41 pm to ctb504
Eat at The Greenbrier Restaurant in Gatlinburg
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