Be prepared to cover a lot of ground on this itinerary, which includes destinations within and surrounding Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The location of your lodgings in Tennessee or North Carolina will dictate the order you choose. Day 1 introduces the very soul of Great Smoky Mountains National Park—Cades Cove. The Day 2 itinerary assumes you're headquartered in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg , two of the most-visited tourist districts outside of the park. And Day 3 is spent in North Carolina. Add a fourth day to experience Smoky Mountain hospitality at Dollywood , Pigeon Forge's premier theme park.
Day 1: Morning
Pack a picnic basket, grab the camera and don your binoculars and walking shoes. You're going on a day trip to Cades Cove , on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The cove gates open at daybreak, allowing early risers a good chance of seeing deer moving from their secluded forest beds to dewy open fields; bear sightings are rare. The 11-mile, one-way drive around this bucolic, high-mountain valley can take up to 2 hours in peak season (May-Oct.), more if you park the car and poke around log homesteads, primitive churches, quiet cemeteries and the visitor center. Photo ops abound.A 2-mile circular nature trail near the visitor center provides kids the opportunity to burn off energy. There are many trails of various lengths, from easy to challenging. The 5-mile round-trip hike to Abrams Falls is a favorite with all age groups. For a different perspective of the cove, take a horse or carriage ride offered by Cades Cove Riding Stables .
Day 1: Afternoon
On exiting the loop road, follow signs to the picnic area and lay out the lunch goodies on a creekside table. It is not uncommon to see wildlife wandering about, so be sure to observe park rules about food containment if you wander off to explore the woodsy surroundings.Leave Cades Cove around mid-afternoon and drive to a lesser-known area bordering the park. Touted as the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies,” the village of Townsend is home to Tuckaleechee Caverns and the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center , a repository of mountain culture. True to its nickname, this quiet, unencumbered hamlet has a handful of lodgings and restaurants. Stop for an early dinner at Trailhead Steak & Trout House, which features hand-cut steaks and fresh trout, along with a great selection of burgers.
Day 1: Evening
Early evening's entertainment is brought to you courtesy of Mother Nature. About 2 hours before dusk, drive to Newfound Gap on scenic US 441. From there, follow a spur road up to Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) —the park's highest observation point—for the best view ever.
Day 2: Morning
Gatlinburg lies just outside the entrance to the national park. With a chaotic array of attractions, amusements, gift shops, lodgings and restaurants, this bustling, alpine-themed village strikes quite a contrast to its peaceful neighbor.Start the day with a hearty breakfast at Pancake Pantry on Parkway, Gatlinburg's main drag. Don't let the long line dissuade you from this cozy, family-operated chalet offering 24 kinds of embellished flapjacks ranging from pigs-in-blankets to Austrian apple-walnut. Waffles, crepes and egg-and-meat breakfast dishes also are available.
Stroll along Parkway and shop for souvenirs at dozens of retail boutiques and mini-malls. Peruse authentic mountain handicrafts at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, downtown, or choose from pottery, basketry, leathercraft, woodworking and weavings at more than 100 artisans' galleries and cottages in the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, north on US 321. Driving maps of the arts community are available at the downtown welcome center near the junction of US 321 and US 441. But who needs a map when you can catch a trolley to just about anywhere?
There's a good chance your shopping spree will be interrupted when the kids discover these attractions: Ripley's Believe It or Not! , Ripley's Haunted Adventure and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies . Choose the aquarium if you don't have time for all three.
And when you tire of pounding the pavement, hop aboard Gatlinburg Sky Lift or the Aerial Tramway for views from above the treetops.
Day 2: Afternoon
Stretching from Gatlinburg to Sevierville, Parkway offers miles of fun diversions. Head to the Pigeon Forge area for some serious outlet shopping. Tanger Outlets Sevierville tops the list of discount malls.Break for lunch at The Old Mill Restaurant in the Old Mill Square historic complex, which features an 1830s working gristmill that grinds out cornmeal, grits, flour and grains used in the restaurant's satisfying Southern-style fare. The complex also includes a pottery barn, a candy kitchen and an ice cream parlor as well as a general store selling homemade jams, sauces and relishes.
Day 2: Evening
Nightlife is an extension of the wholesome, family-friendly entertainment you've come to appreciate thus far. While Dolly Parton's Stampede Dinner Attraction sets a pretty high standard, other options include country music jamborees, variety shows, Christian-themed musicals, murder mystery theaters, a tribute show and even a magic extravaganza. LOL at longstanding favorite The Comedy Barn Theater .
Day 3: Morning
Discovering the North Carolina side of the Smokies is on today's agenda; board Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for a half-day excursion through Nantahala Gorge.The train makes a 1-hour layover at Nantahala Outdoor Center , a busy white-water and outdoor adventure outpost on the Nantahala River. Take along a pre-ordered box lunch (24-hour advance notice required from the railroad line) and picnic beside the roaring river as you watch kayakers negotiate the rapids.
Day 3: Afternoon
Spend the afternoon immersed in the Cherokee Indian culture. Cherokee , just outside the national park boundary, is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, descendants of those relocated on the Trail of Tears. Peruse interesting shops featuring pottery, jewelry, basketry and other stunning creations.