📍 Smoky Mountains | Tennessee

Can I even have a blog with a travel section without pinpointing one of my all-time favorite places?

The Smoky Mountains of Tennessee are not only a beautiful sight to see, but they give you a sense of scale and importance. To think that the pioneers of these mountains decided to follow the river, build within, and live off the land, blows my mind. I guess you could say that about a lot of places around the world. One could also argue that it’s just another “tourist destination spot,” and to extent, they’d be right.

But they aren’t looking deeper & they haven’t experienced what the Smokies have to offer.

Now, let’s say you shuffle through the hustle & bustle of Pigeon Forge and through the slow-moving traffic of Gatlinburg… you’ll find a peaceful yet sometimes raging river that does anything but fast-track you through the National Park (and for good reason).

Whether it’s the serene landscape you’re after or some local finds, I’ve put together some things you should put on your to-do list next time you find yourself in the Shaconage*.

*Shaconage (pronounced Sha-Kon-O-Hey) meaning “Land of Blue Smoke” is the Cherokee word for the Great Smoky Mountains.

An 11-mile loop that you can drive, walk, or bike with multiple historical cabins and structures to visit along the way. I’ve done this loop both in the car & with a mountain bike… and although both have their own experiences, it just depends on preference. Biking can be more enjoyable, but even though the road is paved, the hills can be challenging if you’re not used to that type of riding. It took us about 2 hours riding & stopping every so often at the cabins.

Depending on the amount of traffic, driving could end up taking anywhere from 1-3 hours if you do the whole loop—especially if someone sees any type of wildlife, then the line usually just stops for a bit. There are pull-offs to park every so often and also two routes that cut the loop shorter if you decide it’s too long for you… but we recommend just carving out the time and enjoying the scenery.

If you choose to bike—and especially if you choose to walk—it’s a good idea to have some protection with you in case you encounter a black bear. Whether you have to use it or not, it’s the peace of mind for me.

Oh! By the way… no motor vehicles are permitted on Wednesdays! We biked on both types of days and although it was fun hearing the reactions of people unaware we were about to zip by their window, riding on the non-motor day was much nicer and a lot safer.

A beautiful scenic route up and around the mountain will leave you with some breathtaking views of the mountain range from a high altitude. It’s home to some very picturesque hideaways and some that you simply cannot miss.

We’re a bit biased to this destination because it holds special meaning to us from our wedding day (and yes, I was very pregnant at the time – haha).

The best part about it is you’ll likely go through the lovely little town of Townsend, aka the quiet side of the Smokies. It’s a quaint town that has a great brewery with the sweetest bar staff, a breakfast diner that hits the spot, and a couple river-tubing options.

There are so many options to choose from when it comes to not just eating, but drinking your pretty little heart out. Here are a couple of our favorites:

Crockett’s Breakfast Camp: Step back in time when you step inside this hearty breakfast place. Here you’ll find the best griddle cakes on the Gatlinburg strip. The menus are designed like a newspaper and offer local history as you wait for your food. It’s a popular spot, so we recommend going early or within two hours of closing, and on a weekday… otherwise you may be waiting for a table (worth it though).

Loco Burro: Mexican food may not be on your mind but it sure is a good option. You get great portions for the price and we’ve never had a bad meal there. The margaritas are yummy & the view from the rooftop dining is lovely at night!

J.O.E. and Pop’s Sub Shoppe: If you don’t mind driving a few minutes off the Gatlinburg strip, you’ll find this hidden gem. We were recommended it by a fellow Instagrammer and so we decided to check it out. Needless to say, we were not disappointed. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, as well as, a variety of sub/sandwich options to choose from; it was a great lunch choice.

Bootleggers Tennessee Homemade Wine: Hands down this is my all-time favorite wine! I was hooked from the moment I tasted it. The majority of their wine is nice & sweet. The flavors are rich and fresh. It’s totally a local commodity; there are only two locations (the original location is in Gatlinburg and the secondary location is in Pigeon Forge). Due to the pandemic, they finally started selling online and shipping nationwide, however, the options online are limited and change periodically. Other than the overall amazing taste, the deals that they offer are pretty sweet as well. I can bet you’ll never taste a wine quite like Bootleggers.

All our daughter wanted to do was ride the chair lift. Sadly, the day we were going to do so, it poured nonstop and everything was shut down. Thankfully, the next day it was bright sunny skies again and we ventured to the highest point in downtown Gatlinburg, Anakeesta.

Allow me to save you the trouble… for what you get, this is the cheapest and best option if you have kiddos. Also, learn from our mistake… do not try and drive up there yourself. There is no route to do so and we ended up on a very skinny sketchy road headed up the mountain and hardly a turn-around spot in a driveway. We misunderstood the one worker who told us in the rain that we could still get up there, but not much would be open—we took that as we could drive ourselves. Nope! Come to find out, there is an alternative route to the top besides the chair lift and it’s their bus that goes up and down a private road. The chair lift though is also great for anyone who may be in a wheelchair or anyone with strollers/infants/multiple kids, as it also has eight enclosed gondolas that ride the same system as the chairs.

At the top there are a handful of activities to partake in and enjoy. From a mountain coaster, to the adventure tree-walk and rope course, to the cute shops and dining options, all the way to the top of the tower, you’re sure to find something to enjoy.

This has always been on my list of to-dos and it’s now officially crossed off! After watching someone who tried out at least 5 of them throughout the area, we settled on trying Rocky Top Mountain Coaster—I think we would have hit up a few more had the weather not turned.

We got our chance right before closing time and after it was very dark out. This made the ride so cool, but I must admit, it was a bit spooky! I think my personal excitement was more on hearing my little girl yell “Yee-Haw” with every turn and speedy pass!

Whether you enjoy the tourist attractions or nature, or both, the Smoky Mountains have something for everyone. I can almost guarantee that you will find something you enjoy there.

At least visit to breathe in that fresh mountain air.