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Between Tennessee and North Carolina, lies a vacation paradise tucked between foggy mountains and old-growth forests. From honeymoon retreats to kid-friendly cabin rentals, generations of our family have enjoyed the gorgeous scenery and countless things to do with kids in the Smoky Mountains. Family-friendly hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, unbelievable attractions in Gatlinburg, and endless fun in Pigeon Forge bring many families — including mine — to the Smoky Mountains year after year.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the headliner of this area. Nature lovers will want to tackle exhilarating hikes, discover beautiful waterfalls, or explore the park on horseback.
The park also displays the Applachian history of the area by preserving old cabins and settlements. The rustic valley of Cades Cove is a great place to watch for wildlife (bears!) and take a walk through history. However, if traveling with young children, consider saving Cades Cove for another time — touring the site requires a 2- to 4‑hour drive on a one-way road.
Cades Cove has primitive cabins, beautiful scenery, and the best opportunities for bear sightings. Photo by Keith McCamish.
Gatlinburg
The city of Gatlinburg became a top travel destination when the national park opened, providing popular lodging on the Gatlinburg strip and restaurants for park visitors. Now it draws tourists for its own sake, thanks to attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, a haunted mansion, and countless candy shops. You can even walk across a 150-foot-tall SkyBridge that overlooks the city. Head up the mountain to Ober Gatlinburg for skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating. Hungry yet? Stop in at Pancake Pantry for a true Tennessee tradition.
The Gatlinburg SkyBridge features glass floor panels that allow you to look down as you walk across the bridge (No thanks!). Photo by Amy Baugess on Unsplash.
Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge is the most indescribably touristy place I have ever been. It’s glorious. There’s an upside-down museum, a Titanic replica, dinner theater, mini-golf, go-karts, and more. While the town became popular as a less crowded alternative to Gatlinburg, it has taken on a life of its own. Don’t miss the quieter spots, though, like the Old Mill Restaurant (a great stop for southern comfort food). One of my favorite memories of this area is walking down to the Little Pigeon River and feeding the ducks.
The main drag of Pigeon Forge is filled with neon lights and exciting attractions, but quieter spots, like the Old Mill, are just a couple of blocks away. Photo by Keith McCamish.
Dollywood
Tennesseans have a special affinity for Dolly Parton, and why not? She’s a bestselling songwriter, sends books to our kids, provided aid to victims of the 2016 Gatlinburg fires, AND helped fund a vaccine for COVID. So this might help you understand why there’s an entire amusement park named after her.
Dollywood has all the classics of a standard amusement park — exciting coasters, a river raft ride, and even an adjacent water park. But the best parts of Dollywood are the things that make it unique, like the eagle sanctuary, a coal-powered train, artisan demonstrations of the region’s skilled crafts, and a good helping of bluegrass music and Appalachian friendliness. Be sure to stop at the Taffy Kitchen or Showstreet Ice Cream for an afternoon snack!
Don’t Miss Our List of the Best Things To Do at Dollywood!
Kids will love watching artisans make hand-blown glass creations at Dollywood (but maybe don’t take them to the glass-filled gift shop right next door). Photo courtesy of Dollywood and Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation.
Cherokee
While visiting the Smoky Mountains, take some time to drive over to Cherokee, North Carolina. As the capital of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, Cherokee offers a deep look into the history and culture of the people who occupied the Smoky Mountains long before tourists arrived. In warmer months, families can tour Oconaluftee Indian Village and experience Cherokee life in the 18th century. Oconaluftee Islands Park offers spots for swimming, tubing, and fishing.
From late May through early October, visitors can experience bonfire storytelling at Oconaluftee Islands Park in Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo courtesy of Swain County TDA/Chamber of Commerce.
When You Go
Getting There
McGhee Tyson Airport near Knoxville, Tennessee, is the closest airport and is served by several major airlines. (I don’t recommend flying into Nashville and driving; it’s almost a four-hour drive.)
Getting Around
While there are trolleys that circle through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, you’ll want your own vehicle for the most reliable transportation, especially if you plan to visit the national park.
Find great deals on car rentals through RentalCars.com
Where to Stay: Smoky Mountain Hotels, Cabins, and Lodging
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has tent and RV camping available. Hidden Mountain Resorts offers condos and cabins throughout the Smoky Mountains, while VRBO, Turnkey, and Vacasa have options for renting mountain chalets with hot tubs and private pools. For a premium family experience, try Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, which includes an indoor water park, or The Island in Pigeon Forge, with hotels just steps away from restaurants and shops. Hampton Inn in Pigeon Forge is a reliable budget option.
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I cant wait to get to TN and do a few hikes in the Smokies. It has been on my list for a while but as I got lots of friends in TN, we hope to do some hiking and camping once Mr Covid goes away. Also love the country music scene but not sure if I would want to go to Dollywood. Love her singing but not sure if I want to see her ‘world’. 😀 Didnt know about the bridge in TN so yup, I want to go on it and look down. Why not? 😀
We were just there this past weekend! Although it wasn’t by choice — my daughter had a volleyball tournament. Ha! I totally think that while you are there, it’s worth doing the outdoor things like the national park. I wanted to do the sky bridge, but we didn’t have time. I’ve done them in Asia, so I don’t think they’d compare. There is so much to do for families, of course!
I did not know that Dolly Parton was so famous that she had a park after her. Sounds quite quirky. Smoky mountains have always appealed to me — for their connection with the Appalachian culture and the natural landscapes. Pigeon Ford falls under the Smoky Mountains — that is something I was not aware of. Thanks for sharing this lovely post.
I wasn’t aware of Dollywood before. That seems really interesting. Also, Cherokee intrigued me much because of its local culture and traditional practices. So many things to do in Smokey mountains indeed.
We went there two summers ago and didn’t realize that traffic at Cades Cove could be really bad. But we enjoyed the bear sightings though. We only drove through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge but were not impressed with the areas. Maybe we should drive the backroad and our impression would be different.
Your post gave me a great idea for a road trip, especially since I’ve never seen this area of the US. I’ve heard so much about the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, that I’ll have to go see it myself. I don’t think I’d bother with Dollywood, however. Not a great fan of her!
We have heard of the Smoky Mountains National Park and your post has got us excited to do a road trip there one day. You are right about Pigeon Forge — it looks like a place that would be an absolutely fun spot to go to. And I also like Cherokee — feels so historical and cultural!