By: Leah Reeb, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
I have heard friends tell me they shut their eyes driving up the mountain and always thought they were completely dramatic, but they were not kidding.. There are steep parts of the mountain that make it very difficult to drive up, especially if there is oncoming traffic. Some parts have guard rails others do not (insert suspenseful music). Once you have navigated it a couple of times, it does get a lot better. Even if your cabin isn’t ready, I would recommend taking the drive during the day, especially around noon when most people are out getting a bite to eat. Take your time; the speed limit is only 30-35 in most parts. There is a climax to all of this!! The view is completely breathtaking. You could sit out there for hours and be content. I would wake up every morning, get my coffee, and just sit out there. No trains, loud sounds of the city, neighbors yelling at their dogs, just complete serenity.
If I had to pick only one thing to do in Gatlinburg, it would be a scenic drive up the mountains! There is so much to see, and the scenery is breathtaking. At first I was skeptical, thinking, are we really about to look at random trees. I am not an outdoor person if you can’t tell, but it was ultimately the opposite of that. There are a couple of different trails in Tennessee I would recommend.
The Roaring Fork Motor Trail
This trail is about 5.5 miles long. This trail showcases many forests with historical trees, many different types of cabins, gorgeous waterfalls, and lots of rapid streams. You will mostly see greenery working your way up the mountain when you start the course. There are two pull-off areas that I highly recommend you do; the views up there are insane. Definitely take pictures! Take your photographs in Pano for an excellent shot up there. As you drive through, there are stops for you to get out and explore different trails as well as bathrooms. Make sure you look at how long the courses are; you don’t want to be walking back in the dark. If you want to see a waterfall, the best ones to get out at are Rainbow Falls, Baskins Creek Falls, Grotto Falls, and Place of a Thousand Drips.
Cades Cove Loop
Cades Cove is an 11-mile loop. However, the distance to get to Cades Cove is quite long. Be sure to eat and use the bathroom before beginning your adventure to Cades Cove. This is the MOST POPULAR trail in the Smoky’s. You will see many significant mountain areas as well as wildlife. We saw turkeys, deer, and everyone’s favorite “BLACK BEARS.” The first time I went to Cades Cove, back in the summer of 2018, we never saw a bear in Cades Cove. This past time when I went in November of 2021, we saw multiple bears at different locations as well as baby bears too. They were precious!! If your goal is to see a bear at Cades Cove, I recommend going in the morning. The closer to evening hours they go into the forest. Not only can you get the chance to see a black bear in Cades Cove (fingers crossed), there is the John Oliver Cabin, Primitive Baptist Church, Cades Cove Grist Mill, and Abrams Falls Trail that you can visit inside the loop as well. This route is one-way and can get very congested. I highly recommend having snacks in the cars for the little ones if they get hungry.
There are many options for trails in Gatlinburg besides Cades Cove and Roaring Fork. You can also check out Newfound Gap Road, Little River Road, Clingman’s Dome Road, Cataloochee Valley Road, Balsam Mountain Heintooga Ridge, and Foothills Parkway.
Where have I eaten at?
Read below for my top three from this list!
Titanic Museum Attraction - I have always been fascinated with the story of the sinking of the Titanic Ship. I knew this was something I wanted to experience. I have been twice and will go back every time. Did you know that a travel agent can book these tickets for you? You can skip the check-in process show them the tickets on your phone, and head straight in. They give you a passenger card once you have gotten in line to go in. These cards were passengers who were aboard the actual Titanic of 1912! It is very captivating. They will provide you with a brief story about your card. They also hand you these devices for you to be able to call in to get more information about specific things on the ship. As you walk through, you learn about each class, what they wore, and where they dined. You can feel the water of how cold it was, and what it was like to stand on the ship at the angle it was as it was sinking into the ground. You see a replica of the grand staircase. When I walk in there, I am waiting to see Jack at the bottom. It truly makes you feel that way!!! At the end, they have a list of all the survivors and those who didn’t make it. So you can see if the card you had was a survivor or not. How neat! There is also someone there taking pictures so you can get family photos as well as a gift shop for souvenirs. Even if you can't do the tour, just stop the see ship. It is 100% worth it.
I love nothing more than the adrenaline rush of a good thrill ride. Dollywood had all of that and more. A couple of pro-tips! 1) Purchase your tickets online 2) Purchase timesaver if it is during peak season 3) Be there 30 minutes before gates open. We rode so many rides and got to see so many incredible Christmas decorations and performances. It was tough to narrow down my favorite rollercoaster attractions, but here they are:
Top 3 Favorite Rides at Dollywood
#3 Firechaser Express - If you have ever been to Disney World, this ride reminds me a lot of Expedition Everest. It starts with a little bit of speed, a couple of turns, minor drops, nothing too crazy. Then you enter this area where an explosion goes off, and you are riding the entire track backward. Firechaser Express is the nation's first dual-launch family coaster! It was pretty cool, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
#2 Wild Eagle - I have never been on a ride as unique as this one. It feels like you are flying through the mountains. The track is set up to where riders sit on either side of it, so your feet are completely dangling in the air. It made for a truly invasive experience. It is a thrill ride with twists, drops, and much more. The ride soars 21 feet above Dollywood. People come off this ride clapping and cheering over how incredible it is.
#1 The Lightning Rod - Holy Guacamole! If you live for thrill rides, you will want to experience this. Before riding this, if the wait time has exceeded two hours and you don’t have the timesaver, wait till it gets later in the night. The wait time was posted around three hours at 10:00 AM; it dropped to 35 minutes at 7:00 PM. There is also a single rider line as well. This ride launches you from 0-45 MPH and climbs 20 stories. There is a 165-foot drop. Talk about your stomach being in your throat.. That was intense. It propels riders at a top speed of 73 mph. Truly one of a kind!
You can’t go wrong with any Dollywood food; tons of great options. However, if you are just looking for something to munch on and take a break off your feet, head to the Grist Mill. You will want to wait in line for the Cinnamon Bread. It is home to the world’s best cinnamon bread. You can’t leave the parks without it.
There are lots to do in this area! It benefits all ages from shopping, dining, and play zone areas for the kids. Let’s discuss eating first. There are 20 different options for food, snacks, and drinks. Looking for a margarita, head to Changes in Latitude Bar or all that shopping worked your appetite up for a piece of pizza, then head to Mellow Mushroom. The options are endless. There are over 40 retail stores at The Island, from boutiques to retail shops; they have it covered. Ever wondered what banana cream pie moonshine tasted like? Head over to the Ole Smoky Moonshine. You can do a tasting of up to seven samples of moonshine. They have flavors such as Apple Pie, Pickles, Sour Watermelon, and much more. If you are looking to head to the Island with family, don’t worry; there is much to do for your children. The island offers a 48-hour unlimited pass where you can ride unlimited rides. They offer rides such as 7D Dark Ride, Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, and loads more. Make sure to get a ticket to the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel to get an aerial view of Pigeon Forge and surrounding areas. Lastly, you will want to end your night watching the Island Show Fountain. There are rocking chairs and other places to relax while watching the show. It is never missed anytime we visit.
There is so much to see and do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. It has options for a family fun vacation or a weekend getaway for adults. There is an excellent selection of resorts to stay in if cabins aren’t for you. There is even one decorated in a complete Christmas theme! Reach out to an agent today to get your opportunity to meet Smoky the Bear.
Please reach out to Leah, an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to learn more or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
