Explore the Smokies

Alum Cave Trail

Arch Rock, Inspiration Point and the Alum Cave bluffs. Go early — the lot fills by 8am.

Parking fills by 8 — be there when the gate opens.

Grotto Falls

The only falls in the park you can walk behind. Off Roaring Fork.

Cades Cove Loop

Eleven miles of open valley and old cabins — go at dawn for deer and bears.

Give it 2 to 3 hours and go at dawn for the animals.

Crockett's Breakfast Camp

Gatlinburg's breakfast institution — thick griddle cakes, fried cinnamon rolls, mountain-sized plates.

Only open 7am to 1pm, so go early — the line out front is long on busy mornings.

Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant

Apple fritters and apple butter with every meal.

Arts & Crafts Community

An eight-mile loop of 100+ studios, makers and galleries.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Walk-through shark tunnel and penguins.

Dollywood

Dolly's theme park — rides, crafts, shows and cinnamon bread.

Weekdays are lighter — shows fill up on weekends.

Anakeesta

Mountaintop park with treetop bridges and a coaster.

Buy tickets online to skip the chondola line.

Wears Valley Zipline Adventures

Ziplines through the trees, just down the road from the cabin.

The Appalachian

Wood-fired, farm-driven Southern cooking in downtown Sevierville.

Reserve ahead for dinner — it fills up most nights.

Food City (Pigeon Forge)

Big grocery near the Pigeon Forge Parkway — good for stocking up.

Publix (Pigeon Forge)

Publix subs and good produce, right by The Island.

Laurel Falls

Paved path to an 80-ft two-tier waterfall. Great with kids.

The busiest walk in the park — go before 9am or after 5pm.

Andrews Bald

Grassy summit meadow with big views, starting from the Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) lot.

Chimney Tops

Short and steep to an overlook of the rocky Chimney pinnacles.

Rainbow Falls

An 80-ft falls that throws rainbows on sunny afternoons.

Abrams Falls

Wide, powerful falls with a deep pool, from Cades Cove.

Charlies Bunion

Walk the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap to a dramatic rock outcrop.

Kuwohi Observation Tower

Highest point in the park. Paved but steep — views into three states.

The road up closes in ice — check the park road status first.

Ramsey Cascades

The park's tallest waterfall through old-growth forest. A full-day effort.

Porters Creek

Spring wildflowers, an old farm site and Fern Branch Falls in quiet Greenbrier.

Spruce Flats Falls

Hidden falls near Tremont — fewer people, lovely in summer.

Newfound Gap

The classic crossing over the mountains, with pull-offs all the way.

Foothills Parkway

Long ridge views with almost no traffic. Gorgeous at sunset.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Narrow one-way loop past streams, cabins and trailheads. Closed in winter.

RVs and trailers cannot use this narrow one-way road.

Little River Road

Follows the river from Sugarlands toward Townsend — stop at The Sinks.

Foothills Parkway overlook (Wears Valley)

A quick, big-view pull-off on the Wears Valley end of the parkway.

Pancake Pantry

Gatlinburg's famous pancake house since 1960. Expect a line on weekends.

Expect a wait — the sweet potato pancakes are worth it.

The Peddler Steakhouse

Steaks cut tableside, overlooking the river.

Ask for a window table over the river.

The Old Mill Restaurant

Southern comfort food beside a working 1830s grist mill.

Delauder's BBQ

Low-key local smokehouse with excellent brisket.

Puckett's Restaurant

Southern plates with live music most nights.

Gatlinburg Brewing Company

Local craft beer right on the Parkway.

Smoky Mountain Brewery

Pizza, burgers and house brews — easy for groups.

Wild Plum Tea Room

Charming lunch spot tucked in the Arts & Crafts Community.

A cash-friendly lunch spot — try the gingerbread with lemon sauce.

Hungry Bear BBQ

Award-winning pulled pork, a little off the main strip.

Downtown Gatlinburg

Walkable strip of shops, fudge, taffy and moonshine tastings.

The Island in Pigeon Forge

Shops, the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel and fountain shows.

The Old Mill Square

Pottery, a candy kitchen and a general store by the river.

Tanger Outlets

Big outlet mall for a rainy-ish afternoon.

Townsend

The quiet side of the Smokies — river tubing and slow afternoons.

Downtown Sevierville

Historic courthouse square and the Dolly Parton statue.

Ole Smoky Distillery

Moonshine tastings and live music most afternoons.

The Apple Pie shine is the one to taste.

Titanic Museum

Hands-on museum inside a half-scale ship.

WonderWorks

Upside-down building full of hands-on science for kids.

Sugarlands Visitor Center

Free park museum, maps and ranger tips.

Hollywood Wax Museum

Wax figures plus mirror maze and escape games.

Forbidden Caverns

Guided cave tour with a former moonshiner's hideout.

The cave stays 58 degrees year-round — bring a light jacket.

Gatlinburg SkyPark

Chairlift up to the SkyBridge, a glass-bottom swinging bridge.

Rainforest Adventures Zoo

Small indoor zoo — lemurs, sloths and reptiles.

Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster

Ride-it-yourself mountain coaster you control.

Parrot Mountain and Gardens

Feed and hold friendly birds in hillside gardens.

Ober Mountain

Aerial tram, ice skating and winter skiing.

Smoky Mountain Ziplines

Long, fast lines over the hills off Mill Creek Road in Pigeon Forge.

CLIMB Works Smoky Mountains

Highly rated canopy tour with sky bridges and a big final line.

Book ahead — tours sell out on summer and fall weekends.

Foxfire Adventure Park

Ziplines, a long swinging bridge and mountain-top views.

Smoky Mountain Outdoors Rafting

Whitewater and gentle float trips on the Pigeon River in Hartford.

Rafting runs late spring through early fall, when the river is released.

Cades Cove Riding Stables

Guided trail rides and hayrides at the start of Cades Cove.

Sugarlands Riding Stables

Horseback rides on wooded park trails just outside Gatlinburg.

Dollywood's Splash Country

Water park with slides, wave pool and a lazy river. Summer only.

Goats on the Roof

Goats walking on the roof, a mountain coaster and fudge. Close by on Wears Valley Rd.

The Village Shops

Little European-style courtyard of shops tucked off the Gatlinburg Parkway.

Wears Valley Coffee & Goods

Great coffee and pastries, minutes from the cabin.

Local Goat

Big-portion new American comfort food in Pigeon Forge.

It gets busy — join the waitlist online before you head over.

Five Oaks Farm Kitchen

Hearty Southern breakfast and lunch on the Sevierville Parkway.

Graze Burgers

Burgers and shakes next door to The Appalachian in downtown Sevierville.

Dollar General (Wears Valley Rd)

Quick run for milk, snacks and paper goods without going into town.

Walmart Supercenter

Everything under one roof, 24 hours most days.

Kroger (Sevierville)

Wide aisles and a good deli — an easy stop on the way in.