Who been to Smoky Mountain?

[SandEagle]

is it a good time to go now? what is there to do there?

 

[Ichinisan]

I've been to Ghost Town in the Sky (theme park) in the Smoky Mountains. I was just a little kid at the time.

There are bears.

 

[SandEagle]

we're talking about gatlinburg, tennessee right? i will be heading there in a few days .

 

[PhoKingGuy]

we're talking about gatlinburg, tennessee right? i will be heading there in a few days .

Having just been there, its a vastly underrated state.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I live less than an hour from Gatlinburg. It is overdeveloped, I suggest Townsend, TN which is nearby and has a country feel to it. Although the park and the trails in it are awesome. Checkout New Found Gap at sunset and Cades Cove. Also, clingmans dome is awesome on a clear day, you can see so far.

If you go during the summer, you can go tubing. The water is crystal clear in many streams.

There is also Dollywood in nearby Pigeon Forge (whole town is like a carnival), if you are in to theme parks.

 

[SandEagle]

^ thanks. i think i will check out Dollywood as well as the mountains and the aquarium in gatlinburg. i have to find a nice hotel now

 

[Schadenfroh]

^ thanks. i think i will check out Dollywood as well as the mountains and the aquarium in gatlinburg. i have to find a nice hotel now

If you stay here, be sure to take pics:
http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=13905534

The Ripley's Aquarium is pretty damn good.

 

[punjabiplaya]

went there last spring break, was pretty fun.

If you like scenic routes make sure you do the Tail of the Dragon.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Went to Gatlinburg on vacation several times in the 70's and 80's and I remember tons of beautiful schenery and a quaint little town, I'm sure it must be totally different now.

 

[zinfamous]

bears

 

[spacelord]

when I was there a couple summers ago, the only bear I saw was at the top of the Gatlinburg scenic overlook.. up the chairlift. Must've been prowling around for the garbage cans. My daugher was thrilled that we saw a bear.

Aquarium in Gatlinburg is actually decent. My kids really enjoyed it. The town is basically one huge tourist trap. The national forests and streams around are fantastic though. Do some hiking.

 

[Ichinisan]

when I was there a couple summers ago, the only bear I saw was at the top of the Gatlinburg scenic overlook.. up the chairlift. Must've been prowling around for the garbage cans. My daugher was thrilled that we saw a bear.

Aquarium in Gatlinburg is actually decent. My kids really enjoyed it. The town is basically one huge tourist trap. The national forests and streams around are fantastic though. Do some hiking.

I don't remember where we stopped, we were in a wooded area and there was a mother and a cub. There were lots of other tourists around.

Some IDIOTS were getting close to the cub to take pictures.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

is it a good time to go now? what is there to do there?

We're going next week actually. We rented a cabin near Pigeon Forge and are going to mess around in the park, Gatlinburg, etc. I haven't been to the Smoky Mtns since the early 80s.

 

[SandEagle]

bah, i had planned to come back on Saturday the 26th, but it looks like Dollywood's opening day is the 26th. so we stay now til Sunday. can't believe how expensive the tickets are.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

mid June is the best time to go if only for this: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/fireflies.htm

one of the most amazing and beautiful natural phenomena I have ever witnessed

 

[Kirby]

Excluding the Aquarium and a few other things, the actual city of Gatlinburg sucks. Complete tourist trap. Once you get outside of it, there are a ton of fun nature-ey things to do.

 

[punjabiplaya]

do you like snow? it's gorgeous in the snow too

Pigeon Forge is hilarious. It's like a redneck disneyland.

 

[dingster1]

Love Gatlinburg! I recommend the Park Vista hotel.

 

[Sephire]

Smoky Mountain by Jan Pleiter, on Flickr

 

[CZroe]

I know a lot of people head to the Georgia Smoky Mountains when the trees turn color in Fall/autumn. I went a few times as a kid.

 

[chin311]

I got married in the mountains in January. I liked Gatlinburg more then Pigeon Forge, like stated it is a redneck disneyland, nothing but food and outlet malls and theme park like places. Cabins were a deal when I went, and the snow was fun

 

[Fingolfin269]

bah, i had planned to come back on Saturday the 26th, but it looks like Dollywood's opening day is the 26th. so we stay now til Sunday. can't believe how expensive the tickets are.

Yeah Dollywood gets the one-day tourists pretty hard. If I remember correctly the cost of a single day ticket is so ridiculous that if you're going to be there two days it's actually cheaper to buy a season pass.

I love the Smoky Mountains though. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge are just a part of the whole. To truly experience how awesome it is you have to get out of the cities and onto the trails.

 

[Chunkee]

I leave very near and have been all over those mountains. I would wait a bit more until the snow melts some more (on higher elevations) and the rhododendrons are in bloom. to avoid the popular areas that will get too crowded, if you like to hike and camp, you can use Cocke County area, or like another poster said from the western side near Townsend. The Cocke County is also very nice (Cosby Campground is a great point for several trail heads and has nice campground. Avoid Pigeon Forge like the plague unless you are a Dogpatch kindof guy. Let me know if you have any questions. I can probably answer them. and Phoking Guy is right. TN is very underrated. It is a great place to live. Beautiful, tax free and we like GUNS!!!!!