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2020 Ultimate Great Smoky Mountains Travel Guide

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2020 Ultimate Great Smoky Mountains Travel Guide Are you coming to the Smokies and looking for the best way to experience every last drop of nature, entertainment, and excitement? We’ve put together the ultimate guide to the Great Smoky Mountains for you and your family. Enjoy! Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Create unforgettable memories in the Great Smoky Mountains at one of the most incredible experiences in Gatlinburg! Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, named the “#1 Aquarium in North America” by USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award, is the place to explore the remarkable wonders of life underwater. Where else can you pet and take photos with adorable penguins, learn about stingrays, and get up close to sharks in the amazing underwater tunnel? There is so much to take in, we recommend planning to spend a whole day exploring the ins and outs of this incredible destination. Ripley’s also has some unique bonus attractions that are great for the whole family. Have you ever dreamed of channeling your inner Bob Ross with some penguin pals? Well, at Ripley’s Aquarium, you can make those dreams come true with the Penguin Painting Experience! Help these Penguin Picassos paint on a canvas, which you can take home to remember this special time with your family. Be sure to grab our exclusive Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies coupons, like $2 off admission or the Glass Bottom Boat Adventure or 10% off merchandise! Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show Ahoy, matey! Are you ready to get aboard to a thrilling entertainment destination? Pirates Voyage is an exciting dinner with a show! Be amazed by the beautiful mermaids, tropical birds, and much more, all while you enjoy a fabulous four-course feast! Chomp down on Buccaneer Biscuits, Matey’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese, and mouth-watering Walk the Plank Peach Turnover! This show is one for the books, and it’s just getting started. During the winter season, you’ll enjoy a special treat with Christmas at Pirates Voyage! A fun and delightful twist on the Christmas Classic “A Christmas Carol,” you’ll see the wonderful story of Christmas while creating lasting memories. Get your tickets today for one of the most memorable attractions in the Smokies! Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, named after one of the largest and fastest-flowing streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a extraordinary way to experience the serenity and splendor of the Smokies. This 5.5 mile, one-way, loop provides a plethora of magnificent sightings such as mountain streams, old- growth forest, as well as historic log homes, grist mills, and other well- preserved buildings. One landmark that you’ll see just before entering the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is the Noah “Bud” Ogle farmstead. Moreover, Roaring Fork provides access to many popular Great Smoky Mountain trails. For instance, the Rainbow Falls trailhead begins just past the Ogle farmstead. While Grotto Falls, one of the park’s most popular waterfalls, can also be accessed from Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Do note that the Motor Nature Trail is closed during the winter. Dollywood & Dollywood’s Splash Country Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, is known for exciting thrill rides. However, this legendary amusement park offers so much more! Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Smokies while enjoying many of the year- round festivals and celebrations. The Flower & Food Festival, Summer Celebration, and the Festival of Nations are just a few that draw crowds from all over the world! Enjoy exciting attractions and roller coasters, as well as the must-see Dollywood's Splash Country Water Park, which is adjacent to the theme park. Splash Country is the ideal balance of water rides and lazy river floats that will create the most perfect experience. Looking for a superb place to stay while you explore Dollywood? What better place than Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. A beautiful resort inspired by Dolly Parton’s personal childhood memories that will quickly become your new home away from home. There’s a reason why Dolly chose to build in these incredible mountains, and we can’t wait for you to see for yourself! Ober Gatlinburg Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area and Amusement Park offers mountaintop fun all year round. There are endless activities for you and your family to enjoy. Bundle up in the winter for ice skating, magnificent mountain skiing, snowboarding, and more! Warm up with hot coffee and tea at the Seasons of Ober Restaurant, or any of the other delectable dining options at Ober. Ober is more than just winter entertainment! There’s summer tubing, ice bumper cars, Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway, a mountain coaster, an alpine slide, and more! Adults can shop at the many shops located right onsite while kids play. A mountain of fun awaits! Jayell Ranch Horseback riding, ziplining, and ATV adventures await you at Jayell Ranch! Get ready to get a little dirty on the experience of a lifetime. Jayell Ranch has the ultimate ATV riding tour. You and your group can explore the mountains on ATVs or UTVs and create lifelong memories with million- dollar views. Jayell Ranch also has ziplining, mountain tubing, as well as horseback riding. No riding experience is necessary. You’ll become a pro in no time as you ride through the Great Smoky Mountains soaking up views of North Carolina, Mount LeConte, and Shield's Mountain Fort. Jayell Ranch doesn’t take reservations, so come on down whenever you feel like zipping, riding, and tubing through the mountains at this marvelous Smoky Mountain attraction! Additional attractions free to guests include a petting zoo, bounce house, and farm games! A little something for everyone to enjoy. Besides, you don’t want to miss out on these tremendous MobileBrochure coupons, such as $5 Off Any Ride or purchasing a Combo Riding and Ziplining Package for just $49. Rafting in the Smokies Where can you experience exhilarating whitewater rafting, thrilling rock climbing, a ropes course, and soaring through the air on a zipline, all in one location? Only at Rafting in the Smokies can you enjoy a whole day filled with outdoor adventure! Rafting in the Smokies has been locally owned and operated since 1978 and really prides itself on preserving the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. While you can enjoy ziplining and the ropes course at almost any time of the year, whitewater rafting Class III and IV rapids is only available March through October, with scheduled water releases Memorial to Labor Day. In addition, families can explore the lovely wildflower trail or enjoy a relaxing picnic surrounded by beautiful forests and a gently burbling river. Lucky for you, we’ve got even more ways for you to save with these great Smoky Mountain coupons: $12.00 Off Rafting or Raft, Zip, & Rope for Only $99! Cades Cove Cades Cove is an extraordinary place to visit if you love observing wildlife, biking, hiking scenic trails, primitive camping, and exploring historic structures. The 11-mile one- way loop is the perfect way to take in the beauty of this broad, lush valley surrounded by mountains. You might even catch a glimpse of the local wildlife such as black bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, turkeys, and more. If you feel like getting your heart pumping, the loop is open to walkers and bicyclists only every Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10 am from early May to late September. Additionally, you can hike one of the Cove’s numerous trails, such as the five-mile round trip hike to Abrams Falls, or the more lengthy, Thunderhead Mountain and Rocky Top (yes, the one featured in the infamous “Rocky Top” song) trails. Furthermore, Cades Cove is rich in history. Along the journey, you will find eighteenth and nineteenth-century structures scattered along the loop, such as churches, log homes, a working grist mill, barns, and more. Cades Cove has the widest variety of historic structures than any other area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The list of things to do in Cades Cove are endless, so plan on staying a little longer and exploring the Smokies as much as you can! Please note that Cades Cove is closed from January 5, 2020 - February 29, 2020 for repairs to the Bote Mountain Tunnel on Laurel Creek Road. We hope that your experience in the Great Smoky Mountains is filled with wonderful moments to treasure. There’s truly no place like the Smokies, and we love to show you what makes this place so special. Be sure to share your Smoky Mountain vacation with us by tagging us (@mobilebrochure) on Instagram or Facebook. Lastly, we invite you to use MobileBrochure.com to plan your adventure to the Smokies! Happy exploring! .
Recommended publications
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  • National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory Carter Shields Homestead Great Smoky Mountains NP

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  • The Etiquette and Protocol of Visiting Cades Cove Cemeteries

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  • December 2018 LITTLE RIVER TRAIL TO

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    December 2018 CHESTNUT TOP trailhead at 10. Parking is limited and fills up fast, so carpooling December 1 – Saturday is encouraged. Drive is about 20 miles round trip (20 x This hike allows us to experience the Smokies with easy .05=$1.00) access, just off the Townsend “Y”. We begin with a gradual Leader: Brad Reese, [email protected] ascent of about 1200' through deciduous and pine forest. There are beautiful views of the Smokies to the left, including John Litton Farm Loop-Fall Branch Trail-John Muir Trail Thunderhead Mountain, and Townsend and Tuckaleechee in BSF to Angel Falls Overlook Cove to the right, views easier to appreciate in the winter. At 4.3 December 12- Wednesday miles we intersect Schoolhouse Gap Trail, our turn-around 11 miles. Meet at Hardees at exit 122 off of I-75 at Rt-61 at point. We will be joined by Carter Hall with The Wilderness 8:00 am. Drive 116 miles ($5.80). Society who will be giving updates on the Land and Water Leader: Ron Brandenburg [email protected] 865-482-5078 Conservation Fund, one of the nation's most critical conservation programs that has greatly benefited the Smokies HIDDEN PASSAGE TRAIL for decades. LWCF is currently in need of reauthorization by December 15 - Saturday Congress, and Carter will be sharing information on how we can For this interesting hike in Pickett State Park near Big South Fork help get the fund reauthorized. See p. 4 for information. Hike and Pogue Creek Canyon, we will do a loop hike that takes in small 8.4 miles, rated Moderate.
  • Great Smoky Mountain National Park Geologic Resources Inventory

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  • Huckleberry Knob Hike

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    Huckleberry Knob – Nantahala National Forest, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 1.8 mls N/A Hiking Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes with 30 minutes of breaks Elev. Gain: 370 ft Parking: There is space for only a few cars at the Huckleberry Knob Trailhead. 35.31391, -83.99098 If this lot is full, overflow parking is available on the grassy shoulder of the Cherohala Skyway west of the entrance. By Trail Contributor: Zach Robbins Huckleberry Knob, at 5,580 feet, is the highest peak in the remote Unicoi Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. The bald summit is reached by an easy hike from the Cherohala Skyway. Suitable for all levels of hiking experience, the grassy bald provides fantastic 360° views of the Unicoi, Great Smoky, Cheoah, Snowbird, Nantahala, Valley River, Tusquitee, and Cohutta Mountain ranges of southwestern North Carolina, northeastern Georgia, and southeastern Tennessee. This is one of the finest viewpoints in the region, only rivaled by Gregory Bald, Rocky Top, and lookout towers on Shuckstack and Wesser Bald. This is a wonderful spot for a picnic or lazy backcountry camping. While in the area, consider including other nearby trails along the Cherohala Skyway for a full day of short hikes. Mile 0.0 – There is space for only a few cars at the Huckleberry Knob Trailhead. If this lot is full, overflow parking is available on the grassy shoulder of the Cherohala Skyway west of the entrance. The Huckleberry Knob Trail [419] follows a forest road track through beech and maple forests. Mile 0.4 – Follow the shoulder of Oak Knob through wide open grassy fields.
  • Cades Cove During the Nineteenth Century

    Cades Cove During the Nineteenth Century

    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 8-1976 Cades Cove During the Nineteenth Century Durwood Clay Dunn University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the History Commons Recommended Citation Dunn, Durwood Clay, "Cades Cove During the Nineteenth Century. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 1976. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/1623 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Durwood Clay Dunn entitled "Cades Cove During the Nineteenth Century." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in History. LeRoy P. Graf, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Charles O. Jackson, John Finger, Lee Greene, John Muldowney Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduat e Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Durwood Clay Dunn entitled "Cades Cove During the Nineteenth Century ." I recommend that it be accepted in partial fu lfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philo sophy, with a maj or in History.
  • Cultural Resources Existing Conditions Report, North Shore Road Environment Impact Statement, Swan and Graham Counties, North

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    CULTURAL RESOURCES EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT, NORTH SHORE ROAD ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, SWAIN AND GRAHAM COUNTIES, NORTH CAROLINA FINAL REPORT ARPA Permit GRSM 03-001 SEAC Accession No. 1850 Submitted to ARCADIS G&M OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. 800 Corporate Center, Suite 300 Raleigh, North Carolina 27607 By TRC GARROW ASSOCIATES INC. 501 Washington Street, Suite F Durham, North Carolina 27701 Project No. 02427 Authored by Paul A. Webb with contributions by Heather L. Olson and David S. Leigh January 2004 ABSTRACT/MANAGEMENT SUMMARY Cultural resource background studies have been undertaken as part of the North Shore Road Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which is designed to determine the feasibility of and assess the potential environmental effects associated with fulfillment of a 1943 agreement among the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Swain County, and the state of North Carolina, calling for the construction of a road along the North Shore of Fontana Lake in western North Carolina. This road proposal originated in the early 1940s with the construction of TVA’s Fontana Lake in Swain and Graham counties. Due to the inundation of parts of the Little Tennessee and Tuckasegee valleys, road access was cut off to some 44,000 acres lying above the reservoir pool on the north side of the lake. Rather than construct a road to access the area during wartime conditions, the TVA acquired the entire 44,000-acre area and subsequently transferred its ownership to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Although limited road construction took place between 1948 and the early 1970s, construction was stopped in 1972 due to environmental and engineering concerns.
  • Winter 2019-20 in This Issue

    Winter 2019-20 in This Issue

    SMOKIESThe official newspaper of Great Smoky MountainsGUIDE National Park • Winter 2019-20 In this issue Smokies Trip Planner • 2 Great Sights to See • 4 National Park News • 5 Jr. Ranger Corner • 7 Winter Driving Map • 8 Winter Wildlife Watching • 10 State of the Park • 12 How to Help the Smokies • 14 Park Etiquette • 15 Visitor Information • 16 Be sure to check the weather forecast and road conditions before traveling to the park. Image courtesy of NPS Winter in the Mountains Brings Beauty, Snow and Ice Exploring the park this season is a delight made possible by Smokies road crews S t t o n n e inter in the Great Smoky Moun- 8–9). Other roads, like Newfound Gap e m OUR PARK y ip Mu u tains may not bring the celebrated Road (U.S. 441), are subject to extended lfo r Eq W ON SOCIAL MEDIA O rd, Enginee blooms of spring wildflower season, the weather-related closures and require a great pe sor rator Supervi long, warm days and lazy summer nights deal of work to reopen. of June and July, or the famously brilliant Newfound Gap Road stretches 33 miles Words with a Ranger colors of fall, but it possesses an allure that across the mountains to an elevation of As the roads supervisor on the Ten- can be observed in quiet forests, frigid 5,046 feet and connects Gatlinburg, TN, nessee side of the park, one of the rushing streams, frosty fields, and snowy to Cherokee, NC. When heavy snow falls GreatSmokyMountainsNPS best parts of my job is going up the mountain landscapes.