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Going to Tenneessee for vacation... what should we see?

C

cpals

Diamond Member
Next month we're going to Gatlinburg, TN where we already have a one week stay setup for us. So far some stuff I've looked into is:

- Normal sightseeing stuff (Smokeys, etc)

- Dollywood & Waterpark maybe

- Ripley's Aquarium

- Gatlinburg Craft Community

- Whitewater Rafting maybe?

- Sky lift

Anything else that is a must see while we're up there?
 
Dollywood Splash Country is nice as well if you like Water parks

The Dixie Stampede is a solid dinner theater/show to attend

Also Ripley's Aquarium is quite nice also.

 
Originally posted by: spaceman
dollywood i thought you were making it up but ic that you werent omg
Click to expand...

What rock do you live under this is THE place to go in the United States!!

Also be on the lookout for this attraction: here

 
Gatlinburg is over developed, I prefer to stay in nearby Townsend.

Knoxville is about an hour away from Gatlinburg, nice city, but the food sucks. Very bland if you are used to eating soul food and New Orleans style meals (like myself). Tabasco will not even save it.

Cade's Cove is neat. Plenty of walking trails and beautiful scenery in the Smokeys.

Ruby Falls is a nice cavern to visit along with Lookout Mountain, but they are around Chattanooga. Chattanooga has a nice aquarium if you end up there. IIRC, nearby Townsend has some caves as well.
 
Originally posted by: ironwing
If your only criteria is that you have to stay in TN, then Reelfoot Lake is pretty cool.
Click to expand...

7 Hour drive is probably a bit much for a day trip and having to drive back to our hotel... 2-3 hours would probably be our max distance away from Gatlinburg.
 
Chattanooga has a lot of stuff to do. Especially around the aquarium. They have really dressed up the entire area around it. You also have Lookout Mtn., Ruby Falls, and Rock City just a few minutes away. Plus it's only about 2.5 hours away.


Peace

Lounatik
 
Gatlinburg has its own aquariam, why drive all the way to Chattanooga? IF you play golf, there are some very nice courses in the area.

 
Originally posted by: cpals
Originally posted by: ironwing
If your only criteria is that you have to stay in TN, then Reelfoot Lake is pretty cool.
Click to expand...

7 Hour drive is probably a bit much for a day trip and having to drive back to our hotel... 2-3 hours would probably be our max distance away from Gatlinburg.
Click to expand...

Nashville is awesome and probably 3 hours away. If you decide you may head that way shoot me a PM.

BTW, you will actually be very close to an Indian reservation (w/ casino!) if you want to take a short drive over to Cherokee, NC. It's basically a straight shot up the mountain.

To be honest you can't go wrong just driving around up there. The scenery is amazing. Cade's Cove is a great drive but just be prepared for extremely slow moving traffic for a few hours as it is basically a 'walking' tour in your car.

Clingman's Dome (I think I spelled that correctly) is about a 5-60 minute drive (traffic!) up the mountain from Gatlinburg. You can take a 20-30 minute hike from there and have one of the greatest views of the Smoky Mountains found anywhere.

Dollywood... it's fun. I used to go there all the time when I was a kid before Dolly Parton even bought it. Used to be called Silver Dollar City. 🙂 My best advice for Dollywood is to get there when the gates open. The crowds per area are getting to be as bad as Disney World.

BTW, Smoky Mountain Brewery is actually a decent place to eat. There have one in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. My personal favorite is the Red Ale Steak. Freaking awesome.
 
I went to Gatlinburg a couple of weeks ago. Pretty nice, definately a tourist trap. There are 10 minute wedding chapels on almost every block.

We ate at Smoky Mountain Brewery in Pigeon Forge. Was really nice!

I also went white water rafting and I really enjoyed it. I would definately do that if you haven't before. It was really worth it.

Amazing mountain drives outside of Gatlinburg.

There is a massive outlet mall in Pigeon Forge. Bring some money.
 
If you go to the park make sure you go to Clingmans Dome. Give you a nice workout going up but the view is worth it. It's the highest mountain in TN, and pretty close to being the highest on the eastern side.
 
Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

I also went white water rafting and I really enjoyed it. I would definately do that if you haven't before. It was really worth it.
Click to expand...

rafting down the Ocoee would be a great idea. Hell of a ride
 
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Originally posted by: cpals
Originally posted by: ironwing
If your only criteria is that you have to stay in TN, then Reelfoot Lake is pretty cool.
Click to expand...

7 Hour drive is probably a bit much for a day trip and having to drive back to our hotel... 2-3 hours would probably be our max distance away from Gatlinburg.
Click to expand...

Nashville is awesome and probably 3 hours away. If you decide you may head that way shoot me a PM.

BTW, you will actually be very close to an Indian reservation (w/ casino!) if you want to take a short drive over to Cherokee, NC. It's basically a straight shot up the mountain.

To be honest you can't go wrong just driving around up there. The scenery is amazing. Cade's Cove is a great drive but just be prepared for extremely slow moving traffic for a few hours as it is basically a 'walking' tour in your car.

Clingman's Dome (I think I spelled that correctly) is about a 5-60 minute drive (traffic!) up the mountain from Gatlinburg. You can take a 20-30 minute hike from there and have one of the greatest views of the Smoky Mountains found anywhere.

Dollywood... it's fun. I used to go there all the time when I was a kid before Dolly Parton even bought it. Used to be called Silver Dollar City. 🙂 My best advice for Dollywood is to get there when the gates open. The crowds per area are getting to be as bad as Disney World.

BTW, Smoky Mountain Brewery is actually a decent place to eat. There have one in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. My personal favorite is the Red Ale Steak. Freaking awesome.
Click to expand...

Nashville is actually around 4.5 hours from Gatlinburg. But I'm here in Nashville as well, so if you come this way, shoot me a PM. We can head over to the flying saucer.
 
Originally posted by: Unheard
Nashville is actually around 4.5 hours from Gatlinburg. But I'm here in Nashville as well, so if you come this way, shoot me a PM. We can head over to the flying saucer.
Click to expand...

I don't know how slow you drive, but I can get, on average, from exit 69 on I-65 to exit 383 in Knoxville in about 2.5-2.75 hours. I can get from 383 to downtown Gatlinburg in 30-45 minutes. I can't see how it would take 4.5 hours.
 
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Unheard
Nashville is actually around 4.5 hours from Gatlinburg. But I'm here in Nashville as well, so if you come this way, shoot me a PM. We can head over to the flying saucer.
Click to expand...

I don't know how slow you drive, but I can get, on average, from exit 69 on I-65 to exit 383 in Knoxville in about 2.5-2.75 hours. I can get from 383 to downtown Gatlinburg in 30-45 minutes. I can't see how it would take 4.5 hours.
Click to expand...

You're right, I was thinking the trip to Asheville, NC where we have family. 3.5 hours is what google quotes.
 
Originally posted by: Unheard
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Originally posted by: cpals
Originally posted by: ironwing
If your only criteria is that you have to stay in TN, then Reelfoot Lake is pretty cool.
Click to expand...

7 Hour drive is probably a bit much for a day trip and having to drive back to our hotel... 2-3 hours would probably be our max distance away from Gatlinburg.
Click to expand...

Nashville is awesome and probably 3 hours away. If you decide you may head that way shoot me a PM.

BTW, you will actually be very close to an Indian reservation (w/ casino!) if you want to take a short drive over to Cherokee, NC. It's basically a straight shot up the mountain.

To be honest you can't go wrong just driving around up there. The scenery is amazing. Cade's Cove is a great drive but just be prepared for extremely slow moving traffic for a few hours as it is basically a 'walking' tour in your car.

Clingman's Dome (I think I spelled that correctly) is about a 5-60 minute drive (traffic!) up the mountain from Gatlinburg. You can take a 20-30 minute hike from there and have one of the greatest views of the Smoky Mountains found anywhere.

Dollywood... it's fun. I used to go there all the time when I was a kid before Dolly Parton even bought it. Used to be called Silver Dollar City. 🙂 My best advice for Dollywood is to get there when the gates open. The crowds per area are getting to be as bad as Disney World.

BTW, Smoky Mountain Brewery is actually a decent place to eat. There have one in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. My personal favorite is the Red Ale Steak. Freaking awesome.
Click to expand...

Nashville is actually around 4.5 hours from Gatlinburg. But I'm here in Nashville as well, so if you come this way, shoot me a PM. We can head over to the flying saucer.
Click to expand...

:music:
Athena, I had no idea how much I'd need her
In peaceful times I hold her close and I feed her

If you go to Nashville, go see Athena.
 
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