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Ihave loved this area for over 17 years now and continue to find it forever beautiful. And the best part? It’s right outside my back door! When many hear of vacations in the Great Smoky Mountains, they may picture rustic cabins, hunting or animal watching, perhaps a lazy walking trail or two, and a whole lot of peace. While peace is plentiful in many areas of the Great Smokies, there remains a plethora of highly active entertainments that shall leave you with a thirst for adventure long after you make your way back home.

Affordable Fun in the Smoky Mountains

If you or your family can’t splurge on a more luxurious vacation this year, that doesn’t mean you are condemned to creating a staycation to appease yourself or your family unit. Activities that could cost nothing, or very little include:

• Biking on some of nature’s most beautiful trails
• Fishing
• Hiking lovely trails made safe for pedestrians and bikers
• Tubing

In addition, front- and backcountry camping, as well as group campgrounds, are available all throughout the Smoky Mountains. So, if you live in a nearby region nearby, a Smoky Mountain Getaway may be the perfect choice for venturing out post COVID-19. Camping fees can start as low as $14 for a site and around $35 for group campsites.

Rentals for equipment such as bikes or tubes are also relatively affordable, but you can always bring your own if you have it. If not, then I recommend checking out Eastern Mountain Sports: “The most trusted source for outdoor apparel, gear and guidance for the outdoor adventurers.”

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This much free outdoor entertainment in one locale reduces fuel cost and time spent much more appropriately on a hiking trail instead of a highway.

Luxurious Great Smoky Mountain R&R

If you are looking for that ultra-relaxing vacation, and the need for some self-imposed cabin fever, you can find cabins all over the Great Smoky Mountains that house the most basic of necessities to the most lavish amenities imaginable.

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, located in Tennessee, are both quite famous for their cabins that can accommodate a romantic couple’s generous requirements to an entire group’s abundant needs.

And one place to check out prime cabins is Cabins of the Smoky Mountains, one of the largest cabin rental agencies in the Smokies with top-notch service.

If you are planning to live it up, be sure to include on your itinerary a few of these awesome vacation activities:

• ATV Trail Blazing
• Auto Tours
• Boating
• Golfing
• Horseback Riding
• Kayaking
• Whitewater Rafting
• Wineries and Breweries
• Zip Lines

Although indulging in these activities may come with a bit more cost than the Great Smokies more affordable options, the experiences will supply you with a limitless feeling of excitement, and long-lasting memories of outdoor adventure that will last for years.

A Smoky Mountain Wedding Affair

Second to Vegas in choices of places to marry, the Great Smoky Mountains offers the chance to tie the knot in beautiful chapels all over the area. Couples can also marry in the National Park or even the privacy of their own cabin or cottage. There are many locations in the National Park that are popular for Smoky Mountain Weddings.

• Primitive Baptist Churches
• Methodist Churches of Cades Cove
• The Mountain Top of Your Choice
• Spence Cabin
• Appalachian Clubhouse

It is important to remember to always request an application for a permit to have a ceremony in one of the natural churches or any historic structure in the park. If you are considering a Great Smoky Mountain Wedding, be sure to call the Park Rangers Activities Division at 423-436-1266 or go here for more information.

All visitors should keep in mind that the structures in the park are all natural. These wooden structures do not allow any usage of candles or lamps for your ceremony.

Live Entertainments

You can expect to find live musical entertainment in places like Bryson City, Cherokee, Stecoah, Dillsboro, Franklin, and more. Live bands playing everything from blues, jazz, and country entertain crowds every night with top performers such as Trace Adkins and others who enjoy their Smoky Mountain tours as much as those who choose it as a vacation destination.

If you want some bluegrass with your moonshine, be sure to visit the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg. The moonshine’s not the only thing to keep your feet hopping.

Blue Ridge Parkway

No trip to the Great Smoky Mountains would be complete without a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Great Smoky Mountains and family friendly Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are just around the corner from the Blue Ridge Parkway on the western end of North Carolina. Many visitors to the region enjoy both the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway and the Blue Ridge Parkway—taking time to explore the rich culture, natural beauty, and fun-filled activities this area offers.

There’s nothing better than touring a winding road on a sunny day with tunes crooning at you from your car radio. And I love toys for my car, don’t you? Whether it’s a bike rack or a comfy cargo liner for my pooch , you can’t go wrong with AutoPartsToys. The one-stop shop for accessories to customize the design of your car, SUV, truck, or Jeep. They have what you need . . . at factory direct prices that can’t be beat!

I recommend a stop at sunset to the Waterrock Knob Visitor’s Center at Milepost 451, so you can enjoy the breathtaking views as you watch the light dance across the mountains.

Dining and Shopping in the Smokies

The Great Smoky Mountains offers dining and shopping opportunities like no other place on earth. The Native American Craft Shop in Cherokee, North Carolina, offers visitors the chance to view the Southeast’s largest collection of crafts hand-fashioned by Native American Cherokees who own and operate the establishment.

I highly recommend a relaxing stop at the Pisgah Inn, at Milepost 408 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Brevard, NC, for a scrumptious eat. Their desserts are dee-lish! And the 180-degree views afterwards? Simply divine.

Regardless of the length of your vacation here, you will surely treasure every moment spent in the Great Smoky Mountains for a lifetime. Unforgettable beauty and adventure await you around every turn, and over each soaring majestic mountaintop.

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