The Smoky Mountains

Posted @ Nov. 18 2011 11:01AM by Len Boccassini - travel

Rising along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, the Great Smoky Mountains are a national treasure. A place of primordial forests deep, of cascading waterfalls that glow, as if lit from within, with the sun’s rays, they beckon Americans with a subtle but sure song. An International Biosphere Reserve as well an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Smokies – so named for the striking blue mist that oft settles along the range – offers not only the largest old-growth forest east of the Mississippi and the country’s densest population of black bears, but also one of its most diverse ecosystems.

For over 75 years, much of this stretch of the Southern Appalachians has been protected by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (nps.gov/grsm), which encompasses 800 square miles of gentle peaks and verdant valleys. The United States’ most visited national park, it is an outdoor enthusiast’s perfect playground, featuring spectacular hiking, biking and horseback-riding trails, as well as stunning streams and rivers ideal for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and rafting.

But fun in the Smokies doesn’t end with al fresco adventure – it begins with it. Villages like Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville that began as tiny Appalachian outposts now burst with attractions that thrill and chill. From the beloved Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies to a museum that replicates precisely whole sections of the Titanic, the wonders of this most enticing slice of Tennessee do not cease. And now, with the surrounding mountains ablaze in autumn color and temperatures pleasantly cool, the Smokies’ siren call just may prove irresistible.

Any visit to the Smokies should begin with an exploration of the national park. For a hike few know about but all remember, swing by the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (gsmit.org). Founded in 1969, the Institute offers multi-day educational programs for kids and families with the goal of connecting people and nature; as such they will be happy to point you toward Spruce Flat Falls. Not included on any map of the park, the two-mile, round-trip trail to the falls features a moderately steep climb, though the 125-foot falls alone make it well worth the effort.

For a different kind of view of an equally breathtaking waterfall, take a ride with Cades Cove Stables (cadescoveridingstable.com), in Townsend. A family-owned business for four decades, Cades Cove Stables offers guided horseback rides to the 110-foot Falls Branch Falls. Although the shimmering cascades bewitch, just as lovely is the ride through rolling dells and past sweeping mountain vistas itself.

The most popular section of the park, Cades Cove (nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm) is a wide, fertile valley ringed by the Smokies’ gentle ridges. Wildlife, including black bear, coyote, deer, turkey and raccoon is often spotted, and the area is rich with well-kept historical buildings, the only remaining trace of the thriving community that sprouted here in the early 19th-century. While many choose to drive the 11-mile, one-way loop through Cades Cove, bicycles can be rented for those looking to immerse themselves more deeply in its natural splendor.

No visit to the Smokies would be complete without a day spent out – or in – the mountains’ crystal clear waters. Fans of adrenaline-fueled fun will want to hit the Pigeon River’s Class III and IV rapids with Rafting in the Smokies (raftinginthesmokies.com). The five-mile journey down the Upper Pigeon takes about an hour and a half; the outfit’s knowledgeable guides keep all safe during even the most extreme whitewater.

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ 2010 Applause Award winner, Dollywood (dollywood.com) packs in so many opportunities for excitement, it may be impossible to experience it all in one day. Among the not-to-be-missed: the brand-new Barnstormer, which features two pendulum arms that swing progressively higher, eventually soaring 80 feet into the air at speeds of 45 mph. Other top attractions include Thunderhead, a wooden roller coaster with a 100-foot drop, and the multi-level ropes and obstacle course Adventure Mountain.

Not far from Dollywood, and also in Pigeon Forge is Zorb Smoky Mountains (zorb.com/smoky). One of the weirdest and most wonderful of all the area’s diversions, a Zorb is a giant, inflatable soft plastic globe. Zorbonauts ride inside the globe’s hollow core as it rolls hundreds of feet downhill. (Because the interior is filled with several inches of water, participants slide along the ball’s bottom rather than tumble through the air.) Invented in New Zealand, Zorb’s only location in the U.S. is found in the Smokies.

Want to experience the thrill of flight without a plane? Or a parachute? Head over to Flyaway Indoor Skydiving (flyawayindoorskydiving.com), in Pigeon Forge. The first vertical wind tunnel in the U.S., it gives participants an unforgettable chance to hover weightless in the air, held aloft by a jet engine’s powerful air current.

Named “America’s Number One Aquarium” in 2009 by TripAdvisor, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com) in Gatlinburg is a far more charming treat than the name would suggest. Boasting a new interactive penguin exhibit, underwater tunnels that allow patrons to watch, transfixed, as sea turtles, sharks and other marine animals swim overhead and a tank where stingrays may be touched, Ripley’s is a delight for all ages.

Be prepared to be awed by Titanic (titanicpigeonforge.com), in Pigeon Forge. This massive attraction, filled with priceless artifacts from the ship, its crew and passengers, details the doomed voyage as never before. Whole sections of vessel have been painstakingly recreated and thought-provoking experiences abound. Among them, the chance for guests to dip their hands into water the same frigid temperature as the sea into which the Titanic’s lost plunged.

From natural wonders to manmade splendors, the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee provide a seemingly endless supply of opportunities for adventure. For more information on where to stay and play, visit tnvacation.com/east/smoky-mountains.

Although adventure is the name of the game in the fabulous Smokies, while lodging there creature comforts do not have to be forsaken. For the ultimate in luxury – with a pleasingly rustic flavor – book a stay in Dollywood Vacations cabins (dollywood.com/vacations). Featuring stunning views of the Smokies, these handsome log structures range in size from one bedroom to five and up. Many boast outdoor hot tubs, indoor whirlpools, game rooms, fireplaces and washer and dryers.

Such an action-packed stay as the Smokies offer will require some serious refueling. Happily, no other region does stick-to-your-ribs comfort food like the South. Among the areas best offerings: The Carriage House Restaurant (865-448-2263) and the Riverstone Family Restaurant (865-448-6677), both in Townsend; Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant (applewoodfarmhouserestaurant.com) in Sevierville, where the apple fritter becomes an art form; and Gatlinburg’s Alamo Steakhouse (alamosteakhouse.com), long a local favorite.

Visitors who want to combine dining and fun should consider Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede (dixiestampede.com), an eye-popping extravaganza with music, comedy, dancing, trick riding, steers and pyrotechnics – and a four-course meal, to boot. Or, take the scenic 15-minute-long aerial tramway to Ober Gatlinburg (obergatlinburg.com), a ski resort that in no-snow season offers an alpine slide; year-round ice skating; mini golf; a wildlife encounter; and plenty of other festive diversions. After a day of horseplay, stop in to Ober Gatlinburg’s relaxing restaurant for dinner with a view of the timeless Smokies.