How to Spend Your Summer Vacation in The Smokies
When it comes to Smoky Mountain vacations in the summer, the only real challenge you may face is trying to choose between all of the enjoyable options that await you. In the Smokies you are sure to find plenty of fun, relaxation, and adventure for the whole family!
The Great Smoky Mountains make the perfect romantic getaway for couples who want to start out their life together or reconnect in beautiful, natural surroundings. Local area wedding chapels can provide a convenient and cost-effective location for a destination wedding. There are multiple romantic cabins and hotel locations with a range of vacation packages available. Some of these lodging choices can be found deep in the forest and high in the mountains, while others are located close to town for convenient dining and shopping. Whether you enjoy hiking and nature viewing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, attending award-winning nearby music shows, shopping in the renowned arts and crafts district, dining at the many area casual and fine dining establishments, or just spending time alone with your sweetheart in a romantic natural setting, the Smokies area has everything you are looking for! That’s why Smoky Mountain Vacations have earned a well-deserved reputation as a favorite spot for couples.
Family fun also abounds in the Smoky Mountains. From sightseeing, to hiking, to tubing, to cave exploration, to picnicking, to horseback riding, this area has plenty of adventure in store for nature-loving families. You can reach the mountain top straight from Gatlinburg’s shopping district aboard the Aerial Tramway to Ober Gatlinburg. This beloved attraction offers exciting family-friendly activities year round, such as skiing, tubing, ice skating, a Wildlife Encounter, shopping, dining, and a new Ski Mountain Coaster!
Another great family attraction in the Smokies is Dollywood Theme Park, located in Pigeon Forge. This world-class amusement park, enjoyable for patrons of all ages, has a distinctive Smoky Mountain backwoods charm. Dollywood has something for everyone: thrilling roller coasters, plenty of carnival-style rides and child-friendly rides and attractions, as well as interesting shops and exhibits designed to introduce visitors to Smoky Mountain life and culture. Dollywood also boasts amazing music, dancing, and acrobatic shows to delight and amaze audiences. If you travel to the Smokies during a hot time of year, consider cooling off at Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park.
Another great family activity is visiting Gatlinburg and Pigeon forge. The streets are lined with fun, kid-friendly shops and museums. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum, the Guinness Book of World Records Museum, wax museums, haunted houses, old-fashioned photo shops, fudge and ice cream stores, and other fun shops filled with souvenirs and collectibles will entertain and amuse your family for hours. There are also plenty of kid-friendly shows, some of which include a meal along with the show. Whether you are looking for a music show, a comedy show, or a bit of both, the Great Smokies have some of the best available varieties of entertaining shows in the nation! You and your family can feast on a home style country dinner as you watch the thrilling Dixie Stampede dinner show, complete with expertly trained trick riders, singers and dancers performing for your family’s delight! If your family enjoys adventure miniature golf, mirror mazes, bumper cars, go kart racing, or practically any form of family adventure and entertainment, the Smokies is the perfect place for you. And when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of it all, you are surrounded by the peace and serenity of natural beauty. When it comes to ideal family spots, Smoky Mountain Vacations is hard to top!
The Great Smoky Mountain area is also beloved for the charm, beauty and rich history of it’s people and culture. The mountain people who have made this area home for generations have developed some amazing arts, crafts, culinary arts, and musical skills. They have graciously set up cultural centers, art galleries, and shops where they display and sell their work. The arts and crafts district of Gatlinburg is filled with vast displays of high quality hand made pottery, glass art, quilts, culinary creations, musical recordings, and more! You will be fascinated and delighted to explore this unique and enchanting culture that originated in the difficult, impoverished past of the mountain settlers of yesteryear.
The indigenous Native American peoples also have a rich history and cultural heritage that they proudly display and share with those who take the time to explore this fascinating historical and ongoing culture. Whether you simply want to browse the galleries, start or add to a collection, observe artists hard at work on their creations, or even participate in an interactive pottery workshop, Gatlinburg and the surrounding Smoky mountain area is a perfect place for arts and crafts and history enthusiasts. When it comes to exploring the culinary arts, the Smoky Mountain area is home to some of the best fudge, honey, baked goods, and other culinary offerings in the entire nation. Many of these delicious foods can be sampled before purchase, ensuring that you will find the perfect flavor.
As you can see, the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee are a vacationer’s paradise with plenty to do for people of all ages and varying interests. It should be no surprise that this area consistently ranks among the most enjoyable and popular vacation spots in the United States. So if you are planning any Smoky Mountain Vacations to this beautiful, fun, and exciting area, start planning your itinerary early to make sure and hit as many highlights as you possibly can during your stay in our downtown Gatlinburg hotel. Chances are pretty good that one trip simply won’t be enough to fit in every activity you and your family would like to do, which is why many vacationers come to this enchanting area over and over again. Happy vacationing!
