TOPIC: Have You Experienced Vacations In The Smokey Mts.? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

aasharon90 · 01-21-2012, 07:53 AM

Have you experienced vacations in the Smokey Mts?

What are are your favorite spots to see? Places to
lodge? How about interesting places to eat? Parks,
animals to see?

DollyWood? Gatlinburg?

wino5 · 01-21-2012, 04:23 PM

just google imaged smokey mountains! it looks beautiful

I would be scared to get eaten by a bear tho :P
Im from Australia and just recently visited beautiful warburton in victoria. Where we were staying had a constant sound of flowing water that led to a river that you can swim in it was very cold but refreshing. Its surrounded by mountains, great food and shops.. lots of furry and feathered visitors to our cottage and the smells there were so nice! Not to mention plenty of stars at night

Lovely to get back into nature! Was not at all tempted by the complimentary port, that would have just numbed the senses and not allowed me to be able to take it all in like i did.

TandoSt · 01-21-2012, 04:46 PM

My family has a vacation home in Waynesville NC. I've never really done any of the more touristy things in the area. Any time I'm up there it's either to completely disconnect or go out rafting, rock hopping, hiking, etc. Unless your looking for outfitters or river guides I'm afraid I wouldn't be a ton of help.

wino5 · 01-21-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wino5

just google imaged smokey mountains! it looks beautiful

I would be scared to get eaten by a bear tho :P
Im from Australia and just recently visited beautiful warburton in victoria. Where we were staying had a constant sound of flowing water that led to a river that you can swim in it was very cold but refreshing. Its surrounded by mountains, great food and shops.. lots of furry and feathered visitors to our cottage and the smells there were so nice! Not to mention plenty of stars at night

Lovely to get back into nature! Was not at all tempted by the complimentary port, that would have just numbed the senses and not allowed me to be able to take it all in like i did.

Oops i thought the thread meant nice places in general, I didnt realise it was smokey mountains specific

chicory · 01-21-2012, 05:19 PM

Hi Sharon!
I have been to the Smokeys many times, and I find it is my favorite place. So peaceful, and beautiful.
If you love to shop, Gatlinburg is nice-lots of shops close together, the town streets slant up and down a bit. it is much more commercial than say Pigeon Forge, which is only a few miles from there. Dollywood has not lured me, since i dont like rides or crowds, but there is a lot of fun to be had there, other than rides.

We always rent a cabin in the mts, in Pigeon Forge, which are reasonable. you can get them of all sizes. i like ones with hottub on the out door porch, great for mornings watching the sun come up, in the hot tub. they usually have everything included in the cabin, washer dryer, dishes, etc. love it! there is lots of shopping there too, but it is much less crowded than gatlinburg. if you do go, be sure to check to see what is going on in town that week. if there is a car show in pigeon forge, you will take hours and hours just getting into town, and then it takes a hour to make the trip up and down the main street of town, which is not much more than a mile i would guess. they have very nice car shows, if you like classic cars, muscle, and all sorts of cars.
there are very nice places to eat. the applewood rest, in pigeon forge , has good food. in gatlinburg, there is a world famous barbeque place. yummy!
the side roads are narrow, and you can find some very peaceful places to stay. i like staying out of town, it only takes about 15 minutes to get back into pigeon forge.

my favorite place to stay is:
Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals, Pigeon Forge Cabin Rentals, Smoky Mountains - Black Bear Lodging
really nice!

Scolova · 01-21-2012, 06:59 PM

My parents loved to go to Queen Wilhelmina state park they even honeymooned there back in the 50s (I think it's more west though.. in Arkansas), they loved the whole area and went to Branson a few times.

tgif · 01-23-2012, 09:56 AM

I have been quite a few times. It is absolutely breathtaking. We usually rent a cabin outside of Gatlinburg. By far the best cabins we have stayed in were: Pigeon Forge Cabin Rentals|Smoky Mountains Tennessee. We stayed in their bigger cabins for family reunions and they go all out. The views from the ones we stayed in were amazing. I second what chicory said, get a hot tub!! Amazing memories watching the sun rise from the hot tub overlooking the mountains.

Most people go into Gatlinburg and it can get hectic depending on the time of year. Pancake Pantry is popular for breakfast and there is often a wait for it. I love to go to the different shows, some great magic shows, pigeon forge has tons of places to entertain you. Just depends on what you like.

We like to hike too and if that's your thing there are plenty of trails in the surrounding areas, just grab a map from wherever you stay and put your hiking boots on!

Have fun!

Programmatic · 01-25-2012, 08:21 AM

Boone and/or Banner Elk, NC

Rafting, Grandfather Mountain, Skiing, Blowing Rock

And a deep secret that even many locals will not know: Hebron Colony (the "trail" not the actual facility).

Mast Farm Inn for some of the most amazing lodging in the Appalachians.

Justsam · 01-29-2012, 12:20 AM

I've done some hiking on the AT through the Smokeys. It can get really humid in the summer time. There's a reason they call it the Smokey mountains. Unforgettable times though, it was the kind of stuff I did when I was younger before I got derailed by drinking. I'd like to go back and do it again one day.

Justsam · 01-29-2012, 12:24 AM

Programmatic,
Oh! I totally forgot about the whitewater rafting! The water's sooo cold. I've done the oconne twice.

01-21-2012, 07:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
aasharon90 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Baton Rouge, La. Posts: 5,548	TOPIC: Have You Experienced Vacations In The Smokey Mts.? Have you experienced vacations in the Smokey Mts? What are are your favorite spots to see? Places to lodge? How about interesting places to eat? Parks, animals to see? DollyWood? Gatlinburg? __________________ "A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED" SHARON B. Baton Rouge, La. 8-11-90 I turn my will and life over to the care of a Power greater than I on a daily bases for guidance, care and protection.

01-21-2012, 04:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
wino5 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 57	just google imaged smokey mountains! it looks beautiful I would be scared to get eaten by a bear tho :P Im from Australia and just recently visited beautiful warburton in victoria. Where we were staying had a constant sound of flowing water that led to a river that you can swim in it was very cold but refreshing. Its surrounded by mountains, great food and shops.. lots of furry and feathered visitors to our cottage and the smells there were so nice! Not to mention plenty of stars at night Lovely to get back into nature! Was not at all tempted by the complimentary port, that would have just numbed the senses and not allowed me to be able to take it all in like i did. __________________ You can be what you want to be

01-21-2012, 06:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scolova dude in recovery Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Gulf Coast, TX Posts: 1,506 Blog Entries: 2	My parents loved to go to Queen Wilhelmina state park they even honeymooned there back in the 50s (I think it's more west though.. in Arkansas), they loved the whole area and went to Branson a few times. __________________ ScotA "I've never seen anyone drink themselves smart, successful or happy. Most end up broke, bitter and alone. <anonymous>

01-21-2012, 04:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
TandoSt happy cleaning windows Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 201	My family has a vacation home in Waynesville NC. I've never really done any of the more touristy things in the area. Any time I'm up there it's either to completely disconnect or go out rafting, rock hopping, hiking, etc. Unless your looking for outfitters or river guides I'm afraid I wouldn't be a ton of help.

01-21-2012, 05:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
chicory Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: ohio usa Posts: 4,229	Hi Sharon! I have been to the Smokeys many times, and I find it is my favorite place. So peaceful, and beautiful. If you love to shop, Gatlinburg is nice-lots of shops close together, the town streets slant up and down a bit. it is much more commercial than say Pigeon Forge, which is only a few miles from there. Dollywood has not lured me, since i dont like rides or crowds, but there is a lot of fun to be had there, other than rides. We always rent a cabin in the mts, in Pigeon Forge, which are reasonable. you can get them of all sizes. i like ones with hottub on the out door porch, great for mornings watching the sun come up, in the hot tub. they usually have everything included in the cabin, washer dryer, dishes, etc. love it! there is lots of shopping there too, but it is much less crowded than gatlinburg. if you do go, be sure to check to see what is going on in town that week. if there is a car show in pigeon forge, you will take hours and hours just getting into town, and then it takes a hour to make the trip up and down the main street of town, which is not much more than a mile i would guess. they have very nice car shows, if you like classic cars, muscle, and all sorts of cars. there are very nice places to eat. the applewood rest, in pigeon forge , has good food. in gatlinburg, there is a world famous barbeque place. yummy! the side roads are narrow, and you can find some very peaceful places to stay. i like staying out of town, it only takes about 15 minutes to get back into pigeon forge. my favorite place to stay is: Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals, Pigeon Forge Cabin Rentals, Smoky Mountains - Black Bear Lodging really nice!

01-23-2012, 09:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
tgif Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 80	I have been quite a few times. It is absolutely breathtaking. We usually rent a cabin outside of Gatlinburg. By far the best cabins we have stayed in were: Pigeon Forge Cabin Rentals\|Smoky Mountains Tennessee. We stayed in their bigger cabins for family reunions and they go all out. The views from the ones we stayed in were amazing. I second what chicory said, get a hot tub!! Amazing memories watching the sun rise from the hot tub overlooking the mountains. Most people go into Gatlinburg and it can get hectic depending on the time of year. Pancake Pantry is popular for breakfast and there is often a wait for it. I love to go to the different shows, some great magic shows, pigeon forge has tons of places to entertain you. Just depends on what you like. We like to hike too and if that's your thing there are plenty of trails in the surrounding areas, just grab a map from wherever you stay and put your hiking boots on! Have fun!

01-25-2012, 08:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
Programmatic Programmaddict Alchemy II Champion! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: God's Hands Posts: 199	Boone and/or Banner Elk, NC Rafting, Grandfather Mountain, Skiing, Blowing Rock And a deep secret that even many locals will not know: Hebron Colony (the "trail" not the actual facility). Mast Farm Inn for some of the most amazing lodging in the Appalachians.

01-29-2012, 12:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
Justsam Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 22	I've done some hiking on the AT through the Smokeys. It can get really humid in the summer time. There's a reason they call it the Smokey mountains. Unforgettable times though, it was the kind of stuff I did when I was younger before I got derailed by drinking. I'd like to go back and do it again one day.

01-29-2012, 12:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
Justsam Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 22	Programmatic, Oh! I totally forgot about the whitewater rafting! The water's sooo cold. I've done the oconne twice.

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