10 Best Things to Do in Gatlinburg & the Great Smoky Mountains
America’s national parks are all beautiful and special. From the majesty of Yellowstone and its free-roaming bison, to the breathtaking dramatic landscapes of Arches National Park in Utah to the captivating Grand Canyon, one of the world’s natural wonders.
But only one park can make the claim that it routinely has more visitors than any other.
Covering more than 500-thousand acres in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a one-day drive from 60-percent of the nation’s population. But the popularity of the Smokies goes far beyond their geographical accessibility.
Generations of Americans have made these mountains and the communities which serve as their gateway a vacation destination. The resort town of Gatlinburg, used as home base for many travelers to explore the magic of the mountains and the greater area.
If you’re planning a first-time trip to the Smokies and all the research on what to do has you a bit overwhelmed, you’ve come to the right place. I want to help you with recommendations on the best things to do in Gatlinburg and other spots in the Great Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Townsend, Wear’s Valley. I'm covering it all from my native East Tennessee.
10 Can’t-Miss Places in Townsend, Tennessee
Under an hour drive southeast of Knoxville and 14 miles from the resort town of Gatlinburg is low-key and often underrated Townsend, Tennessee.
This tiny community of a few hundred folks is nicknamed the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies.” It’s a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the very popular Cades Cove scenic drive.
While not as flashy or as crowded as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, there’s enough to do in Townsend to make it your vacation destination. From outdoor activities like tubing down a cascading river to exploring what this former logging community was like more than a century ago at a heritage museum and a train museum.
In this episode, we’re taking you to 10 Places You Can’t Miss in Townsend, Tennessee.
