5 Tips for Your Family’s Summer Vacation in the Smoky Mountains
Once you decide to take your family to the Smokies, the next step is to begin planning the vacation of your dreams. However, there is much more to planning a trip than you may realize at first. There is lodging, activities, restaurants, and only a short amount of time to see everything. To help out, we have put together this list of 5 tips for your family’s summer vacation in the Smoky Mountains:
1. Find the Right Lodging Option
The first step to planning your family vacation is deciding where to stay. Before you even begin to research individual rentals, you must first decide whether you would like to stay in a cabin or a traditional hotel. There are benefits to both of these options, so you just need to decide what is best for your family. If you want to experience the peaceful serenity of the Smokies, then a Smoky Mountain cabin is your best bet. These rentals tend to be tucked away from the main roads, where you will have less traffic and noise. The tradeoff is that you will be a further distance from attractions and restaurants. If you would prefer to be just a short drive away from the fun, you can stay in a hotel right on the Parkway that has a view of either Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge!
2. Enjoy the Free Things to Do
As you begin making a list of all the things you want to see and do during your vacation in the Smoky Mountains, you might begin to wonder how much it will cost. The good news is that there are plenty of free activities throughout town to help save some money. In Pigeon Forge, you can take a trip to The Island in Pigeon Forge and walk around with your family. You do not have to pay to park, and there is not an entrance fee to walk around and browse through the shops. There is even a free fountain show that has water shooting missiles that dance along to music! When staying in Gatlinburg, you can walk through the downtown area and window shop in a variety of different stores. Of course, the best free thing to do in the Smokies is to take a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you will find hundreds of miles of hiking trails.
3. Take Advantage of Coupons and Discounts
We understand that there are going to be some things that you want to do that cost money. However, you can always put some cash back in your wallet with the help of some amazing discounts. We offer a variety of Smoky Mountain coupons that can save you money on everything from lodging to attractions and restaurants. The best part is that these money saving deals are most likely to places you have on your itinerary. The only thing better than exploring the mountains is saving some serious cash while you do it.
4. Eat at Local Restaurants
Throughout the Smoky Mountains, you will find plenty of popular chain restaurants that are worth visiting. However, you will also want to check out some of the mom and pop diners that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. One of the best parts about a vacation in the Smoky Mountains is that you can meet all sorts of folks who have grown up in the area, as well as their parents and grandparents. There are many restaurants that have been passed down from generation to generation that offer unbelievable homemade dishes. One of the places you are going to want to try is The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge. They serve Southern food in a beautiful historic setting centered around a working grist mill that has been in operation for over 200 years!
5. Explore the Nature
As you probably know, the Smokies are filled with amazing natural scenery, from waterfalls and flowers to the black bears that roam the hills. While you are vacationing, you will want to take at least one day to get away from town and explore the majesty of nature. There are a couple of different ways to do this. Either you can take a hike in the Smokies, or sit back in the comfort of your car with a scenic drive. Some of the most popular drives in the mountains include the Cades Cove Loop Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Foothills Parkway, and Newfound Gap Road. All of these areas allow you to escape the busyness of life and take a deep breath of the fresh mountain air!
Now that you have some tips for your family’s summer vacation in the Smoky Mountains, check out some of the Smoky Mountain towns to explore during your visit! We look forward to seeing you soon!
