There are countless ways to get out in the fall colors of the Smoky Mountains without taking a strenuous hike. Quite apart from the Scenic Drives and Overlooks accessible by car, there are many Easy Walks and outdoor adventures where you don’t have to break a sweat, and here are some of the best.
Gatlinburg Trail image courtesy NPS
Here are some of the best ways to get out among the fall colors of the Smoky Mountains, with scenic drives and places to observe the colors working their way down the mountain to the lower elevations, here in October, 2020.
Image – and view – courtesy of Gatlinburg Sky Lift
Quietly running through the heart of the action in Pigeon Forge is a great paved trail known as Riverwalk Greenway, a hidden gem of a nature walk traversing the town from Patriot Park up to The Island and beyond. With benches, bathrooms and water fountains strategically placed along the way, the Greenway welcomes walkers and runners, baby strollers and bikes, and pets on a leash to use this free trail, open 24 hours each day, and lighted at night.
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge get a lot of traffic, and it can be useful to know some of the alternative roads to take if the main routes are jammed. This is especially true of you’re trying to get out into the countless nature attractions – including Great Smoky Mountains National Park of course, and don’t want to drive through the congestion on Parkway in either town. Here are some of the shortcuts.
The closest airport to Gatlinburg, TN, is McGhee Tyson, located 12 miles south of Knoxville, just over a 40-mile drive from Gatlinburg, with a few different ways to get there, depending on if you want to hit Pigeon Forge first, and any scenic options you may chose to take on the way in. McGhee Tyson is a friendly little airport, and usually a nice introduction to the friendly people of Tennessee and the Appalachian warmth and culture of the Smoky Mountains.
Any vacation in the Smoky Mountains is made better by staying in a vacation cabin rental. Many cabins are located within resorts, which differ greatly in their location, setting and the amenities they offer. Knowing more about where the resorts are and what they’re like opens up the options considerably for choosing where to stay.
What are the best things to do in Pigeon Forge? Here are some of the most frequent questions about Pigeon Forge that we get asked by guests renting our vacation cabins.
Image courtesy of Pigeon Forge Chamber
When you’re making lifetime memories in the Smoky Mountains, it’s easier than you may think to get a professional photographer to help make those photographs truly outstanding for generations to come. One local company that makes this easy is Gatlinburg Photo Studios, a team of photographers who come to where you are, or provide studio settings, to capture the essence of your trip in the Smokies.
Images copyright and used by permission ©
If you’re planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains, chances are you’ll be choosing between two of the most popular Tennessee towns for your stay: Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Both towns are great vacation destinations, and they’re right next to each other, with just a few minutes drive between the two towns. While both towns are close to the mountains, offer breathtaking views, and are full of activities and attractions, each one has its own unique personality that may influence your ultimate decision of where to stay.
Image courtesy of Gatlinburg
Kasey and her family came to stay with us recently, and wrote up her impressions of the trip. We always appreciate these views through other eyes of cabin vacation time. What made this trip so interesting was they shared the cabin with another family. It worked out well, and could probably only have worked using a cabin for accommodations.
Kasey’s family includes four kids, while their friend’s family has two, so it was four adults and six kids sharing a 5-bedroom cabin. The good news is that there was plenty of room for everyone to feel comfortable, with quiet space when needed and communal times such as meals together. And then there was the game room, which kept both the kids and adults occupied and having fun.
We are the largest cabin rental agency in the Smoky Mountains and have been recognized by Southern Living as the Best Family Resort in the Smokies. We manage over 500 cabins in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Tennessee areas. Visit us today and get over $400 of free attraction tickets with your cabin rental.
