Hello fellow trappers. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here. My wife and 3 daughters (ages 6,10, and 11) are going on a trip down to Florida in 2 weeks. My wife and I would rather skip the whole Florida idea, but we want to take the girls to Disney for a few days. The trip is two weeks long. We plan on taking a detour on the way down and staying in the Smokey Mountains for a couple nights. (Or longer depending on what we find to do) Any of you that live around there or anyone who has visited there, do you have any recommendations as to what we should do or where we should go? Nothing is off the table and my family is pretty adventurous. We have nothing set in stone as far as reservations or plans other than we have family in Florida where we will be staying eventually so our schedule is flexible. I realize “the Smokey Mountains” Covers a very large area. Maybe someone could suggest a few different things. I was talking to my wife and she was saying that she wished we knew someone down there that could help us have a good time. I told her “I think I know just the place to ask!” Thanks a lot.

Cade's Cove between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is probably the best chance to see wild bears down there if they are awake yet.

Research Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge area.

Dollywood would be a hit for the kids and the many attractions in the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area

I also SECOND, Cades Cove, in Sieverville

Calling 1-800-visitTN will get you more info

I drove through Tennessee today on my way to Florida what a beautiful state!

Silver Springs.

A country drive around Ocala. Some of the greatest and prettiest horse country ever. On par with the finest Kentucky ranches. Just driving in pretty backcountry places can be fun. Look into areas ahead of time and have a plan and familiar recon with routes in general.

There area some nice parks along the gulf side for bird watchers.

Great mom-pop local restaurants dotting the coast that serve the most amazing fresh seafood , and fresh water delicacies.

Depending where you go. Florida is a long state.

Go to choice places, mostly without a strict schedule whenever possible. So when the details in life arise around the bend, you can afford to stop and take time to enjoy them.

Thats if you want to see other places while you're in Fla. Stopping anywhere you want with time to spare along the way down is also advantageous, for the same aforementioned reasons.

My kids have grown up playing in creeks and the timber around here. But there is something about the Smokies it's like they had never been in either. My kids are now 17 and 14 and they would tell you the Smokey Mountains is one of the best vacation we have ever been on. Lots of good hiking trails. (We have been to Disney)

Could go over the mountain into Cherokee.

Yep, the Cherokee Ind Res is there and Unto These Hills....then you're close to Clingmans Dome and Mt Mitchell too!

Google is your friend!

It may not be too early for morels in areas there......that alone makes a walk in the spring woods an adventure!

Our family lives in Cape Coral Florida. So that is our destination. Although the trip down and back is very flexible.
Thanks for the ideas. I appreciate it.

Just a little further east is the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville NC, and the Biltmore House.

Pigeon forge is too commercial for my taste. I prefer the Cherokee area like others mentioned. Lots of fun but educational stuff for the age group of your kids too.

I like Cherokee the best and cades cove for shore! But if you like all the tourist trap kinda stuff go on into Gatlinburg and pegeon forged if you come in from 75 end you gotta go threw um ent how!

Miss Sharon,thets amazing you brought up silver springs.i could see it up the road from my grandparents retirement trailer.the glass bottom boats and otter's playing at homasasis springs have been ingrained in my brain for 40 yrs.