Gatlinburg

[Chuck52]

I'm from that area, too, and find the crowds now-a-days just too much to handle. Driving through the park can be bumper to bumper during the summer. The 11 mi Cades cove circle is beautiful, but not if you are staring at someone else's bumper. Too bad you're past the hiking stage of life because that's about the only way to get away from the crowds in the park. After the first mile or so, you have many trails almost to yourself. All that said, I do love the area and think everyone ought to see it. Last time we stayed there we rented a cabin on the Townsend side and had a nice time. My son and I did the hike to Gregory Bald and only saw three other people and one bear. I think I could still do that hike, but I bet it would take me longer to recover. To put this in perspective, the trailhead to Gregory Bald is about half way along the Cares cove loop. We got there early for the hike, but coming back in the afternoon, it took at least half an hour to get out of Cades cove due to the traffic, about a 5-6 mile drive, bumper-to-bumper.

Chuck

 

[KentT]

Just for grins, here's links to two live webcams in the national park.

NPS: Nature & Science» Air Resources Division - Great Smoky Mountains NP Web Camera

As depicted below, that one is in the southern end, looking to the right of the Townsend and over the Cades Cove areas back toward Gatlingburg and Mt Guyot (one of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi). Looks lke thundershowers down there this morning.

This one is more toward the northern end of the park on the NC side, looking north up the mountain chain toward Boone, NC. Asheville NC is to the far rignt.

NPS: Nature & Science» Air Resources Division - Great Smoky Mountains NP Web Camera

Here's its range of view:

I have both links stored in my Favorites so I can check on the weather back home. The roots run deep and pull strongly... I have two sets of great-grandparents buried inside the park -- one in Cades Cove and one in the Sugarlands, above Gatlinburg.

 

[woodchuckie]

Being reminded of Ashville I remembered we took a day trip through Maggie Valley to Ashville to see the Biltmore Estate. Took the interstate back to Gatlinburg that night. Beautiful drive and very extravagent house.

 

[Tractors4u]

Ah, Gatlinburg, my favorite vacation spot. I hope to make a trip up there in my new truck as soon as I get out of this oversized sandbox. Since the wife likes outlet shopping you will need to hit Pigeon Forge. Pigeon Forge is the Smokey Mountain version of Panama City Beach. Outlet malls, go kart tracks and putt putt golf. Gatlinburg has Ripley's museum and Ripley's Aquarium. Definately go to the aquarium. We usually take a picnic lunch and do the 11 mile Cades Cove loop. The kids love counting deer and bear. 90+ deer in 11 miles is their record. If you like amusement parks, check out Dollywood. Good rides, quick lines and it seemed like there were a lot of retirees working there which equates to a courteous staff. Dollywood also has a water park at a separate property with waterslides, wave pool, etc. Have fun Wayne and see you in a couple of months. When are you coming to Alabama for another visit?

 

[Chuck52]

There's a neat knife outlet in Pigeon Forge or near there that's worth stopping at.

Chuck

 

[hudlow]

I second the advice for staying in Towsend, Tenn. and driving the short distance to Gatlinburg for doing the touristy stuff.

Gatlinburg reminds me of Myrtle Beach without the ocean.

hud

 

[KentT]

There's a neat knife outlet in Pigeon Forge or near there that's worth stopping at.

Chuck

It's about 1 mile off Interstate 40 on the Dolly Parton Parkway, just across the French Broad river bridge on the right side of the highway. My niece is one of their buyers... The name is Smoky Mountain Knife Works, and they claim to have the world's largest assortment of knives (hunting, pocket, kitchen, etc.).

Smoky Mountain Knife Works - home of the World's largest knife showplace

 

[Chuck52]

KentT,

So I guess it's really closer to Sevierville? I remember from my days at UT - Knoxville when Sevierville was known as a speed trap for anyone heading to the Smokies. These days if you get up to the speed limit you're probably doing good.

Branson is the closest approximation to the Gatlinburg area in Missery.

Chuck

 

[Volfandt]

Gatlinburg seems to attract alot of interest as a place to settle anymore. If one would do a search one would probably find at least 2 or 3 threads such as this is the past yr alone.
The area is beautiful and the schools are very good. But it has been a tourist trap for at least the last 75 yrs, if not longer and it has all the trappings that a two season (summer & winter) tourist trap entails, i.e. HEAVY TRAFFIC and BIG CROWDS! I wonder what has occured thats let the secret out?
I live about 40 miles away as the crow flys and get up there on work related reasons at least two times a week.
We also enjoy going up there to enjoy the amenities.
As I've said in several threads, Sevier County is a very attractive place to settle as the large tax base generated by the tourists provides for all the necessary services to be top notch. Property taxes aren't bad but the closer you get to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, the higher the property values. It's almost unbelievable how much an acre brings.
The further you get away from the three mentioned municipalities, the cheaper the land gets and teh slower life gets. Seymour is a great little community to live as is Cosby.
In any case good luck.

 

[KentT]

As I've said in several threads, Sevier County is a very attractive place to settle as the large tax base generated by the tourists provides for all the necessary services to be top notch. Property taxes aren't bad but the closer you get to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, the higher the property values. It's almost unbelievable how much an acre brings.
The further you get away from the three mentioned municipalities, the cheaper the land gets and teh slower life gets. Seymour is a great little community to live as is Cosby.
In any case good luck.

If you know Seymour, you should know this view from Ford Hill... The family farm covers much of the face of Sugarloaf Mountain in the foreground, going all the way across the crest, plus about 50 acres across the road from it. I've roughly drawn in the boundaries in the first pic, and tried to be more precise in the aerial view. Somewhere between 165-196 acres -- the assessment says one thing, the deed another. My dad originally bought it at auction in 1963 for $7050, and we moved from a small farm near Waldens Creek. I have no real idea of its value today -- my oldest surviving brother now owns it...

BTW -- that's Mt. LeConte just left of it in the background -- Gatlinburg lies at its base....