Bring Your Graduates To The Smokies!
There’s nothing quite like a cozy cabin getaway in November. The air is crisp, the trees are bursting with color, and the Smoky Mountains make the perfect backdrop for a relaxing retreat. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend or a quiet escape with friends, here’s how to make the most of your cozy cabin stay this fall.
1. Settle In and Get Cozy
Start by creating that classic cabin atmosphere. Light a fire in the fireplace, curl up with a blanket, and enjoy a good book or conversation by the glow. Make use of the cabin’s amenities, play a round of pool or board games, watch a movie on the big screen, or soak in the private hot tub while taking in the cool autumn air. With a fully equipped kitchen and outdoor grill, you can cook up a hearty dinner and enjoy your meal on the deck surrounded by the beauty of fall.
2. Explore the Great Outdoors
When you’re ready to venture outside, take advantage of the season’s stunning scenery. Drive along scenic routes like Cades Cove Loop Road or the Blue Ridge Parkway for breathtaking views of fall foliage. Go for a hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just start early to avoid crowds. You can also visit a local pumpkin patch, explore Gatlinburg’s charming downtown, or stop by the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival for crafts and seasonal fun.
3. Plan Ahead for a Perfect Trip
November is a busy month in the Smokies, so book your cabin and activities early. For a quieter experience, try visiting midweek instead of the weekend. And don’t forget to plan your meals and stock up on groceries before you arrive so you can focus on relaxing and enjoying your autumn escape.
If you're ready to take the plunge or are just interested in where you should stay this fall click here for the best autumn cabins around.
Mom, Dad, congratulations on raising a human being that has successfully completed their education either all the way through school or even higher learning institutions. Now that the books are put down for a while, reward your graduate with an opportunity to spend a family vacation in the Smokies!
We have a great number of older-family and more mature attractions that would make for a perfect celebration of your newly crowned adult's milestone in life. In this article, we'll recommend attractions in the Smokies that are exactly that!
Whitewater Rafting
In the Smokies, our famous river is the Pigeon River and, naturally (pun intended), we have companies in our area that provide high-adrenaline rides that let you go through them - crashing through innumerate waves, riding high crests of the river and seeing incredible views of the Smokies while doing it. You get an experienced rafting guide with you and this type of attraction is appropriate for anyone aged 8 to 80. Our recommended companies are Smoky Mountain Outdoors and Rafting in the Smokies.
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Is your graduate someone who REALLY likes outdoor adventure? Then get a bunch of outdoor adventure opportunities in all at once at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in downtown Gatlinburg. On top of being a well-stocked hiking store, they provide whitewater rafting, ziplines and more.
Flyaway Indoor Skydiving
Wow, talk about a unique thrill! Indoor Skydiving is exactly what it sounds like - giving you the opportunity to physically experience what skydiving is like without actually jumping out of a plane half a mile above the ground! You take on a specialized suit, go into the air chamber, have an enormous fan keep you afloat for several minutes while you experience honest-to-goodness flight. There's nothing else like this for miles around so be sure to check it out!
Tanger Outlet Mall
What's a trip to the Smokies with an 18-21-year-old without some shopping? Tanger Outlet Mall in Sevierville is by far our biggest shopping center - a near labyrinthian design where almost (or even over!) 100 stores with clothes, foods, decorations, gifts, cool stuff and more are all waiting for you to visit. These are where the big, fashionable brand names are in town and the complex is so big that you could spend a full day here. Heck, it even has its own full-scale restaurants, golf course, and tram system!
Escape Games
So you're educated now, are you? Got you a big ol' brain in that head, do ya? Prove it with a venture through one of our many Escape Games here in Sevier County! This is a roleplaying attraction where you need to solve puzzles of many different kinds to open and advance through the room(s). Kinda like the SAW movies but without the dangerous consequences of getting them wrong. Our Escape Games in the area include:
* The Escape Game Pigeon Forge *
* Trapped Escape Game *
* The Captured Escape Game *
* Gatlin's Escape Games *
* Headcase Escape Adventures *
Distilleries
One of the hottest topics in the Smokies, is the sudden rise in Moonshine tours. Even if you do not partake, it is incredibly interesting to see how the ole moonshiners have gone legal and how they practice their craft. Yep, no grown-up trip to the Smokies is complete without a trip to our now-famous distilleries (21 and up only!) and here's the list of the distilleries you should check out:
* Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler *
* Sugarlands Distilling Company *
* Old Forge Distillery *
* Doc Collier Moonshine *
* Ole Smoky Barrelhouse *
* Tennessee Legend Distillery *
* Tennessee XXX Moonshine *
* Thunder Road Distillery *
We hope this is a good start to a graduate's Smoky Mountain getaway! We'd love to host you in one of our Smoky Mountain cabins!
