Gatlinburg vacation

[Pitterpatter]

I'm planning a family trip to the gatlinburg area around the end of July. He already have a cabin booked that isin Wears valley. I know my siblings will get caught in the tourist traps of town, but I'm trying to head that off with planning more outdoors activities before I get stuck at Dollywood for 4 days.
It will be 8 adults and 12 kids ranging from 8 months to 11 years old. Also, my dad will be coming off of knee replacement surgery a few months prior, so I'm nut sure what level of activity he will be able to do.
Looking for suggestions that will be family friendly for all. I imagine that the group may split for a day or 2 where we would leave the littles and go on some more difficult outings.
So give me your best suggestions for hikes, waterfalls, fishing, canoe/rafting, places to see wildlife, etc.
Since I'm sure that I'll get dragged into town a couple of days , I'll take suggestions on restaurants and town activities as well.

 

[TakeABreakAndTouchGrass]

Itchetucknee caverns are pretty cool

 

[Keep on]

Summer in the Smokies is busy to say the least. I know you're traveling in a big group, but my number one suggestion is get out early, like 5am or no later than 6am.
We get out and see the sights and more wildlife than most early, and are returning to our resort about the same time everyone else is leaving the pancake houses. We have the pool pretty much to ourselves in the afternoon.
If you can't get the group moving early, evening is preferred over mid day. The lighting is better in the evenings and mornings anyway.
Cades Cove should be on your list, also we enjoy elk watching in Cherokee and Cataloochee. Keep your car doors locked, bears have figured out how to open them. Downtown Gatlinburg is worth visiting just for the people watching. Asheville isn't too far away, MT Mitchell is the highest point East of the Mississippi, Biltmore is a pretty good lesson in excess, and it's a college town with a pretty good food scene.
Enjoy your vacation.

 

[Dave N]

+1 for Cade's Cove. If the critters don't cooperate the log buildings are impressive.

 

[Bc1992]

Cades cove and the pancake house are about all that interest me me when I go. Haven’t been to the dixie stampede since I was a kid but it was cool to me then.

 

[jvanhoy]

Cades cove and Cataloochee valley if you want to see some elk.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Cades cove and the pancake house are about all that interest me me when I go. Haven’t been to the dixie stampede since I was a kid but it was cool to me then.

Not called the Dixie Stampede anymore due to political correctness. It’s ‘spensive but a good show.

Cades Cove. Go early or expect traffic that rivals big cities.

David Crocketts Breakfast Camp and get the Aretha Frankenstein’s pancakes in the HUGE family meal that includes everything. It WILL feed multiple people. You’re welcome in advance.

Hike to Alum Cave or the Chimneys (not easy hikes, especially the Chimneys, so that needs to be for the able bodied in the group)

DO NOT go to Asheville/Biltmore unless you verify that the locations that you want to go to are actually open or even still exist. Hurricane Helene did more damage in that area than can be understood. Including I40 being closed in the mountains due to washout… last I knew it had limited passage but traffic will be rough

Just to be honest, I live nearby and avoid that area when I can. When I am overruled I just buckle in for a miserable day or two. Traffic and people are insane. And a waste of nature if you ask me. Wears Valley used to be “the back way in” and peaceful. Not anymore. But there is a shortcut from there into the park that can be helpful

 

[Mudranger1]

https://smokymountains.com/park/hikes/ramsey-cascades-trail

this one would be my favorite and there is a picture of a giant tree on this trail in this thread

Big tree thread

In an attempt to not completely hi jack the moving to WY thread I am posting up the picture of the big juniper in a new thread. Feel free to post up some pictures of other over sized trees or "shrubs" As I remember this Juniper had a trunk circumference of a bit over 9 feet, was 40 feet tall and...

www.hunttalk.com

Hike to Hen Wallow Falls (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

if I remember correctly you have to buy a day pass for parking and there is no cell service at the trailhead so look into it beforehand

Abrams Falls - Hike to Abrams Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains

Abrams Falls: Details for the hike to Abrams Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains, includes trail description, key features, photos, map and elevation profile.

hikinginthesmokys.com

3 good ones. the more rain the better of course. Abrams is inside Cades Cove so you can do both. I believe Wednesday morning is foot and bike traffic only for Cades cove so might want to look at what exact day and times that is.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Smokey Mountain Knife Works I just can't drive by it.

+1 on Cades Cove

 

[BenP]

Another for the Cades Cove drive.
We always like to stop at the Smokey mountains visitor center to look at the elk

Love to eat at the mill in pigeon forge

the mill restaurant pigeon forge


If wanting to fish then there are a ton of creeks in the park. You can fish the entire park with either a TN or NC fishing license. If outside the park then make sure you look into the regulations on which is stocked and such.

A good website for learning the streams.

Streams - Fly Fishing Smoky Mountains

www.flyfishingsmokymountains.com

Deep creek on the NC side is a good tubing lazy river but I imagine the crowds will be outrageous.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Cades cove sucks. You’ll be lucky to see anything on that drive. Bicyclists ruined that.

Go up to the smokey mountain knife shop. I got a screaming deal on a knight UL muzzleloader there one year.

 

[3855WIN]

Float the river in tubes in Townsend.