Be sure to check out the 32^nd annual “Festival of Christmas Past” which will take place at the Sugarlands Visitor Center on December 8^th. This popular event celebrates the culture of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, especially the Christmas traditions.

 Visitors at this event can expect a full day of activities. There will be old time bluegrass music, demonstrations of basket weaving, quilting, and soap making, storytelling, a visit from Santa, short walks led by costumed guides, basket weaving workshops presented by the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and more.   The event is free, but there is a fee to participate in the basket weaving workshop. For more information about this fun event, contact the Sugarlands Visitor Center at 865-436-1291.

One of my favorite things to do, especially this time of year, is to pack a picnic lunch and hike in the park. I usually stop at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and pick up one of their Southern Fried Chicken box lunches (ok, so I’m not the healthiest eater, but hey, at least I’m getting some exercise!). The restaurant is the last one before you hit the park from the Gatlinburg entrance so it doesn’t get more convenient than that!

 Once in the park there are so many trails to choose from. I recommend the hike to Rainbow Falls. This trail leads all the way up to Mt LeConte so you can choose how challenging a hike you would like. From the Rainbow Falls parking area, you can expect to spend about an hour and a half on the trail before you get to Rainbow Falls. On a nice day, this is the perfect spot to sit, soak up nature, and enjoy a picnic lunch.

If I’m feeling ambitious (and not too stuffed from the fried chicken) I’ll continue on up the trail to Mt. LeConte. The trail gets much more challenging once you’ve passed Rainbow Falls, so if you want to get to Mt. LeConte and back, plan on getting an early start, and pack some warm clothing as the temperature gets much cooler as you gain elevation.  

I feel like I should be writing about all the off the beaten track places in the park, places that don’t make it to every guidebook. But I just can’t help myself. I really love Cades Cove…along with every other person who has ever been to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I think if you could only visit one spot in the park, this place would give you a glimpse of everything the park has to offer – history, hiking, biking, wildlife, mountains, valleys, and scenic mountain views.  

Cades Code was settled by farmers before the land was acquired as part of the national park. Visitors can drive along the eleven-mile loop road, stopping along the way to visit all the historic sites. There are several homesteads, a church, a grist mill and a cantilever barn in the valley. Anyone with an interest in history and the life of the of the early settlers will enjoy the stops along the loop.  

There is something in Cades Cove for hikers and bikers, too. There are a number of hiking trails that originate from the Cades Cove loop including the Cades Cove Nature Trail and the hike to Abrams Falls. One of my very favorite times to visit Cades Cove is on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from the middle of May to mid-September. If you get there before ten in the morning, you’ll find the loop road closed to traffic. Only pedestrians and bikers are allowed on the loop road at this time.  

As an animal lover, I’m just like everyone else who flocks to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I always want to know where I can see wildlife. One of the answers I hear most often is Cades Cove. Here visitors will find an abundance of wildlife – bear, deer, wild turkey, fox, and a variety of birds.  

 So, although it may be crowded, I would have to tell any visitor that a trip to the park would not be complete without a stop in Cades Cove.

If you’re hoping to hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check out A Walk in the Woods. Vesna and Erik Plakanis, owners of A Walk in the Woods, offer a variety of services for hikers. They offer guided nature walks and hikes which can accommodate a first time hiker or a more experienced trail blazer. A Walk in the Woods also offers a hiker shuttle service, backpacking trips, gear rental, and trip planning services. You may also want to check out one of their classes on edible plants, medicinal plants, compass navigation and more. I love to hike, and I think the guide services offered by A Walk in the Woods are a great way to be introduced to the park.

If you’re looking for a place to stay while you explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Tennessee may be your best bet. It offers hotels, condominiums, and cabins just steps from the entrance to the park.

I have a love/hate thing going on with Gatlinburg. On the one hand, it has a lot to offer in the way of places to stay, restaurants, outdoor outfitters and more. Its location is ideal for visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On the other hand, during the park’s peak seasons Gatlinburg is beyond crowded. The crowds that come to see the park have caused tons of touristy shops to pop up full of t-shirts, key chains and shot glasses. Not one of my favorite things. I do appreciate the fact that unlike some of its neighboring towns, Gatlinburg has some restrictions and requirements on the buildings that go up, trying for a ski chalet theme that fits in with the backdrop of the Great Smokies.

There are some things, however, that I think give Gatlinburg its own special charm - one of them being that Gatlinburg has made kitschy into an art form. It’s second only to Las Vegas when it comes to marriages - hence the number of cabin rentals boasting heart-shaped tubs! There is a ski lift that starts right in the middle of town and carries you up the mountain. There’s a mammoth aquarium in town which to me is an especially interesting quirk – especially considering Gatlinburg is no where near the sea. Gatlinburg is also home to the “world’s only” Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, and the Guinness World’s Record Museum.

One of my favorite things about Gatlinburg, aside from its proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is the Arts and Crafts Community. This loop holds the shops and studios of artisans and craftsmen, from glassblowers and woodworkers to potters and painters. There are also some of the more interesting coffee shops and restaurants that Gatlinburg has to offer here.

For those interested in finding out more about places to stay and other things to do in and around Gatlinburg, check out the Chamber of Commerce website.

Not sure where to get started when you visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park? One of my favorite places is the Sugarlands Visitor Center. It’s located about two miles from the Gatlinburg entrance, and has a lot to offer the first time visitor.

One of the best things about the visitor center is the park rangers. I think I’ve learned something new from them each time I stopped in. They’re friendly and knowledgeable, and a great resource for information about the best spots for hiking, camping, fishing and wildlife viewing. They all seem to really love the park and it shows. The rangers also provide different programs throughout the year, so be sure to ask what’s next on the agenda.

The Sugarlands Visitor Center has a couple of exhibits to check out, as well. Both are free. One is a movie that runs for about twenty minutes, and gives an overview of the park. The other is a natural history exhibit where visitors can get up close views of the many species of wildlife found in the park. My kids are preschoolers, and they love this. They love to stand in front of each glass case holding and learn about each of the animals.

There’s a great shop here, too. They have a bunch of maps, guides to the park, books, and audio tours available in addition to the usual touristy t-shirts, stuffed animals, and knickknacks.

When you’re done inside, you may want to check out the hiking trails that originate from the visitors center. They are pretty easy walks ( 1-2 miles) which makes them great for first time hikers or families out for a walk with the kids. One of my favorites is the trail to Cataract Falls. It’s a fairly quick walk with lots of scenery to take in, and the crowds are not usually too bad (although in peak seasons, all bets are off!).