We found Friendly Falls searching for water falls near the cabin we rented in Sevierville. The…read moreambiance reminded me of something you'd find in Austin rather than Tennessee and was a pleasant change of scenery. I was surprised to find a small store selling souvenirs, food and beverages, but pleasantly so. They even sold beer/hard seltzer which would have been a nice indulgence had we not had our toddlers with us. They do ask for a $2 admission per person, which you can drop in a box or pay at the store with a credit/debit card. We were happy to support a local business that keeps this part of the river clean. Friendly Falls is family friendly. There are buckets of sand and 'treasures' available to purchase and an are to soft through the sand to find those treasures. When I purchased the buckets we were provided small baggies to collect our findings and keep them. People do wade into the river, I recommend water shoes so you dont slip in the rocks. I highly recommend a stop by Friendly Falls!

Cute spot to watch waterfalls and drink a beer, for non beer people, there's sodas and some snacks…read more Very cheap to do.

Gatlinburg SkyPark is definitely a must-visit when you're in town! The views of the Smoky Mountains…read moreare absolutely breathtaking, and it's a great place to take in the beauty of the area. The SkyBridge is a really cool experience and offers some incredible photo opportunities. It's a great place to walk around, relax, and enjoy the mountain scenery. Whether you're visiting Gatlinburg for the first time or have been coming for years, SkyPark is an attraction worth checking out. Highly recommend adding this to your list of things to do in Gatlinburg!

This was a nice experience in the heart of Gatlinburg! The chairlift provides amazing views as you…read moreascend and descend from the park. The SkyBridge itself is a fun experience. After the bridge and a short trail walk, there's nothing else to do except sit and enjoy the mountain view. I wouldn't recommend this excursion if you're hungry. I don't think there are plentiful food options. I didn't see anyone eating but lots of people had a beer.

Pretty easy trail that goes up almost the entire way. Took us about two hours or so roundtrip…read more Overall a beautiful and peaceful hike with amazing mountain views.

Today was our second time back to Alum Cave Trail, and we did the 2.3 miles to Alum Cave Bluff and…read morethen turned back, for a total of 4.6 miles. You can go on for a total of five miles to reach Mt. Leconte, but since the weather was turning and it was starting to rain we cut our hike short. Like others, I suggest getting to this trail head early, as at 7:30 am half the parking lot was full!! We love this trail in particular for its endless water features, lots of scenic spots to take pictures, unique bridges, and the breathtaking view from the top. Even with the bad weather today, it was something spectacular watching the fog lift above the golden trees. If you haven't been, this trail is definitely worth your time and attention. You will want to wear some sturdy walking shoes for this one and maybe even bring a walking stick!!

I saw this place on tiktok by Daisytown and also Elkmont. The drive out here is a lil wonky and…read morewill take a long time to get out here. If you are handicap, you dont have to pay for parking. But otherwise you need to get a day pass at the visitor center.

Thanks to Google Maps (and my thorough trip itinerary planning), I had discovered the historic…read more(once a) "ghost town" of Elkmont. For America's most visited national park, it can be difficult to escape the crowds within the Great Smoky Mountains--yet Elkmont is one place to do just that! This Little River Valley was once home to a pioneer Appalachian community, a logging town, and later a resort community. To this day, old relics and abandoned buildings from the past remain--awaiting to be explored. The area was settled in the 1840s as the town of Little River when a logging company was formed. A railroad was later constructed to transport timber for the Little River Lumber Company. This eventually allowed the wealthy from Knoxville to visit what eventually became a resort town. When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was was established in 1934, residents were given the option to sell their homes at full price and relocate, or sell to the National Park Service (NPS) for a discounted price allowing them to live there until they become deceased. By 1992, most of the homes remained vacant or with expired leases leading 70+ historic buildings into a state of deterioration. Thankfully the NPS decided to renovate and preserve 19 buildings in Elkmont for public visitation. You can now find the Elkmont Historic District with cabins along Jakes Creek Road that were completed around 1997. They attempted to keep the buildings in the closest original condition--even their exterior paint colors! Each cabin has information about the tenants and any unique features. Unfortunately, the cabins cannot be brought up to code for renting or staying inside. However, the largest lodge known as the Appalachian Club is available as an event venue. Continue to explore the Old Elkmont Cemetery up a rocky road near the beginning of Elkmont Road, or choose to hike the Jakes Creek or Little River Trails where you will venture past less discovered old chimneys, walls and tractors that still remain. Directions: Coming from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge or Cherokee, turn to go west on Fighting Creek Gap Road toward Cade's Cove (turn off near the Sugarlands Visitor Center). After the Laurel Falls trailhead, watch for signs to Elkmont Campground. Follow Elkmont Road all the way til it becomes a loop drive at Jakes Creek Trail Trailhead.

This stop has been on my list for awhile, and I'm not really sure how I hadn't made it yet…read moreconsidering the amount of times I've road tripped to the Smokies... but here we are! Got to see a bear on the way coming from Oconaluftee, which meant the day was perfect no matter what else happened. The weather was a little rainy, scattered storms here and there, and the cloud cover wasn't great for a great view from the overlook, but.... The parking lot view was still excellent, and the overlook itself was cool to see, and there was a Passport stamp station and Visitor Center, loads of camp style restrooms, with plenty of parking, so, absolutely worth the stop!

This is a pretty easy and quick hike up a paved walkway to the observation tower. We came in the…read moremorning and were unable to see anything because of the thick fog so just keep that in mind.

Dolly Rebecca Parton Jan 19, 1946 - August 25, 2026…read more Country music icon. Philanthropist. Beautiful soul. She will be missed. The Dolly Parton Statue at 125 Court Ave in Sevierville is a must-stop -- right in front of the Sevier County Courthouse and easy to find with street parking. The bronze of a young, barefoot Dolly with her guitar in hand is beautifully kept and such a perfect tribute to our hometown hero. More than just a great photo op, it really represents everything Dolly has given back to East Tennessee through her music, Dollywood, and the Imagination Library. A beautiful, heartfelt memorial to a living legend who changed this area forever. Worth the detour if you're near Dollywood or downtown Sevierville.

Rest in peace Dolly Parton. We were nearby the town she was born in so we stopped by to check out…read moreher statue. I appreciated that they were donating any flowers and balloons left to local hospitals.

All gave some, some gave all is a well done war memorial monument to our veterans that made the…read moreultimate sacrifice that sits right off the extremely popular parkway in Gatlinburg that features millions of tourists and shoppers annually. The memorial features a monument of solider boots and a rifle along with brick paved walkway honoring vets. Overall a wonderful tribute in a place that is bound to get tons of eyes for recognition.

Actually, I was up there to play Bagpipes for a funeral. It's a beautiful place and the bridge is…read morereally a work of art!

I love covered bridges and was excited to visit this one, though it is a "modern" bridge that was…read morecompleted in 2000. It only has 9'6" clearance so I did not try bringing the Sprinter van across. There is parking on the east side but not the west, so I left the van on the side of the road briefly. Note that the bridge IS open for vehicular traffic and there is a well-worn path down to the waterside if you want to try for a side photo. The historical marker gives context. It reads, "This bridge is named in honor of Frederick Emert who came here with his family in 1790 as the area's first settler. In 1997, under the leadership of Mayor Judy Perryman the Mayor and Board of Aldermen provided local funds to go with state and federal money. In the spring of 2000 the bridge was constructed by the team of Steve McCarter and Garry Shultz for the town of Pittman Center in its continuing effort to provide improvements within the town that further its vision, which is: "To create and perpetuate a quality living environment and to encourage quality development that supports that end. To encourage development that supports a tourist-oriented economic base that relates to and magnifies our unique relationship to and with the Great Smoky Mountains." "The bridge spans the waters of the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River which was designated an "outstanding national resource water" in March 1998 by the State of Tennessee. At that time, this was the only stream outside a national park to receive this designation. Environmental stewardship has played a prominent role in achieving this designation. Special thanks goes to the "Save the Middle Prong" organization whose members spent time and money and were ultimately willing to go to court to maintain the integrity of this outstanding natural treasure for future generations." While it looks like a Tennessee marker, it does not have the seal or other identifying information. [Review 1171 of 2024 - 488 in Tennessee - 22194 overall]

Large and fun Gatlinburg sculpture features the city's name and Eve present bears located just…read moreoutside the Gatlinburg convention center off the popsicle parkway stretch of the city. Probably the most popular public art photo op in the entire city. While exploring the crowded and popular strip there is always a line of people waiting to pose and take their memory and scrapbook photo ops. Very well done and nice sculpture that is a perfect representation for the city of Gatlinburg.

Visiting and driving through a covered bridge has been on my bucket list and the Knoxville area was…read morejust the place to check it off. Take a scenic afternoon drive through Sevierville and see one of the many covered bridges in Tennessee. Nothing fancy but oh so quaint. Be respectful of the neighbors and pull off on to a small spot for a quick picture. You wont regret the drive.

I love chasing covered bridges and this one in Tennessee didn't disappoint! This king post truss…read morebridge spans over Little Pigeon River and still is used for through traffic. It's nestled off a quiet road so your gps will lead you there. While visiting TN and the Great Smoky Mountains, we wanted to explore a few covered bridges as well! This rustic one has undergone several renovations and restorations and it's on the National Register of Historic Places, I'm glad this gem of a bridge was saved!! It's in a little neighborhood which is pretty cool! The lattice work is beautiful and the stone foundation is impressive! Built in 1875, this bridge is 83 feet long and it was a thrill to drive through it! Now only about 20 vehicles pass through it daily, but it stands as a proud reminder of days gone by and a historic testament of architectural design and a wonderful legacy to those who love to keep the past alive!