Viking Mountain Lodge

(14 reviews)

6.8 mi

My wife stumbled across Wandering Llamas while researching things to do during our annual spring…read morebreak adventure. We spent two nights in the fox den treehouse which is located in one of the llama pasture areas. The "treehouse" is a elevated wooden shed like structure that has been refurbished into a pleasant little hideaway in the Smoky's. The treehouse has a nice deck to sit and enjoy the mountain view. There's also a nice swing chair and firepit to enjoy as well. The treehouse has electricity with a small electric heater to take the chill out. The treehouse was very clean and the bed unbelievably comfortable. The treehouse is a one and only. If you are renting here you have the treehouse and llamas all to yourself. The property owner and host (Sandy) lives on the property and is available if you are in need of anything. Sandy is very personable and will spend time sharing of herself with her guests. On the llama walk each person usually gets there own llama to walk with. Sandy accompanies you and can answer any llama related question you may have. The walk is at a very leisurely pace and lasts about two hours. The llamas are easy to walk and well behaved. Contrary to popular opinion of some the llamas did not spit at one another. One thing to be aware of if staying in the treehouse is there is no running water and only a fancy bucket of a toilet in an outhouse under the treehouse. This didn't bother us, but for some that don't care for "roughing it" I could see it as a drawback. (There is a gas station about a mile away that we used the bathroom at. We are members of the YMCA at home. There's a Y a few miles away and with the Y reciprocity program we were able to go there to take a hot shower. The Wandering Llama was an awesome get away experience for us and Sandy is a great host. We appreciate her sharing her llamas.

A super fun, unique outing if you are spending time in the Smoky Mountains, about a 1.5 hour drive…read morefrom our cabin in Sevierville. We booked the 2-hour wine and cheese tour because it was the only tour that had open spots left (we booked about a week ahead). We skipped the wine and cheese part due to our concerns about COVID (the food is served in their open gazebo, so it's relatively safe - we just prefer taking extra precautions and had already eaten lunch just before we got there), but the llama hike alone was well worth it. The walk, about 1.5 hours total time, is along the gravel road, which is a little hilly, but manageable if you're fit (not so much if you have small kids that don't do a lot of walking). Most of the time was spent relaxing in an open field - very socially distant from the other eight people in our group - where we fed the llamas and took lots of pictures. The llamas are super friendly and so soft! Though Sandy (the owner) provides animal crackers and strawberries for the llamas to enjoy during the middle of the hike, definitely bring your own -- we brought graham crackers and sliced apples to feed them throughout the walk, and the llamas LOVE to eat! Sandy is very friendly and welcoming and took pictures of everyone during the hike, which she emailed to us later. A great highlight of our trip!

The tree fort at dusk

Me with Chester

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Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park

4.5

13.7 mi

Awesome state park with plenty of parking, pull offs to play in the creek, and tons of hiking…read moretrails. Dog and kid friendly, no bathrooms available. Lots of wildflower blooms and creekside hiking. Great spot for a picnic and sunning by the water.

Great park to take kids for easy access to wade and swim in a mountain stream. Has trails. Picnic…read morearea is very limited and located too close to porta-potties. Just go for the water!

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Margarette Falls Trail

(15 reviews)

6.4 mi

Beautiful falls. Trail was good shape for healthy senior walking. Strenuous but not exhausting or…read moreunbearable. Everyone on trail & parking lot were polite & helpful

We enjoyed our hike - from car, to falls and back was a little over 3 miles. It is a great hike but…read morebring a walking stick to help navigate some of the rocky areas- you do cross a creek but the rocks were easy to cross without getting wet and were not slippery. On the way down you really tend to enjoy the views - because you aren't focused on getting to the end ;) my husband and I - are out of shape lol but it was not that bad of a hike - our daughter , who is an athlete had no issues - but there is a good 30 ye diff between us ha! I highly recommend spending a few hours enjoying nature ;)

Creek along trail

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Elk River Falls

(22 reviews)

47.8 mi

Elk River Falls is an open recreation area. As such it is not developed and the path is not…read moremaintained. Nevertheless the road into the parking lot is safe and easily passable by typical cars SUVs cans or trucks with either two or four wheel drive. There are no rest rooms or food so you must bring your own food and water. The path is firm and slopes upward gently becoming rocky with prominent tree roots. The 65 foot high big falls is spectacular. It is not a straight fall down. Many deaths have occurred as visitors attempt to dive from the top of the falls. Elk falls ranks in the top 3 waterfall related deaths. The rocks surrounding the first pool are beautiful but have a slippery surface. This park recently reopened after extensive restoration following Hurricane Helene. On the first day it opened there was a fatality of a falls jumper. Despite these challenges this park is a great example of the outdoors in nearly natural and breathtaking state.

The falls are closed as of late April 2026. Road is blocked about 2 miles out from town.read more

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Craggy Pinnacle Trail

(8 reviews)

30.7 mi

We had planned to hike Graveyard Field our first day in Asheville, but after sleeping in a little…read morelate and also getting over a recent back strain thought starting with Craggy Pinnacle may be better. It took us about 45 minutes to get there from Biltmore Village. I had read that parking could be an issue, but plenty of parking spots available on a late Monday morning in June. Usually when my husband and I are hiking I'm happy our kids aren't with us because I knew they would be complaining. However, this was one hike that I think they would probably enjoy and saw many families with big and little kids enjoying it. It's a pretty short way to the top (maybe 25 min tops) and while it was a nice little workout I didn't find it too difficult. The reward at the is a beautiful view of Asheville and the first thing I heard when we got up top was an adorable 4 year old boy saying "wow this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." It was picture perfect so we snapped some pics, enjoyed the view and headed down. Down was a little tricky and I was jealous of those who had walking sticks, but we made it down with no issues In fact, once down we felt like we needed a little more of a workout so added the nearby Craggy Gardens Trail, which was perfect. And after that we were ready for lunch so headed back to Asheville!

This hike is one of the best hikes to do any time of year. It is a short easy to moderate hike near…read morethe visitors center. The views are breathtaking and you meet great people and dogs along the way. I plan to do this hike again when the seasons change. If you need an uplight in your spirits or a stroll in nature this is your hike. Enjoy!

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The Sinks

4.8

(39 reviews)

54.0 mi

I never met a waterfall that I didn't like. We did a driving tour along Little River in Great Smoky…read moreMountains National Park to see if we could spot some wildlife. The Sinks is a lovely waterfall along the river. There is a small parking lot with about a dozen spaces where we found parking. An observation area is a short walk from parking. A sign describes the area and that the falls were manmade. During the late 1800's the river was used to transport logs/timber to the nearby town of Elkmont. After a storm, flood waters caused a jam in the river. Dynamite was used to restore water flow. The blast resulted in a twist in the river and creation of the waterfall. A set of stone steps leads up a hill, offering lovey views of the falls. There are dozens of waterfalls in the Park. Sinks is one of the few that is drivable, which is great for people that cannot hike. I picked up a Waterfalls map at the visitor center that I found interesting and informative. Parking passes are required to park in the lot. There are no amenities at the falls. Plan 15-30 minutes for a stop and photos.

Was more than I thought. Great experience. Small parking area. A little hard to get out of but…read moreworth it.

View from path to the platform.

Observation patio

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Watauga Point Recreation Area

(2 reviews)

45.1 mi

Beautiful and Serene Park…read more This park is located in the Cherokee National Forest. My Harley-Loving husband takes us here all the time, he has a ride he calls the Watuaga Lake Loop. It is a great ride in the hotter months because of the higher elevations. For him, it is a great ride through both the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests just getting to this lake. I love the ride because I love the water views with the mountains in the background at this lake. I have posted a couple of photos. There are actually a few parks around this lake however this particular one seems especially nice. I have seen small boats on this lake but never noticed any water sports such has water skiing. I imagine the water is probably too cold for that even in the summer. So that being said, it is a very quiet lake. We love boating also and are considering a pontoon for this lake. The park has the basics -- restrooms and picnic tables. We generally just stop for a picnic lunch. Cannot beat the views for lunch. I recommend this park for a picnic, or a solitary quiet time, or a romantic day trip to just name a few suggestions.

Area is amazing. Views are spectacular.read more

Watauga Point Recreation Area

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My Son Andrys Enjoying The View. #TeamMunguia #LikeFatherLikeSon #ThatViewThough

Tom's Creek Falls

43.7 mi

This is a cool hike…read more Wasn't strenuous at all, for those that are less able it's doable. The trail cuts through a former mica mine and you can still see the remains of it. The rocks and gravel leading up to the view are speckled with small and large chunks of shiny mica. Really exciting for kids and kids at heart. The trail leads to a beautiful waterfall with water shimmering from the mica flakes. Surprised I've never seen this spot before, good place to take out of town guests or the less athletic family members.

Super easy hike to the base of the falls. My 1yr and 3yr old made it no problem. There is a trail…read morethat also takes you to the top of the falls, which is alittle more challenging, but 3yr old made it with very little assistance.

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Devil's Bathtub & Waterfall

4.8

(9 reviews)

57.0 mi

Great Hike. We had lots of run on this trail and reaching the Devils Bathtub…read moreTake the plunge and jump in it play in the water.

Strenuous hike with multiple creek crossings. Be mindful of your steps as you trek over roots &…read morerocks. A stellar experience the whole way. Please carry trash out. It's a very special place. Plan to spend the day, it's worth immersion in the whole environment.

This is the lower bathtub. The main waterfall most seen in photos is just mere minutes beyond this.

Many beautiful spots along the way.

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The Devils Bathtub

Soaky Mountain Waterpark

3.5

(91 reviews)

45.4 mi

This place is awesome! Park was clean, lines weren't super long for any waterside, the wave pool…read morewas cool. It had bigger waves than I expected was was awesome. The lazy river was relaxing but also had waves come through which was really cool. I highly recommend this Waterpark!!!

The search when you walk in was so invasive. They had these young teenage girls rubbaging through…read moreour bags and pulling out private and personal items (I.e. underwear). It was very inappropriate and the girls gave a lot of disrespectful attitude. Then on the rides, the workers were shouting out our weights which was awful. For some, it was embarrassing and not nice. I've been at other places that require a weight check, but never were our weights shouted out. The rides were good but we will never go back.

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Splasheville

4.3

(3 reviews)

30.7 mi

We stopped here after dinner on a warm evening. There are plenty of places to sit. My son had a…read moreblast in the water. It is also a great place to hang out near Pack Square.

This is a great little free activity in downtown Asheville. My preschooler had an absolute blast…read moreand asked to go back the next day! We ate lunch at the nearby Twisted Laurel, which was excellent. Things to know: Parking is not free. There are a couple of metered spaces nearby and there's a pay to park lot across the street. There are no bathrooms or changing rooms close by (that I could see). On their website it says there is a public bathroom, but I couldn't find it. There isn't a lot of shade except under the trees and on the amphitheater stage. These are really too far away to keep a good eye on a small child. Bring your sunscreen! There are no benches nearby to sit on, but there are concrete blocks so bring a towel for parents to sit on. It's a public fountain, so we were glad to have our water shoes. The fountain is advertised to have a lot of features and lights, but we didn't see any of that while we were there. The water shoots up out of the ground and doesn't change. That's enough for my preK kid, but might get boring for older ones. We brought some water toys and those were a big hit. While we were there a summer camp or daycare came through with 50 kids who were well-behaved, but they took over the amphitheater area and most of the fountain. We ended up leaving because it was just too crowded.

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Elk River Falls

(22 reviews)

47.8 mi

The falls are closed as of late April 2026. Road is blocked about 2 miles out from town.read more

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Lake Lure Beach and Water Park

3.1

(8 reviews)

50.1 mi

As far as lake beaches go, it is nice. But let's remember, this is NOT A REAL beach! $52 for a…read morefamily of five which includes a splash pad, shelter house, and...um... a lake. If your 8 year old sees the "water park" (of which the big slide from the pictures no longer exists), extra $10/person. Nice kayaks! Sorry not included. Lifeguards on their phones. I could go on. Want the beach, go to a real one. Should be $3-5 a person

Yes, the scenery is beautiful, but you can get that in Chimney Rock, Black Mountain, etc…read more The water and beach are just gross. There are ducks (and maybe geese) that live at the beach. They crap all over the place. The first 10 feet of sand is basically raked kitty litter, with duck poo instead of cat poo. The water and beach smell like poo. The beach (above the poo line) would be fine without the smell, as the sand is pretty clean and fine. Maybe the rest of the lake is clean, but it's hard to tell from the beach. Eww. The staff is friendly but not assertive enough. We went during COVID restrictions and half the people refused masks inside and none of the staff enforced anything.

View of the beach and lake

Splash pad

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Water slide line

Lake Tomahawk Park

4.4

(11 reviews)

36.6 mi

We do pools...a lot. I am not opposed to a public pool though so after some research, I thought we…read morewould try this one. We couldn't have been more pleased. It's true, there aren't a ton of chairs but if you are willing to be patient, you'll get one. One thing to note is that they close the pool with lightning on the radar within a 10 mile radius. You just have to get out of the water for a minimum of 30 minutes. Lots of lifeguards and great decorations for July 4th. You can tell that they take pride in the pool. It was clean and the chairs were comfy, although the armrests do get hot in the sun so you can't always rest your arms on them. It certainly wasn't a dealbreaker. Great pool with the backdrop of the mountains and lake!

This park is urban in the relative sense, being surrounded by the residences of the town of Black…read moreMountain. It was a quality park. While views of the mountains are likely majestic, even on a cloudy day the misty sights were intriguing. A clean path runs around the lake, connecting bathroom facilities, tennis courts, and several other amenities. There were some dedicated parking spaces, but it was an easy walk from the town's business stretch as well. And why not, if you have the time?

Black Mountains Lake Tomahawk at Sunset

Lake Tomahawk - Circle of Lights Holiday Celebration (12/22)

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Black Mountains Lake Tomahawk with two (2) lighted hard surface tennis courts

Mustang Alley Riding Stables

3.4

(5 reviews)

8.7 mi

This woman feeds her prized horses moldy hay. They don't get a lot of human attention, except when…read moreriding. I was thrown twice in one day. I still suffer from back problems because of it. I used to believe in Kathy Kimble. Then I lived with her and saw reality. I will always be grateful to her for the help she did provide. She'll mess you up. Good luck.

We had a fantastic time at Mustang Alley! Kathy is so knowledgeable about horses, and has devoted…read moreher life to rescuing horses that have been found to be abused, neglected, and/or starved. She takes them in, and gives them lots of love, food, shelter, and encouragement. Once they're well, she adopts many of them out to good homes. She keeps some of them for trail riding, and she offers that at the super reasonable rate of $25/hour per rider. She welcomes large groups as well. You can feel good knowing all the money you spend there goes directly to the care of horses at this nonprofit. Our guide was so sweet and patient, and the whole atmosphere is just healthy and positive. Kathy also welcomes volunteers, and is always in need of donations of time and resources. We rode today for 2 hours along some of the prettiest trails in the Cherokee National Forest. Our horses were very gentle, and seemed to know instinctively what we needed. I was amazed at the serenity of the forest- it was an emerald haven next to the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee. This is the PERFECT PLACE to spend an afternoon with the family. Next time we go, we'll spend the whole day and help out on the farm, feeding, grooming, shoveling, or whatever needs to be done, and then we'll ride. Mustang Alley is truly an inspirational place where good and important work is happening daily, and you're sure to leave with a peaceful smile. NOTE: This nonprofit is CASH ONLY, and you need to TIP your trail guide, as they are volunteers!!

Having fun on the trails!

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Putt-Putt Fun Center

4.0

(9 reviews)

41.0 mi

As much as I love Kingsport TN, let's be fair, you don't get the exciting stuff you'd find in other…read moreplaces like Pidgeon Forge. You know like the Go-Karts. The Arcade and all that. You don't get any of that in Kingsport... And that's why I LOVE this place. It sticks out like a sore thumb... In the best way possible. This location couldn't of picked a better location to set up shop. It's right on the main road on the way to the city area. It cost $5 for 18 holes. If this shop was located in an area where the above mentioned Go-Karting/Arcade was, this location wouldn't be as great because it would just be among the norm. But because fun stuff like this ISN'T the norm, this place is always loaded with business! It's quite the genius business practice if I do say so myself. As many times as I have passed by this location, never once have I not see people playing Mini-Golf here. But instead of going on and on about how great this place is, why not check my pictures and see for yourself?

Friendly Staff. Well kept courses. Fun enviornment for putters of all skill levels! This is the…read morekind of place you go to to have a lot of fun for a few dollars.

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Viking Mountain Lodge - hiking - Updated August 2026

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Mountainside Cabins

Amazing little cabins back in the day!!! Stayed there several times..... very nice owners very nice…read moreview

What a wonderful place to unplug! Mountainside cabins is an amazing destination to relax and remove…read moreyourself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Pack a cooler and spend a weekend in the great outdoors. In town there is rafting, tubing, and the hot mineral springs. There are a couple of restaurants and pubs too. Although town is just 10 minutes away, once you get here you won't want to leave. Owners Ken and Amy are the most hospitable people you will ever meet. They start a campfire on Friday and nights at the main house and it doesn't go out til Monday morning. Bring your guitars and sit around with them, or have your own fire at your private cabin. The cabins are rustic and mountain themed. You will enjoy the silence of a night of camping with the luxuries of a bed, hot running water, electricity, and a nice shower. They even have sweet tea in the fridge for you when you arrive!

Nolichucky Gorge Campgrounds

(5 reviews)

Beauiful relaxing clean. Been there several times. We love and recommend it..............read more

This campground could be one of the best kept outdoor paradise secrets in the Tri-Cities. Every…read morecamp spot is on the river and has an epic view. Campground is clean and free from trash and looks updated and better every season. Stayed in the Rustic cabin 1. Again it had a great view of the Noli from porch. Cabin was well equipped with comfy beds a heater, a/c unit, small fridge, coffee maker and microwave. Water in front of unit is conveniently located. Bathroom and showers clean/dry floors and well stocked and centrally located. Camp staff is very professional and efficient, and are always looking to be helpful and friendly. Will definitely be staying again!

Gnome Hollow Farms

(3 reviews)

I highly recommend this place!!! Beautiful scenery, stunning landscape, amazing place to stay,…read morecamp, enjoy quietness and cherish memories with your love ones. The farm is absolutely amazing my teenage boys love it so much they don't want to leave. John is a very nice & tentative host. Answers right away & greets you with kindness. He also makes sure you have eveything you need and is a phone call/text away( very responsive). Couldn't ask for a better stay!! We'll definitely be back.

We're big fans of Gnome Hollow! We love to feed and pet the goats and had our last birthday party…read morehere. We bought homemade jelly and lotion and an adorable shopping tote made from a goat feed bag in the gift shop. The drive in movies and games in the yard are always fun. There's a big prop train for the kids to climb on, and it's a cool photo op.

Creek Ridge Camping

A great little camping area with super friendly folks running it. The only gripe I would have is…read morethat the creek side campers have highway 209 in their view of the creek. The traffic isn't awful but if seclusion is your goal you may want to pick one of the spots away from the creek. I loved the hike down to our camp on the creek but if you pack heavy or are out of shape you don't want to attempt it down there. The outdoor showers are amazing and the campfire get together in the evenings at the office is really cool! I'll definitely be back someday!

Hands down this is one of the best camp grounds I have ever been to! Can't wait to come back here…read moremany times! Friendly staff, extremely clean bathrooms and showers, and primitive feeling camping without the 6 mile hike! The "hike in" camping has very private feeling camp sites. The hike up and down is a little bit of a trek because of the elevation change - pack lightly! The creek is stocked with trout you can fish also.

Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel Cabins & Camping

3.4

(16 reviews)

I highly recommend visiting uncle johnny's!! Super friendly and knowledgeable staff and actually on…read morethe Appalachian Trail. Uncle johnny's has built back bigger and better after the catastrophic hurricane helene floods. Huge new outfitter ON TRAIL! New bunk rooms and new private rooms all with new matresses. The outfitter has a full resupply, carries thermarest sleep systems, enlightened equipment quilts, kilts and puffers, topo shoes, and much more! Beautiful chill atmosphere with access to the nolichucky river.

As a USMC Veteran with a VA Service Dog, I had arrived at Johnnys to them not even wanting me to…read morestay and asking me to leave. after a brief discussion of about 30 minutes I was able to stay two nights. upon waking up, I was refunded my last night and asked to leave due to them having too many dogs at the location. Most being employees. will never be staying there again. Resupply is taxed at over 100% and sometimes closer to 200% in profits. Not satisfied and will NEVER return. camp across the street at the river and pay the $5 to shower if need be.

Scenic Overlook

4.0

(1 review)

An interesting overlook with a round platform and benches for a view of the mountains…read moreThis was just another pulloff that we decided to stop at on our travel along I-26. I could not find a name for it or the one to the south of it. It is NOT a welcome center or rest area. It is on the northbound side roughly about 1-2 miles south of the actual Welcome Center. It has a parking lot that fits about 20 vehicles. It was well paved and the parking spots were well marked.There is a ramp that leads from the parking lit up to a round concrete platform with wooden benches in the center, a low stone wall and nice views of the surrounding mountains. The design allows for panoramic views. I did not see any restrooms but there were other paths that went up farther on the mountain. We did not take any of those paths. A little research shows that this is one of the scenic overlooks along the highway that are maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation as part of the scenic byway. It was a nice stop for the view but If you're looking for restrooms, keep driving.

Hemlock Hollow Inn & Paint Creek Cafe

(5 reviews)

Hiked into Hemlock Hollow this afternoon with my daughter. It was a spur of the moment decision and…read morewe are so happy we did. The proprietors are genuine, inviting folks offering refreshments, pizza, and other odds and ends. The store is quaint but great for those travelling the Appalachian Trail or exploring the backroads. There is a wonderful, large covered porch looking right over the crystal clear creek where one can eat, drink, and rest. They invited us to walk the grounds and take a look at the cabins. Each was only a few feet from the creek with a nice porch and amenities like grills, fire pits, and a common bathhouse. The cabins were clean, fresh, and inviting. They also offer hiker shuttle services between Hot Springs and Erwin. We ate our pizza and enjoyed great conversation with the owners and a neighbor. We will be sure to stop at Hemlock Hollow regularly!

Great place to camp a couple days! Reasonable and very nice people own and run this peaceful…read morecamping area.

Roamstead Smoky Mountains

4.6

(10 reviews)

I could not say more positive things about our visit here. The cabin was comfortable and quiet (tho…read moreI'll be honest all we did was sleep there) it's the grounds and staff that were so over the top. The grounds have 3 different creeks running through them that are so peaceful and fun (if you're ready for a polar plunge) and the staff could not be more accommodating. From running your food to the pool where you're at to giving us free toothbrush toothpaste combos cause we forgot adult toothpaste for the trip. I could not say more positive things. We definitely be back again

This was our first stay at Roamstead... and it was wonderful! Really nice tent sites, super…read morefriendly staff, and an overall lovely atmosphere. The food, drinks, and amenities were great! Bathrooms, bathhouses, and laundry area were well maintained and clean! The worst part of our stay was "check out" day... We didn't want to leave! Definitely our new favorite place to camp in the smokies! We would love to come back again! 5 stars for sure!

Creekside Court

4.0

(1 review)

Nice little Inn, in Hot Springs. Bed was comfortable enough. Bath door didnt close and needed some…read moreupdating, but this is Nice stop along the AT, or if you need a place to stay.

North Carolina Welcome Center