This year, after Christmas, we took a driving trip with my brother and sister-in-law to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area in Tennessee. It was so nice to feel warm weather, as they were having well above average temperatures. We had sunny weather in the 60s and 70s! So much nicer than back home in WI, but also not something anyone going to this area can expect during December normally!
We rented a beautiful cabin in the mountains, and if you ever have the opportunity to do so, definitely check it out. We did not know it when we booked our trip, but apparently the locals call the week between Christmas and New Year’s “Hell Week,” because they have the most tourists of all year round during this time. We definitely could tell when we were in town, but it was so nice to start and end our days in the calm and peaceful cabin. We only spent December 26-30 at the cabin, but it felt like a nice long vacation, thanks to the peace and quiet!
For our first full day of our adventures, we drove to Gatlinburg. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are really close together, and they both have a lot of different experiences in the towns. There is definitely something for everyone in either town – from outdoor adventures, to museums about different things (Titanic, Alcatraz, etc), to whiskey and moonshine tasting, to mini-golf and go-karts. You name it, it exists in both towns! Because of this, it can be difficult to figure out what to do, as there are almost too many choices. It is not possible to do everything in either town in one visit!
In Gatlinburg, we checked out the Ole Smoky Distillery. My hubby did the tasting and tried many of the whiskey flavors. I enjoyed smelling them! (I tried them later after my hubby and bro decided which were the best ones to buy). After that, we split up – with my bro and sister-in-law walking around town, and us choosing to do the Gatlinburg Skybridge.
The Gatlingburg Skybridge had an intimidating looking line, but it went pretty fast, and it was totally worth it. The views from the ski lift ride up were amazing, and it just got better as you got to the bridge.
Once you get to the top and are on the Skybridge, there is a section that is made of glass panels, so you can see directly below you as you walk across. It was really neat, as long as you don’t mind heights, as it does sway a bit as you walk across! Hubby wasn’t so thrilled, but after we did it once, you have the choice to go back across the bridge, or you can take a hiking path back to where you started. Hubby decided we should cross the bridge again! I was surprised and impressed! The girls loved it!
By the time we got done with the Skybridge and reunited with my bro & sis, we were done with the crowds, so we moved on to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The girls and I love to do the Junior Ranger program at the National Parks, so we first stopped at the Sugarlands Visitors Center to get our booklets. Next, we drove to the trailhead for Laurel Falls. This trail is an out-and-back trail, totaling 2.4 miles (or as I sold it to Wormy and Squid – 1.2 miles to get to the waterfall…wink, wink).
The waterfall was beautiful, and we hung out there for probably at least 20 minutes to take in the views.
The views coming back from the waterfall were beautiful, too, as on the way back you have a view of the mountains around you. For some reason, on the way to the waterfall, you don’t see these views since they are happening behind you due to your focus on the trail!
There obviously was an incline to the path to get to the waterfalls, but it wasn’t horrible. Definitely doable with a 12-year old and a 7-year old, even after spending most of the day walking through Gatlinburg (we parked in one spot and hoofed it the whole time while in town). According to the trail guide, you have an elevation change of 396 feet.
After we finished up at the trail, we drove around the park a bit more. Unfortunately, since it was winter, Clingmans Dome was closed. However, we did go check out the Appalachian Trail and stood on the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. The views over there were beautiful, as well. I can only imagine how amazing it is at sunset and when the plants/trees aren’t dormant due to winter!
Car Full of Harmony 
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