Did you know that February is a fabulous time of year to
visit the
Smokies? Not only are the outlets packed with
bargains, but the accommodations are at rock bottom prices
and many restaurants are offering early bird and other
money-saving specials. Add to that the fact that this is the
least crowded time to visit, and you'll be packing your bags
and hitting the road!
Of
course, everybody knows about
Gatlinburg
and Pigeon Forge,
but is that really all there is to the
Smokies? And even in those places, aren't there
sights to see that you've missed out on all these years? Let
me tell you about some spots you might have never visited,
and then I'll cover some places in familiar territory you'll
want to see.
Maryville includes the
Palace Theatre with live music performances and
other events; another popular stop is the
Heath Claiborne Art Gallery.
If
you come via
Maryville on 321, you'll pass through
Townsend.
Townsend is the closest town to
Cades Cove and it has a great bicycle/walking path
from one end to the other, plus plenty of cabins,
campgrounds and hotels. Not nearly as commercialized as
neighboring
Gatlinburg
and Pigeon Forge,
it's the right spot for spending less and relaxing more. The
Little
River Railroad & Lumber Museum on Highway 321 is
FREE (donations accepted)
and open on Saturdays and Sundays starting in April and
continuing through May; open all week long during summers.
Driving northward from Alabama
or southern Tennessee on Highway 411, you'll pass through
Etowah
(around an hour's drive from
Chattanooga)
- one cute little town to
visit.
Basically, it's a few blocks of "mom 'n' pop" outlet
stores and deals on everything from groceries to furniture; antique stores; and
a couple of nice gift and home decor shops in the mix. If you like "junkin',"
this is your town. The nearby town of Delano
includes an Amish community where many of their crafts and
foods can be purchased.
Sevierville
is growing rapidly and includes one of the best new bargain
shops I've come across: the
Beehive.
It's filled with jewelry, including very inexpensive watches
and bands that you can buy separately and they have the
hugest selection of great-looking
$1 jewelry you've ever laid eyes on! They also
stock purses, totes and more (and do monogramming); plus
shoes; home decor; and a little bit of this 'n' that.
If
you've never hit
Gatlinburg's Arts
& Crafts Community, you've missed a real treat. It's
an 8-mile loop lined with shops of antiques, pottery,
paintings, quilts, jewelry, leather goods, stained glass,
clothing and tons more. From downtown, turn uphill on 321
North and start at Buie Pottery
just beyond traffic light #2B. Follow the signs to tour the
entire loop.
What about Pigeon
Forge? Outlet shopping heaven! Plus
Mel's
Diner on Wears Valley Road
is a shining chrome 50's
style diner with great burgers and shakes and plenty of good ol' rock 'n' roll.
And
don't forget the other side of the mountain! Crossing over
into North Carolina from
Gatlinburg,
you'll come to
Cherokee where you'll find the
Museum of the Cherokee Indian;
Oconaluftee Indian Village; and the don't-miss
outdoor play, "Unto
These Hills."
Check out the most scenic drives in the
Smokies at:
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/autotouring.htm
THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
If
you're a quilter, make plans for a road trip along the
