Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
Bryson City
Bryson City is 81 miles, 1.5 hours west of Hendersonville. It is home to the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Also at Bryson City there are many activities from fishing, water sports, or motor cycling on the mountain roads which are curvy and scenic.
You can take an old fashion train ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad through the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. The excursion departs from Bryson City and travels 44 miles to the scenic Nantahala Rive Gorge. The round trip ride takes 4.5 hours. The train crosses Fontana Lake on a 100 foot high Trestle Bridge that spans almost 800 feet across the lake and enters the scenic Nantahala Gorge. There is a 1 hour stop at the Nantahala River Center where you can have lunch and watch the exciting whitewater rafting activities on the Nantahala River. For more information visit Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
Bryson City is located near the Native American Cherokee Indian Reservation where you can explore the museum, Indian Village, culture and crafts.
Waterfall at Cades Cove
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is 137 miles and 3.7 hours west of Pigeon Forge. Cades Cove is a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most visited destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Cades Cove has a variety of historic buildings you can visit.Along the loop road you can visit three churches, a working grist mill, barns, log houses, and many other faithfully restored eighteenth and nineteenth century structures.
An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, giving visitors the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area's trails.
There are short trails such as Cades Cove Nature Trail and a much longer hike to Thunderhead Mountain and
During the summer months Cades Cove is quite crowded with visitors, so allow plenty of time to visit and enjoy the wildlife and scenery.
Cherokee Reservation Museum
Cherokee Indian Reservation
Cherokee ,NC is 67 miles, 1.4 hours west of Hendersonville. Visit and learn about the Cherokee Indian heritage. There are many shops offering genuine native American art and crafts.
Visit The Oconaluftee Indian Village – One of the Favorite Seasonal Attractions in Cherokee NC Tour guides will educate you about the Cherokee culture, native dress, crafts and lifestyles and the Cherokee history.
You can see cultural dances, pottery making, fashion beadwork, create masts and how to weave baskets.
Also, visit the Museum of the Cherokee and experience the 11,000 year old Cherokee story through priceless ancient artifacts, artwork, life-sized figures and more.
Explore the areas of Cherokee and visit Mingo Falls which is over 120 feet high and is rated one of the most impressive falls in Western North Carolina. Indian Creek Falls is a beautiful 25 foot high waterall and is located about 1 mile from the parking area at Deep Creek. Tom's Branch Falls is 80 feet high and is located approximately 3/10 mile from the Deep Creek parking area. Juney Whank Falls is 0.6 mile roundtrip hike. The trail starts near the end of Deep Creek Road near Deep Creek Campground.
Also visit Clingman's Dome which is the highest point along the Appalachian Trail and provides a 360º view of the surrounding mountains rising 6,643 feet above sea level
Other areas of interest are the Mountain Farm and Museum, Mingus Mill, and Museum of the Cherokee Indian. And, don't forget to see the outdoor drama "Unto These Hills" -- one of the longest running outdoor dramas in the U.S. with over six million tickets sold.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
3370 LaFayette Road
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 3074
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was officially dedicated on September 18-20, 1895. It is the oldest and largest Civil War Park. There are about 1,400 monuments and historical markers on the battlefields.
The slopes of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge presented more formidable natural obstacles to large scale military operations during the Civil War. This area has changed very little over time and has been preserved in its historic condition. There has been scarcely any changes in the roads, fields, forests, and houses at Chickamauga since the battle.
There are observation towers strategically placed on the Chickamauga Battlefield, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain for visitors to see the tactical detail of the actual battle over a 150 mile front.
For more information on the park visit http://www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm
Clingmans Dome
Clingmans Dome
Clingmans Dome is 6,643 feet which makes it the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Clingmans Dome is also the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Mt. Mitchell reaches 6,684 feet which is located in Mt. Mitchell State Park in western North Carolina and is considered the highest point east of the Mississippi.
The observation tower on the summit of Clingmans Dome offers spectacular 360° views of the Smokies and beyond. There is a steep half-mile walk to the top of the tower. On a clear day views expand over a 100 miles. But, because of air pollution you are only able to see about 20 miles.
Due to weather conditions, the road to Clingmans Dome is closed December 1 through March 31.
Dollywood Theme Park
Dollywood
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
(865) 428-9488
Dollywood is the largest Theme Park in the Eastern US. It is visited by millions of people each year and provides a large variety of entertainment and rides. Across the street from Dollywood is Spash Country; a water park that is also owned by Dollywood Enterprises. The latest project is the DreamMore resort that will open in the Summer of 2015.
The Dollywood Theme Park operates on a seasonal schedule that runs from March thru the first week in January. Please see the Calendar.
To purchase Tickets.
There is an extra charge for parking if you do not purchase a "Gold" Season Pass.
A season pass is the best value if you expect to visit Dollywood at least twice in any one season.
See Driving Directions.
See detailed Map.
For Navigation Systems, use as the old address:
1198 McCarter Hollow Road,
Pigeon Forge, TN 37862 to locate Dollywood's entrance.
New Address:
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd.
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
800- DOLLYWOOD (800-365-5996)
Driving Directions:
Dollywood is conveniently located 35 miles southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee in scenic Pigeon Forge at the gateway of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Routes leading to Dollywood are Hwy. 441 from either Cherokee, NC (heading North) or Knoxville, TN (heading East), Winfield Dunn Parkway from I-40 (heading South) and Hwy. 411 from Newport, TN (heading West).
From Interstate 40:
Take Exit 407 toward Sevierville / Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg.
Follow TN Hwy. 66 South which becomes US 441.
At Traffic Light #8 in Pigeon Forge, turn left and follow the signs to Dollywood.
Fontana Dam
Fontana Dam
Cherohala Skyway is a beautiful drive which connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee, with Robbinsville, North Carolina, and is about 40+ miles long. There are places for a picnic and many places to pull off and enjoy the views.
Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap is located at the state line of Tennessee and North Carolina. With its 318 curves in 11 miles, it is America's number one motorcycle and sports car road. This is a very special and unique highway. There are no intersecting roads, no houses with driveways and no businesses. Each and every curve is different.
Fontana Village Resort
Fontana Village Resort
Fontana Dam, NC 28733
(828) 498-2211
(800) 849-2258
Fontana Village Resort is 111 miles, 2 hours, west of Hendersonville. It is a year-round vacation village nestled in the Nantahala National Forest not far from The Tail of the Dragon in Deals Gap.
Fontana Village Resort is a small quaint village resort set in the Nantahala Forest of Western North Carolina.
At Fontana Village there is a General Store, Soda Fountain and two swimming pools.The Village has a wide range of accommodations, including rooms in the intimate settings of The Lodge, suites, cabins and RV & tent camping along the shores of the Little Tennessee River. There are restaurants, a well stocked general store, miles of on-site trails suitable for biking and hiking. It is also a stopping place for AT hikers to restock their supplies.
Gatlinburg Aerial Tram
Gatlinburg, TN (Overnight Trip)
Gatlinburg, TN is 98 miles, 1.8 hours west of Hendersonville. Walk with the sharks in the enormous underwater tunnel of Ripley's Aquarium or take in a sky-high view from the tramway or Space Needle. Or, just walk down main street and enjoy the scenery and excitement.
Not far from Gatlinburg visit Laural Falls which is a easy paved hike. The falls is 80-feet high and is named for the mountain laurel. During the summer the falls can be quite crowded. Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the park
Take a driving tour on Roaring Fork and visit some of the old homesteads from the past. Also, hike to see some beautiful waterfalls such as Grotto Falls and Rainbow Falls. Ride the ski lift or tramway up to the top of the mountain. Visit Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium. Also, have some fun 
playing mini golf, and check out the haunted adventures, a mirror maze, a moving theater. Other activities are hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, fishing and whitewater rafting. Or take it easy with a leisurely stroll down the Riverwalk. For more information visit Gatlinburg.
Not far from Gatlinburg is Cades Cove which is 33.6 miles and 1.5 hours away. Cades Cove is one of the most popular areas to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Cades Cove has a wide variety of historic buildings which range from churches, working grist mill, barns, log houses and other restored eighteenth and nineteenth century structures.There are many hiking trails in Cades Cove and don't forget to visit Abrams waterfall.
The 11 mile one-way loop road that circles the cove is quite popular during the summer and can create a traffic jam.
Great Smoky National Park
Great Smoky National Park
The Great Smoky National Park is America's most visited national park.
There are over 17,000 species that have been documented in the park. Scientists believe an additional 30,000-80,000 species may live here. The Park is 522,419 acres, making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a place of beauty and diversity. Straddling North Carolina and Tennessee state lines, the park is a peaceful escape for cycling, hiking, climbing, fishing, backpacking, horseback riding, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and auto touring. Explore ancient mountains, majestic forests, tall waterfalls, tree-dotted ridges, endless hiking and biking trails, historic areas, and scenic overlooks with gorgeous vistas. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a beautiful and serene place with many activities for the entire family.