Classic Clarissa Getaways

This destination is great for all ages, all seasons, and multiple different types of vacation seekers. If you want to go hiking there are plenty of trails, mountain biking, fishing, camping and many more outdoor activities are available. If you want to do tourist type of things like rides, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the wax museum, and many other activities abound. Some are looking to experience the culture of the area drink moonshine, eat BBQ, drink a craft beer with an incredible view, or maybe do some shopping for unique items locally made. This destination has it all and will not disappoint regardless of your activity requirements, food needs, or relaxation time.

Things To Do

Outdoor activities are one of the favorable activities to do in the area. I use an app called All Trails for most of my trail finding it covers hiking and much more. This is a free service or subscription service that allows you to find trials near you for hiking, bike riding, kayaking, off roading, and camping. It allows you to see the elevation total distance of the trail along with pictures and reviews from others that hiked the trail recently. I found Rainbow Falls Trail which has an elevation of 1,617ft with 5.1 miles total distance which takes about a little over three hours to complete. You want to make sure you arrive early to have a parking spot. We started our hike around 7am when we finished around 10 am the parking lot was filling up and the trail was becoming busy. Make sure you have shoes with good grip because the trail gets pretty muddy and if you do not want to fall make sure you have traction. When we were hiking we ran across several streams with little waterfalls for perfect photo opts. Every turn has some kind of unique natural material used to make the trail more rustic yet defined. Take your time on this trail so you do not miss the beautiful scenic views around every turn. When you are all done with the hike you can drive through the Smoke Mountain National park to see more scenic views.There is not a fee to enter Smokey Mountain National Park but there is a fee to park for more than 15 minutes make sure you pay. If you love taking pictures with breathtaking views you have come to the right spot.

One of my favorite activities we did while we stayed in Gatlinburg was Anakeesta. You ride a Chondala to the top of the mountain with incredible views while you are ascending the mountain. We walked across the entire 880 feet of rope bridges lit up at night time like a magical enchanted forest even when it was raining. We visited the observation tower where you can see for miles with the 360 degree view. When on top of the observation town you can see several different places depending on where you are standing. You feel like you are king of the mountain as we use to say. We walked the gardens surrounding the observation tower like we were back in Lord of the Rings with all the hobbit looking houses. When we were done eating we shopped at the little gift shops for some souvenirs, there is something for everyone there. They have a Birdventure for people to get an idea of what it’s like to be a bird. They have large interactive birdhouses with connecting walk ways so you can tour them all. If you love magical experiences Anakeesta is the place for you. They have seven slides that go down the side of the mountain. Since, it was raining we did not get to experience the zip line but I would love to zip line over the lit up rope bridges. They have a rollercoaster that goes down the side of the mountain and runs on gravity alone. There are other add ons like the Astra Lumina light show which is an enchanted walk through the woods after sunset with music. There is gem or fossil mining available for kids of all ages. They have an interactive waterfall where kids can hunt for precious gems or fossils. How exciting for children to find something they can take home with the memories they made. There is a second mountain rail runner coaster with a 1600 foot drop single cart riding with a brake to control your own speed. If you are an adrenaline junkie the coasters is where it is at. They have an adventure play area for children so they can enjoy a kid friendly play area that is by the hobbit gardens. Have fun playing in the tree house obstacle course with rope bridges and slides. There is a different view from each of the tree houses. Play in the enchanted magical forest of never-ending fun. Adults and children will never forget the memories made at Anakeesta. Imagine what this would be like during Christmas time all decorated.

We ventured through Smoky National Park that borders Tennessee and North Carolina. We drove through the park to see some great views.Whether you like to drive through the smokey mountains and stop at many of the scenic over looks or you want to hike one of the many trials this park will not disappoint you. Then we went on to Cherokee, North Carolina to the Cherokee Indian museum. I was especially interested in this because I am Cherokee with my Native American Card in the state of Oklahoma. I have lived in Oklahoma for a few years and wanted to see what North Carolina was like compared to Oklahoma. I loved going through the museum to see all the history of the trail of tears and before they left north Carolina to come to Oklahoma. I learned a lot about my heritage and we then found a trail while in North Carolina. This trail had an amazing waterfall with bridge after walking up what feels like hundred stairs. The view is totally work the stairs climb. We stopped at an antique store were I found a raggedy Ann and Andy dolls from when I was a child. I shopped at some other stores in the area and they have souvenirs for everyone. We found hand crafted jewelry, figurines, hatchets, knives, clothing, purses, and many other items. If you came by plane like we did I would pack one check-in and another suitcase inside of it so that you can bring back more items or like I did bigger ones. I found living room pillows, sheets and many other house hold items. I do not always shop but I heard that this was defiantly a place to pick up unique items. Again, it did not disappoint my husband or myself with the treasures we brought back home. If you are more interested in different activities there is a Ripley’s Aquarium, Skylift to the Sky Park, Space Needle, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and Miniature Golf. There is something to do for the everyone whether you have children, are solo traveling, or honeymooning.

Places to Eat

We checked out the Tap House on top of Anakeesta and drank some local craft beers, cocktails and wine while sitting around a fire. We tried out the some of the burgers and appetizers which did not disappoint. If you want to eat and drink at Anakeesta there is a whole list of places to visit and you can find a variety of restaurants to satisfy any craving. You can find food and drinks inside at the Cliff Top restaurant, Smoke House restaurant, Kephart Cafe, Tap House, The Bar at the top of the world, Pearls Pie in the Sky, Snack Shack, The Watering Can Bar, The Watering Can, Tennessee Side Car, and Rocky Top Canteen. Down town Gatlinburg has a ton of restaurants you can visit, we like to try out new craft brews. We loved Smokey Mountain Brewery where you can order a pizza, grab a burger, try a calzone, or share an appetizer all while sipping on a craft brew. You are in the home of BBQ so go check out Bennet’s Pit Bar-B-Que where you can get a platter of meat to marinate with your choice of Barbecue sauce. We tried out a restaurant in Cherokee, North Carolina it was a Tap House and Grill called Native Tap House and Grill house with lots of different choices. There are tons of restaurants in Pigeon Forge to try out. The last restaurant we ate at was a brewery in Knoxville, Tennessee on our way out of town. Schulz Brau Brewing Company where we tried some amazing German food such as, potato salad, brats, and pretzels. We enjoyed them all along with some great craft beers. They do have wine and cocktails there as well.

Places to Stay

We stayed at the Blue Green Condos in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. My dad was a time share holder with them for over 18 years. We enjoyed staying there before my dad got rid of the timeshare. The condo had two bedrooms with a huge bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. There was a patio where we could sit outside with a great view of the mountains. There are plenty of places to stay Margaritaville is an amazing place to stay they have a beautiful swimming pool. The Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center Gatlinburg a unique place to stay. There is lots of amenities such as, a swimming pool, multiple hot tubs, all kinds of rooms, small slide, and tiny gym. There are several Hiltons to stay at, Marriotts to stay at, La Quinta Inn, and Wyndham Inn are all located in the area. The price range is decent anywhere from 50-150 dollars depending on what you want to spend and what amenities you need. There is always AirBnB or Vrbo if you want a vacation rental instead of a hotel. There are some incredible vacation rentals located in that area. I would advise you to plan to travel near a holiday season such as, spring break, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. They do have some very pretty Christmas decorations from Thanksgiving to New Years.

This was one of my favorite places to visit I would defiantly go back to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. There is so much left to explore, hiking trails, places to eat, more parks to check out. It is not far from Asheville, North Carolina and is defiantly worth the drive. They have the Vanderbilt Manson there with the gardens its absolutely gorgeous. There is of course more hiking trails and incredible places to check out. There is Knoxville, Tennessee close by which is where we flew into and rented a car from that airport. I love road trips even if I fly to the destination and drive a couple of hours to get where I would like to go. I will be visiting this place at Christmas next time to see that Christmas magic. Next place we are traveling to is San Antonio, Texas.

See you there Classic Clarissa…..