Skip-Gen Travel in the Great Smoky Mountains

One of the more rewarding aspects of planning (and experiencing) a vacation is sharing it with others. When you “live a life explored,” is there anything more meaningful than living that passion with the younger generations? That is why we are embracing “skip-gen” travel: grandparents sharing exploration and adventure with their grandchildren – without the middle generation.

As an event planner, I once had the pleasure of planning a four-day incentive retreat for a company near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It truly was a pleasure because the beauty was overwhelming and the peacefulness of nature nurturing. Isn’t that the essence of a relaxing vacation?

Travel is how we broaden our understanding of the world, of culture, of history, and of traditions. Skip-gen travel in the Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee and western North Carolina offers a recipe of ingredients to live a life explored. 

Need to Know

Airports: Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT) or McGhee Tyson Airport/Knoxville (TYS)

Transportation: If you aren’t driving to this national park from your home, we recommend renting a car. This allows for freedom and flexibility to see the park at your own pace. (I can assist you with your vehicle rental.)

Best Time to Visit: April to October, when the months are warmer, and the winter snow and ice have melted. May is a prime month for the spring blooms. October is ideal for the majestic fall colors. It’s good to keep in mind the summer months are hot and humid and perhaps have more traffic and visitors.

Ideal Length of Stay: Three to five days is recommended, depending upon your scheduled activities. Consider three if your trip is more of a driving trip with some mild hiking and scenic viewpoint stops. Five days is more ideal if there are dedicated days for fishing, hiking and other activities.

What to Wear: Jeans, hiking boots/shoes, layers of shirts, water boots/shoes if you’ll be near a stream fishing.

Where to Stay in the Great Smoky Mountains

The View | Blackberry Farm

Blackberry Farm: This property still stands in my memory book as one of my favorite resort destinations. Located in Walland, Tennessee, a tiny unincorporated community on the peaceful side of the Smokies, is Blackberry Farm. This luxurious mountain getaway includes historic rooms, suites, cottages, and houses with inclusive food and beverage offerings from dinner on the day of arrival through breakfast on the day of departure. The property encompasses 4,200 acres of mountain wonder with a variety of activities for adults and kids. On property, one can arrange for fly fishing, hiking, and farm experiences to cooking classes, cheese-making, and even seed lessons from their Master Gardener. It is a destination in itself. Just a short drive away in the National Park is Cades Cove – one of the most visited National Park locations in the country. 

The Swag: Located just across the state line in Waynesville, North Carolina, the Swag is perched atop the world – or at least nearly atop the Smokies – offering unmatched mountain views. In fact, four of North Carolina’s six highest peaks are within view of the front lawn. With a variety of room types ranging from relaxed luxury rooms to entire lodges, the Swag is another mountaintop resort you might not want to leave. With the private entrance to the National Park, the easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and reasonable drives to Gatlinburg, Cherokee or Bryson City (where there’s a great model train museum and historic train rides), the Swag is perfectly located to explore both sides of the Smokies. 

Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains: It’s the mountains. You’re grandparents with younger children. Do some of you like camping and some others of you like luxury? Well, consider Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains. Safari-inspired tents with hotel style beds are offered in early April through the first of December. This is glamping, or glamorous camping, with a little extra style. Located within the triangle between Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley, Under Canvas is the ultimate location from which to launch your gen-skip adventure in the mountains. Amenities including onsite dining, fire pits and s’mores, live music, morning yoga and plenty of kids’ activities make this a top skip-gen travel spot in the Smoky Mountains. 

Where to Eat in the Great Smoky Mountains

Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse: Can we say we’ve ever really had a breakfast if we haven’t eaten Southern style fare surrounded by dozens of animatronic chickens clucking out “Let it Go” from the Disney movie, “Frozen?” Open only for breakfast and lunch, the menu boasts basic breakfast classics and kid-friendly lunch items. It’s a fun and funny way to start a vacation day that will entertain the young and the young at heart. 

Calhoun’s: When visiting the Smokies, there is nothing more local to East Tennessee than Calhoun’s and its authentic East Tennessee barbecue. Now, for the record, if you want the absolute best in mountain barbecue, Preacher’s in Forge and Delauder’s in Gatlinburg are the ultimate destinations. All serve up excellent barbecue for the adults in a restaurant atmosphere where kids will also feel comfortable. 

The Greenbrier: For a little more upscale mountain dining, try The Greenbrier in Gatlinburg for some hearty American steak-and-seafood selections. There’s a full cocktail selection for the grandparents who might need to take the edge off any aches and pains from their hike in the mountains earlier that day.

Where to Play in the Great Smoky Mountains

Autumn | Cades Cove Fields

Ober Mountain: Formerly known as Ober Gatlinburg, the 60-year-old facility had fallen on hard times. An infusion of investment came when a local group purchased the property. Ober is again on the rise. In addition to the tramway up the mountain, there is a variety of mountain coasters, slides, and even year-round ice skating for the price of a wristband. It’s a great way for kids to have all the fun of the mountains without the grandparents having to buy admission to multiple attractions. 

Go Hiking: The Smokies are filled with interesting, beautiful hikes perfect for all levels of hikers. One of these hikes is the Grotto Falls Trail. With a trailhead located on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, it is considered moderately difficult and leads to one of the true wonders of the mountains. Walk through 1.5 miles of old-growth hemlock forest to a 25-foot-high waterfall. The trail goes under the ledge, allowing you to hike behind the falls for approximately two to three hours. Be sure to take drinking water, wear appropriate shoes, and leave ample time to get back. When planning, it’s important to remember it gets dark early in the mountains. 

Go Fishing:  The best spot for fishing in the mountains may well be Abrams Creek due to the quality of the fishing and the accessibility. While downstream you will find smallmouth bass, and trout near Cade’s Cove. If your youngsters aren’t ready for fly fishing, the Douglas Lake Reservoir near Sevierville is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority System. It offers plenty of bobber-fishing opportunities as does the Little Pigeon River down through Sevierville. 

Dollywood: No exploration of the Smokies is complete without a day at Dollywood. Once a kitschy theme park with a handful of rides a carefully planned system of upgrade and expansion has turned the park into one of the premier amusement parks. Dollywood now features thrilling coasters that will keep older grandkids entertained as well as a variety of rides for all ages. In fact, when the new-ish Wildwood Grove area opened, Dolly herself said she envisioned it as a place where grandparents could bring their grandkids. With musical shows, a variety of culinary wonders – the cinnamon bread is a touch of heaven – and just enough of the mountain culture to retain some of the original charm, Dollywood is tailormade for a gen-skip vacation. 

Get off the beaten path: Take the drive to Max Patch, a mountain bald located just across the state line in North Carolina. A picturesque place for picnics, it is essentially a mountaintop meadow with beautiful views. A word of warning: the drive in from the North Carolina side is mildly rough. There is a gravel road from the Tennessee side. Don’t let the GPS take you in that way as that is an adventure not fit for gen-skipping vacations. Beware this wild mountain road is fraught with tight fits, confusing forks, switchbacks and the occasional feral donkey. 

To live a life explored, we must get out in the world and … explore it. For generations before the national park, people were drawn to this area. The majesty, the wonder, and the wilds have captured the attention dating back to the very foundations of this country. Even after all that time, the Smokies remain a place beckoning to be explored. They are full of fun, entertaining diversions, good and music, amazing history, and astounding natural wonders. For grandparents who want to pass on a legacy of curiosity, adventure, and exploration, what better place could there be? 

Live a Life Explored!