The Great Smoky Mountains offer so many thrilling ways to enjoy nature and experience something new every time you visit. Summertime is especially perfect for getting outside and basking in the warm sunshine, scenery, and fresh air. Keep reading to find out how you can have the best summer in the Smokies!
1. Explore Cades Cove.
Cades Cove is popular for tourists of any age due to the wide range of activities and sites to see. You can drive the 11-mile loop road and take it all in, watching for bears and other wildlife. You can park and explore the historic structures throughout the park, such as the Cable Mill, Baptist and Methodist churches, the unique cantilever barn, and many homesteads built by the pioneers who called the valley home. Want to walk further? Many trails originate in the Cades Cove area, including the Greory Ridge Trail and the hike to Abrams Falls.
2. Trek to the summit of Mt. LeConte.
What’s better than a trail that leads to a panoramic view of the Smoky Mountains? You can find many hikes to Mt. LeConte, one of the best summits in the national park. Trillium Gap and Alum Cave are two of the well-known routes to the top of the mountain, but another lesser-known trail called Bull Head is another great option, especially with the many wildflowers that bloom along the trail in the summer!
3. Hike to a beautiful waterfall.
There is no shortage of waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains, from small cascading streams like the Sinks to the massive 80-foot-tall Rainbow Falls. You can also walk behind Grotto Falls, an impressive 25-foot waterfall, and if you’re up for a challenge, the trek to Ramsey Cascades provides a tremendous 100-foot cascade of water that will take your breath away!
4. Walk, bike, and play at a Pigeon Forge park.
Many parks in Pigeon Forge provide plenty of grassy space to burn off any excess energy, walking and biking trails, sports courts, and picnic pavilions to enjoy on a bright summer day. Patriot Park and Wear Farm City Park are minutes from the main Parkway!
5. Make memories at our Tubing Hill and Adventure Park.
Our Pigeon Forge Adventure Park puts fun in the sun to a whole new level! This summer in the Smokies, bring the kids to our year-round outdoor tubing hill, the longest in Tennessee! Take advantage of 90 minutes of flying down the hill again and again, racing side by side in the lanes, or connect your tubes together for a new way to soar together! But that’s not all Rowdy Bear has to offer- ride our thrilling mountain coaster, the unique Ski Lift Shootout alpine flyer ride, and try your hand at axe-throwing!
6. Experience outdoor fun and a dinner show at SkyLand Ranch.
Not ready for the summer fun to end? Our sister attraction, SkyLand Ranch, is located just a few miles away in Sevierville, and you won’t want to miss all the exciting things happening over there! From a scenic chairlift to a Safari Hayride, everyone in your family will love seeing the birds-eye views, miniature animals, and so much more. End the day by attending an outdoor dinner show experience! Rancher’s Revenge is an interactive murder mystery, and the Chuckwagon Supper Show features the best live entertainment in the Smokies. Both shows come with a delicious BBQ feast!
Ready to plan the ultimate summer in the Smokies? Learn more about Rowdy Bear attractions and get excited about your vacation to Pigeon Forge!
