>>2905994
I've mostly stayed near Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. The last few trips, just the traffic going from PF into Gatlinburg was insane. But maybe things are better now.
We hiked alot, up to an old timey cabin, swam in the river, walked around Gatlinburg and shopped some. Night time was at the cabin -- roasting marshmallows and looking out for bears mostly. There are a few breweries, bars and pubs scattered around. Just be careful driving home, some of the roads are narrow and the drop off is steep.

tip: stay on the southern side, there's less people

most trails in the smokies are kinda hard except the pull-over stuff along the main road and the short but annoying climb up "kuwohi" clingman's dome.

this is the trail you want:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/the-hangover-via-wolf-laurel-road

Are you a turbo-normie? I just avoid gatlinburg and pigeon forge cuz it seems like it would just suck and be crowded like a beach resort town where the price of everything is jacked up.

wayah bald is an easy drive then a short walk to great views

honestly staying in gatlinburg/pf is annoying cuz I think a lot of the nice stuff is to the south and west towards georgia and over by the cherohala skyway/nantahala nf

cowee mtn overlook is the best one on the blue ridge parkway

i think max patch is kinda far from you, easyish hike to a good view on the app trail

but I mean if you want to do the normie hikes like mt le conte or the jump off (hard), those are right close to you and a lot come for that you just have to park early for le conte (I hear, never done it, too strenuous for my bones), or there's a shuttle from other places to it

joyce kilmer area i dunno what its exactly called has the best old growth trees im told there's a lower and upper loop

next time go to big south fork, no crowds, not as much prominence, but so pretty

>>2905999
>>2906015
Thanks for tips anons

We’re not turbo normies so probably not looking to spend too much time in the towns themselves. Any good recs for places to eat?

>>2906233
I know we ate in the cabin some and got some bar food and fast food that wasn't super memorable.
I vaguely recall getting a good breakfast at Crockett's Breakfast Camp in Gatlinburg.

>>2906233
>We’re not turbo normies so probably not looking to spend too much time in the towns themselves. Any good recs for places to eat?
Gatlinburg is worth walking up and down the strip once. Unlike Pigeon Forge it is actually in the mountains and has a real comfy atmosphere. It's fun to look at all the shops they have there. Shouldn't take you more than 2-3 hours to do it. Lots of places to eat there too, I recommend the Pancake Pantry for breakfast but it can get a long line on busy mornings.

>>2905994
I’ve never actually been to Pigeon Forge. What’s there to see?

>>2906266
It's hard to explain, it is kind of an overflow of tourist attractions meant to entice people driving into Gatlinburg. It has accomodations, restaurants, gokarts, and theme parks like DollyWood. Expansion in Gatlinburg was limited by the mountains around it, so they went to the next flattest area and set up shop there.

>>2906233
>We’re not turbo normies
>going to the smokies and staying in normie central

>>2906299
>Trails, fishing, hiking, bars, maybe go out to the cracker barrel for brunch
>We are not like the others just a group of unique "lads"

Just another thread that doesn't seem legit who wrote it or why we will never know

>>2905994
While in Gatlinburg, check out Greenbrier and the Heirloom Room, best restaurants/bars IMO. Not a lot of middle ground in the area, its either low-end food thats overpriced or excellent food thats underpriced.

Mt LeConte hike is a solid one especially after days of mountain biking and hiking.

Joyce Kilmer loops are very pretty old growth Tulip Poplar walk, nice in late Spring/early Summer after dinner as the fireflies get going. But those loops themselves don't offer views. There are other trails there, but the start was overgrown and looked ticky and rattlery and copperheady plus higher up the internet says the trail gets tough to track across bare patches of hill.

The quiet walks are peaceful.
Kuwohi/Clingman loves to fog/cloud up.

Cade's Cove is very popular on the Tennessee side.

Ocoee is fun but weekend only. Nantahala is a mellow float but pretty gorge and you can do your own rubber kayak.
Chattooga was by far the best, at least before Helene, but Clayton is far from the Smokies and Gatlinburg.

I have always stayed on the NC side and I much prefer that. Smokies west and Blue Ridge East.

For mountain bikers not into gnarly stuff, Tsali nearby is very fun, as is Jackrabbit down in Hayesville at/past the SW end of Nantahala Gorge.

>>2906425
>But those loops themselves don't offer views
well yah the view is at the hangover, or the maple springs observation deck if ur lazy

clayton was a really nice area
I wanna go back there