Morning
Begin your day early—around sunrise is best—to avoid the crowds and heat. Your morning adventure starts with a trip to Cades Cove , on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The cove gates open at daybreak, allowing early risers a good chance of seeing deer moving from their secluded forest beds to dewy open fields; bear sightings are rare. The 11-mile, one-way drive around this bucolic, high-mountain valley can take up to 2 hours in peak season (May-Oct.), more if you park the car and poke around log homesteads, primitive churches, quiet cemeteries and the visitor center. Photo ops abound.If you're looking for fun things to do with kids, try the 2-mile, circular nature trail near the visitor center. There are many trails with varying lengths and difficulty. The 5-mile round-trip hike to Abrams Falls is a favorite with all age groups. For a different perspective of the cove, take a horse or carriage ride offered by Cades Cove Riding Stables .
Afternoon
Leave Cades Cove around early afternoon and drive to a lesser-known area bordering the park. Touted as the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies,” the village of Townsend is home to Tuckaleechee Caverns and the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center , a repository of mountain culture. True to its nickname, this quiet, unencumbered hamlet has a handful of hotels and restaurants. Stop for lunch at Trailhead Steak & Trout House, which features hand-cut steaks and fresh trout, along with a great selection of burgers.Late afternoon’s entertainment is brought to you courtesy of Mother Nature. About 2 hours before dusk, drive to 5,048-foot Newfound Gap via scenic US 441. From there you'll want to follow a spur road up to Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) —the park's highest observation point—for the best view ever.
Evening
Spend the evening in either Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge , two of the most-visited tourist destinations outside of the park.In the bustling, alpine-themed village of Gatlinburg is a chaotic array of attractions, amusements, gift shops, lodgings and restaurants. Stroll along Parkway to find gifts, souvenirs and collectibles. For dinner, try The Park Grill , where rustic log and stone construction and servers dressed as park rangers lend a lodge-style ambience.
Nightlife options in Pigeon Forge abound, with plenty of places to enjoy wholesome, family-friendly entertainment. Dolly Parton's Stampede Dinner Attraction sets a pretty high standard, and other options include country music jamborees, variety shows, Christian-themed musicals, murder mystery theaters, a tribute show and even a magic extravaganza. If you forgo a show, have dinner at The Old Mill Restaurant . You haven’t tasted Tennessee country-style cuisine until you’ve been to this local favorite, where Southern-fried meats, fish and poultry join scratch biscuits and scrumptious desserts.