Mother’s Day is a great time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains with your girlfriends, sister or your mom! Here are some of our favorite things to do with just the girls.
Smoky Mountain Yoga
Yoga is a great way to to start the day or end it and at Smoky Mountain Yoga, there are all kinds of ways to enjoy a class. The mobile studio will bring classes to you at a location of your choice. – your cabin, by a stream, in a park – with options for instructors, music and mats.
Smoky Mountain Yoga – with all women instructors – will create a bachelorette yoga class for some bride-to-be relaxation and fun.
How about Goat Yoga? Meet the yoga team on the farm for an outdoor session with pygmy goats that like to play.
You can contact Smoky Mountain Yoga via the website.
Shopping in the Glades
Any trip to the mountains involves bringing back a souvenir for your loved ones back home. What better place to do your gift shopping than the Glades Arts & Crafts Community? From expertly thrown handcrafted pottery to hand-forged knives, to blown glass there will be a prized item for any member of the family.
The 8 mile loop features more than 100 locally-owned shops with artisans using centuries-old traditions. Learn more about the history of this incredible community here.
Dining the the Glades
While you’re visiting for Mother’s Day, check out one of the area’s more popular high-end restaurants. In the Glades, you’ll find both Red Oak Bistro and The Greenbrier.
Mother’s Day at Red Oak Bistro
Billed as one of the most unique dining experiences you can find in the Smokies, Red Oak Bistro is an incredible place to have a girls night out. The seasonal, local menu changes regularly and features tastes inspired by Mediterranean and Eastern European cuisines. Red Oak Bistro specializes in small, sharable plates to create an intimate dining experience. The wine list and drinks menu are fantastic! Check out their offerings here.
Reservations are always encouraged due to the popularity of the restaurant, and are easy to make by contacting the Red Oak Bistro at 865-325-1717 or by submitting them online.
Find Red Oak Bistro at 669 Glades Rd., Gatlinburg.
The Greenbrier
“An incredible steakhouse that perfectly balances modern dining and Smoky Mountain Tradition” can be found in the Glades as well. Start your evening at Walker’s Union – the bar area. A cocktail menu comprised of surprising twists on classic drinks will set the mood for the evening. The Greenbrier also specializes in bourbon and whiskey. Order a few different kinds and hold an impromptu tasting before your meal.
The Greenbrier holds a monthly Women of Wine event on the first Thursday. This casual event takes place in the restaurant’s wine room where the wine experts offer samples curated for the evening. In addition, the chef creates a sample of remarkable cheeses. As you sip your wine and enjoy your cheese, you’ll hear about the winery and origin of grapes of each drink. The Greenbriar’s resident sommelier selects wines suited for each season that pair with the menu.
A Mother’s Day Girls Night
The Greenbrier specializes in hand-cut steaks and dry ages their meats. A succulent filet, mouth-watering pork chop, or a fresh catch of local trout.
You can make a reservation for The Greenbrier on their website or give them a call at 865-412-1576. Find the Greenbriar at 370 Newman Road in Gatlinburg.
Take a Hike!
With more than 800 miles and more than 150 individual trails, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers hikes for all ages and ability levels. From paved nature trails to miles-long mountain summits, every woman in the group will enjoy seeing the beauty of the Smokies.
It’s easy to get information about hiking in the national parks. The Sugarland’s Visitor Center is located only a few short miles from stoplight #10 in Gatlinburg and is staffed by friendly volunteers. A paper map is only $1 and will offer up plenty of options for a great day in nature.
Thinking of taking a hike but don’t want to go it alone? Check out a few of the hiking guide companies in the Smokies to get a more personal experience! Have a private local guide meet you and your girlfriends for a personalized trip into the forest.
If taking a hike isn’t exactly your group’s idea of a great Mother’s Day, don’t worry! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an incredible place for an auto tour, too! With plenty of scenic drives to take all around the park, visiting local water falls, scenic views, and mountain tops are easy and accessible.
Read about some of our favorite hikes in our blog post and hiking the Smokies tips here.
Mother’s Day Spa Day
After spending some time in the great outdoors, a spa day is also a great way to unwind in the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Have a girls day in Gatlinburg while being pampered by professionals. Relax, Rejuvenate, and Renew when you head for a day spa in the Smokies.
A local favorite spa in Gatlinburg includes Fox Place Spa, is a smaller and more private spa. You can book a facial, massage, or any variety of add-ons. The Serenity Spa at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa offers a fitness center for those who prefer a little bit of sweat therapy with a great selection of cardio and weight training equipment. For more traditional relaxation, check out their extensive list of services, including package deals where lunch can be served with an advance notice. Their manicure and pedicure services also come with wine service!
In Pigeon Forge, check out Riverstone Resort & Spa for massage therapy, waxing, make-up, and even manicures or pedicures. They even offer spa packages with any of the above or add ons. A bonus? They’re centrally located on Dollywood Lane in Pigeon Forge for easy access to either town. What a great way to spend Mother’s Day!
Moonshine & Wine Tasting
Moonshine
In recent years, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have become known for moonshine distilleries. With several to choose from in Gatlinburg, you’ll find a flavor everyone in the group will love.
Tennessee Shine Company, located at 519 Parkway Gatlinburg, 1 (800) 398-5132, uses old family recipes. Putting in authenticity from generations gone by sets their moonshine apart. Their traditions pay homage to their Appalachian Roots from the first drop to the last. Stop by any of their four locations, including the Gatlinburg location above, for a tasting!
Sugarland’s Distillery – the official moonshine of NASCAR – partners with Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners Legends, bringing you traditional recipes. Of course, if pure white lightnin’ isn’t your taste, there’s still plenty of flavored ‘shine to choose from! At their retail location, find Electric Orange Sippin’ Cream, Hazelnut Rum, and even rye whiskey! Open every day except Christmas, find Sugarland’s Distillery at 805 Parkway in Gatlinburg; 865-325-1355.
Arguably the most famous moonshine distillery in Gatlinburg is Ole Smoky. Two locations in downtown Gatlinburg and one in Pigeon Forge make this distillery easy to access on a busy weekend in town! Ole Smoky not only offers their moonshine and whiskey in multiple flavors, they also sell hand sanitizer, moonshine pickles, and moonshine cherries in their retail stores as well.
Wine
Gatlinburg Wine Cellar is one of the newer wineries in town and is known for their sweet flavors. Cotton Candy being the most famous! Look for other unique flavors, too, such as apple pie and birthday cake wine. They offer limited tastings any day and are located at 702 Parkway, Gatlinburg.
Smoky Mountain Winery has the honor of being the oldest winery in town. Step inside this castle (yes, CASTLE!) and enjoy a tasting of every type of wine you can imagine. From a dry, bold wine to a fruity, sweet blend, you’ll be sure to find something you enjoy when tasting and to take home for later.
Tennessee Homemade Wines take pride in being crafted locally with local ingredients. Step inside and meet the friendly employees who are well-versed in the wine making process and are your experts on tasting. Their services will help you find the best wine for your tastes. They’ll even be able to tell you all about the fruits and where they originated. Tennessee Homemade Wines originated in Gatlinburg and now also offers a Pigeon Forge location! They’ve teamed up with Tennessee Cider Company to offer some of the best local wine and cider under one roof.
Girls Night In
No matter which fun activity you choose on your girls weekend in Gatlinburg, you’re sure to need some down time to unwind. What better place to unwind your Mother’s Day weekend, than in your very own private cabin? Grab a bottle of the wine or spirits you purchased out in town and enjoy sitting in a rocking chair on a porch with an INCREDIBLE mountain view or soak a beautiful hot tub that will help soothe those tired muscles. If you cabin has a home theater, queue up all your favorite films for a movie night in. Speaking of “cue”, many Smoky Mountain Cabins come with pool tables and arcade machines to keep the fun going all night long.
How about a treehouse cabin for your weekend? There are several from which to choose. Get up in the trees for a unique experience!
Book a Stay for Mother’s Day
If you’re long overdue for a girls weekend in Gatlinburg, American Patriot Getaways can help! Whether it’s just you and your best friend or your entire extended group of girlfriends, we have a cabin for you. From groups of 2 to groups of 42, you’re sure to find the best fit for your weekend. Give our talented Reservationists a call at 800-204-5169 or visit our website.
For more vacation planning ideas, be sure to check out all of our Smoky Mountain Travel Guides. You can also follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest area happenings. We can’t wait to see you on your trip to the Smoky Mountains!
