Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12 – take mom – or yourself – on a girls’ weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains for Mother’s Day! There is so much to do and so many ways to relax.
Let’s start with the pampering!
Get pampered by professionals when you book a spa day.
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!
Mother’s Day Yoga
Add in some activity with a little yoga – whether you want gentle, a tough flow or goat yoga, it’s available!
Take some time to relax and just breathe when you attend a group class or book a private session at your American Patriot Getaways cabin. Mountain Zen Yoga offers a wide variety of yoga – including GOAT yoga – meditation, and coaching services that come to you. The Sevierville-based teachers also will help create unique retreat experiences in the Smokies.
Ready for a hike in these beautiful mountains?
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 $1 and will offer up plenty of options for a great day in nature.
Also check our blog posts on hiking.
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.
Mother’s Day Racing
If you and your ladies are like me, you take your running shoes everywhere. Check out some local races and make it part of your adventure!
Big Foot 5K in Townsend May 4
Pigeon Forge Midnight 8K Aug. 3
Great Smoky Mountain Half Marathon and 5K Sept. 7 in Townsend
Cades Cove Loop Lope Nov. 10
If taking a hike isn’t exactly your group’s idea of a great time, 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.
Shopping
You know you’re going to, especially in the name of Mother’s Day!
Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are home to malls, outlets, and hundreds of stores. Designer clothing and accessories, antiques, quirky locally owned shops, gift and souvenir stores, art, hand-made crafts, candles, preserves and specialty foods traditional to this mountain area.
Where to go:
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.
The Gatlinburg Mountain Mall, dubbed as a “premier indoor shopping experience.”
Each shop has a unique theme such as hand-crafted candy and local foods, hand-made jewelry, custom-blended tobacco products, quilts, dolls, magic tricks, sports, clothing for your dog, collectible toys and locally made artwork.
Walk around the two indoor fountains, one of which is 30-feet tall. Check out the now-and-then photos as you stroll around the mall. The photos are of the general store that once stood on the same spot – Ogle’s General Store. The Ogle family still owns the Mall.
Check out all the merchants.
Mountain Mall is located at Traffic Light #6 across from Ripley’s Aquarium. 611 Parkway, Ste F15, Gatlinburg.
The Village
A few steps off Gatlinburg’s bustling main street, is The Village . Here a collection of 27 unique boutiques, eateries and galleries make for a pleasant shopping experience.
Walk and shop through the quaint village of Old World-style buildings and brick paths. It’s like stepping back in time.
Check out letter art at The Best Gift Idea Ever. At Celtic Heritage, find fine gifts imported from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Shop for collectible art and hand-crafted frames at Lamplight Gallery. Need some PJs? Check out The Lazy One of Gatlinburg. God’s Corner is a locally owned Christian Bookstore. Other shops include Life is Good; The Day Hiker – for your adventures in the national park; The Candle Cottage; and The Honey Pot and Tervis, among many more.
Located just past Traffic Light #6, The Village address is 634 Parkway, Gatlinburg.
Tanger Outlets
Tanger Outlets is a nationally known outlet mall enterprise based in Greensboro, NC. The Sevierville location is at 1645 Parkway.
Here, you’ll find hundreds of our favorite shops with sales and deals galore – kids, adults, men, women, shoes of all kinds! Coach, Christopher & Banks, Harry & David (I could live on their chocolate covered blueberries!), Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Pink by Victoria, Tommy Hilfiger. There’s a Disney Outlet, Eddie Bauer, Brooks Brothers, Columbia, The North Face, Under Armour – and so much more. Check out the list of shops.
For more shopping ideas, check our blog post.
More Mother’s Day Adventures
Biltmore Estate
Photo Credit: The Biltmore Company
Less than two hours from Gatlinburg, The Biltmore Estate in Gatlinburg is beautiful any time of year and makes for an excellent day trip.
This spring, color and light come alive in Biltmore’s gardens and galleries. Immerse yourself in the vibrant blooms that transform the gardens, grounds, and elegant rooms of Biltmore House.
Stroll acres of formal and informal gardens designed by America’s foremost landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. From the Walled Garden and its soaring glass-ceilinged Conservatory to the Italian Garden to the magnificent trees in America’s first managed forest, Biltmore’s lush landscapes are living tributes to Olmsted’s genius. In addition to Biltmore’s gardens and grounds, Olmsted designed a multitude of public parks and recreation grounds, including the grounds of Central Park in New York City and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Photo Credit: Nathaniel Wilson
From March 25-May 23, marvel at Chihuly’s remarkable artistry in Amherst at Deerpark®. Explore the shops, restaurants, and Winery of Antler Hill Village, home to our Farmyard, playground, nature trails, and more.
Featuring the artist’s iconic works, this thrilling new exhibition is presented in the galleries of Amherst at Deerpark®.
Photo Credit: The Biltmore Company
Moonshine and wine tasting
Mother’s Day 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, it also sells hand sanitizer, moonshine pickles, and moonshine cherries in their retail stores as well.
Wine
Begin your Mother’s Day adventure at Gatlinburg Wine Cellar, a newer winery 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.
Vino & Trains
Uncorked: Wine & Rails Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) in Bryson City, North Carolina, offers a unique experience pairing a railroad adventure with good wine and a great meal on the Nantahala Gorge Excursion departing on Passengers enjoy a full service All-Adult First-Class ride in the First-Class cars. This comes with a private attendant and “plush, well-appointed dining seating”. A narrator will accompany the ride to present each pour to guests.
Passengers on this specialty car will enjoy an exclusive sampling of cheeses and a surf and turf meal prepared fresh with carefully selected wine samples to accompany. All passengers will receive a GSMR souvenir stemless wine glass, four samples of selected wine, and a seasonal dessert.
Uncorked is offered on the Nantahala Gorge Excursion departing on select dates. See schedule for departures. The next Uncorked trips are May 12 and 13 – perfect for a Mother’s Day girls’ weekend! Tickets are $149 per person (Adults 21+ only).
Purchase tickets online or call (800) 872-4681.
Just 46 miles from Gatlinburg, GSMRis a memorable, beautiful and tasty experience.
Check all our great ideas for Smoky Mountain Adventures on our blog site.
Relaxing Cabin
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.
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!
