Happy Father’s Day
Father’s Day is a great time for a guys’ trip to the Smokies
Father’s Day is fast approaching – June 16 will be here before you know it! What are you doing for Dad or Grandad or what are you doing for yourself? Check out the Great Smoky Mountains – it has a lot to offer for a great guy’s week or weekend.
From thrilling adventures to peaceful hikes and spa days; from fishing and golfing to moonshine and barbecue, there’s not much you can’t find in this part of Tennessee.
Gatlinburg Golf
Golf – yes, there’s golf in the mountains.
Gatlinburg Golf Course is an 18-hole course designed by noted golf course architect William Langford. In 1993 and again in 2007, the course underwent major renovations by Bob Cupp & Associates of Atlanta. Today, the completely rebuilt greens and reworked fairways offer seasoned duffers as well as beginners a challenge on every hole.
As the Web site says: “Teeing off is a little different in the mountains.”
The natural landscape in Gatlinburg makes for uniquely designed holes and picturesque rolling hills.
Located just five miles from downtown Gatlinburg, this course lies adjacent to Dollywood at 811 East Parkway. Call for more information, tee times and fees (865) 436-4178.
Bent Creek
Also in Gatlinburg is Bent Creek Golf Course – a par 72 course designed by three-time Masters and British Open Championship Winner Gary Player.
Opened in 1972, Bent Creek was named one of the “top 50 golf courses in the south” by Southern Living Magazine. The front nine runs along the valley floor, while the back nine is a challenging mountain course.
Check out each hole via the course website and check out tee times and fees. Bent Creek is located at 3919 E. Parkway in Gatlinburg. Call (865) 436-3947 for more.
Up the road in the unique Tennessee town of Townsend is Laurel Valley Golf Course, a par-70 course designed by Edmund Alt. Located in this picturesque and quiet mountain town – Townsend has about 500 residents.
Located at 702 Country Club Drive in Townsend. Check out the holes, book a tee time and find out more online or by calling (865) 738-3134.
While in Townsend, take a drive to Cades Cove, one of the most popular destinations in the Smokies because of its nature trails, wildlife, horseback riding, biking trails and picnic spots. Cades Cove Loop is an 11-mile loop that can be driven, walked or biked. It’s worth the trip!
Wet a line!
Fishing is huge in the Smokies – trout fishing especially! The Smoky Mountains have more species of trout that any other area in the country with Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Golden, Speckled, Wild, Trophy, Hatchery Supported and Steelhead.
Bring your gear, get a license and fish year-round in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or find a fishing guide to take you wading or boating to catch dinner.
“Great Smoky Mountains National Park has about 2,900 miles of streams within its boundaries and protects one of the last wild trout habitats in the eastern United States. Approximately 20% of the park’s streams are large enough to support trout populations.”
Fly Fishing the Smokies was named 2020 Outfitter of the Year. With locations in Gatlinburg and Bryson City, NC, Fly Fishing in the Smokies offers guided trout fly fishing, wade trips, float trips for trout and smallmouth bass on a drift boat, raft or Cataraft. The company also offers trips for other fish – walleye and carp. Call (828)-488-7665 for more information.
The Smoky Mountain Angler is another site to check out for any level of fly fisher. Located in Gatlinburg, The Smoky Mountain Angler was established in 1988. In addition to guided fishing trips, the company also offers free fly-tying classes and fly-fishing instruction for a fee. Want to go it alone? You can rent a boat and all the gear if you don’t want to bring yours with you. Call (865)436-8746.
Nationally known and privately owned Orvis has a store in Sevierville and offers a fly-fishing school. Contact the store at 866-531-6213.
Read about license requirements, size limits, daily possession limits, lures, bait and equipment on the National Park Service Web site.
Take me out to the ballgame!
The Tennessee Smokies are a minor league baseball team that is a Chicago Cubs affiliate. And where do they play? In Sevierville, a hop, skip and a jump from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
A locals’ favorite, Smokies games are great family fun with views and fabulous summer weather. Check out schedule, promotions and tickets and enjoy America’s pastime.
Eat and Drink
Smoky Mountain eating is not to be overlooked. From barbecue and fresh trout to pancakes and everything fried, the mountains have variety and options for everyone.
You can go in, get take out or delivery groceries or have a chef cook for you in your mountain cabin rental. Check out some of our blog posts on best eats in the area: Best Burgers, Best Pizza, Best Takeout, Best Barbecue.
For more evening fun, check our blog on Gatlinburg fun for adults.
Action and Adventure
Are thrilling adventures your thing? ATVs, helicopters, white-water rafting, ziplining, skydiving, whiskey tasting, moonshine tours, hiking? The Smoky Mountains has all this and more!
Zip lining
Do you want to fly right above the treetops – so close that it looks like you could reach out and touch them? You’ll be able to get a unique view of the Smoky Mountains in the fall. Plus, ziplining gives you the perfect amount of adrenaline – just enough to get your heart racing, but not so much that you’re terrified the entire time.
Check out our blog post on Ziplining in the smokies
White Water Rafting
Summer is a great time to check out the exciting class III and class IV rapids in the area.
Whether you’ve never been before or you’re an experienced rafter, Gatlinburg has several rivers nearby and the right rafting adventure for you. Check out our blog post for all the details.
Tubing and rafting
Skydiving
Whether you want to stay inside and experience freefalling or try a tandem adventure high above the earth, both can be found in the Great Smoky Mountains.
At Flyaway Indoor Skydiving in Pigeon Forge, visitors get the experience of flying without having to jump from a plane. Break the bonds of gravity and body fly at America’s first vertical wind tunnel.
Located at 3108 Parkway, Pigeon Forge. Reservations required by calling 1-877-293-0639
You want to jump out of a plane (it’s so much fun – I have done it twice), check out Skydive East Tennessee. Located about an hour north of Gatlinburg, Skydive East Tennessee offers tandem skydiving where you’ll jumping from 11,000 feet, enjoy a 20-minute scenic flight, up to 60 seconds of freefall, and five to six minutes under the parachute taking in the magnificent views of the Great Smoky Mountains and Douglas Lake. What a thrill!
Located 1640 W Dumplin Valley Road in Dandridge. Call (865) 223-5155.
Helicopter Ride
Want to stay inside the vehicle but still take in those spectacular views from the air? Perhaps a helicopter ride is the thrill you’re looking for.
Soar over the Smoky Mountains and look at the beauty below.
At Scenic Helicopter Tours in Sevierville, tours range from 8 to 100 miles starting at $29. Explore the lakes, mountains and all the cities within that range.
Scenic Tours is located at 1949 Winfield Dunn Parkway, Sevierville, Tennessee, 865-453-6342
Smoky Mountain Helicopters has been offering scenic helicopter tours of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and surrounding areas since 1964. With three locations and a variety of tour packages, Smoky Mountain Helicopters also offers customized tours for special events.
Three locations: 1101 Winfield Dunn Parkway, Sevierville, (865) 429-2426; 380 Rainbow Road, Sevierville, (865) 429-2426; and 264 Casino Trail, Cherokee, North Carolina, (828) 497-5797.
Hiking
Wind your way through the beautiful Smokies with a hike. Short or long, you’ll experience the beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Established in 1934, the park contains 522,419 acres. On a guided hike,, there is so much to explore: wildlife, trees and wildflowers, waterfalls and swimming holes. You’ll hear the stories of native Americans, loggers, explorers, and the history of the park.
Check out our blog on the 10 best places to hike.
Tips for hitting the trails
Wine Trails and Whiskey Tastings
Are you ready for a cold adult beverage just reading this?
In the Smoky Mountains, there’s a tour for whatever spirit is to your liking: bourbon, moonshine, wine, beer.
Feed your fascination of this Appalachian lore of moonshine with a trip to one of the most popular moonshine production spots, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery, where you’ll find the largest selection of moonshine flavors and proof levels. The Old Forge Distillery is a great spot to try some authentic Tennessee Whiskey and learn about its 100-year-old production process.
Wine lovers rejoice as you set out on the Rocky Top Wine Trail. The trail boasts 12 miles of wineries with over 70 types of wine to sample.
After all those adventures, you might need a relaxing Spa Day – yep, guys can have these too – a full day of pampering or perhaps just a massage.
Serenity Spa at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa in Gatlinburg offers more than 50 world-class spa services, including facials, manicures and pedicures, body wraps and massage treatments.
The Spa at RiverStone in Pigeon Forge offers a host of massage therapy treatments that can be customized to match your needs.
Book A Cabin For A Great Guys’ Weekend!
No matter what fun you choose, you’ll want a fabulous cabin to return to after all the adventures. Or maybe, staying in and hanging with the guys IS the plan for the weekend. Watch movies on a big screen, eat great meals, play cards, smoke cigars in the hot tub, play pool, cook out.
Choose from big cabins and small, specialty cabins with movie theaters, pools and game rooms. Check out our blog posts for Cabins with spectacular views, Theater cabins, Luxurious cabins in Wears Valley.
Ready to book? Give our Reservations staff a call at 800-204-5169 or check out our website. No matter your group size or budget, American Patriot Getaways has a cabin for you!Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest area information. Check us out on Pinterest for easy recipes to cook in your cabin, decor inspiration, and more!
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Published on Tuesday, May 28, 2024