Romance is in the Air

Romance in the Smokies

Romance is always in the air in the Great Smoky Mountains, whether you are hardcore hikers, kayakers or fisher people; or just want to watch sunsets, sip, wine, listen to music and eat great food. Maybe you want to do all of that. We have your guide to romantic dates in the Smokies!

For the Adventurers

Date 1: Spend some time at Gatlinburg SkyPark

Ride the yellow chairlift to the best views in Gatlinburg and enjoy adventures, food and fun.

Take a walk hand-in-hand across SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America.

At 1,800 feet above sea level and 500 feet above Gatlinburg, SkyBridge offers spectacular panoramic views. The bridge stretches almost 700 feet across a deep valley in a single span - longer than 2 football fields!

Halfway across is 30 feet of glass to walk across. Look down at the valley below as you walk and you might see a black bear roaming through its natural environment.

At night, view the twinkling lights of downtown Gatlinburg from the SkyBridge and sit by the fire pit. You can take in the lights of the holiday season from the top of Crockett Mountain.

The Skypark also offers an easy 1.5-mile hiking trail, outdoor seating areas, a tiered waterfall and a cozy firepit, offering an incredibly romantic space to relax, snuggle up and take in the surrounding beauty.

Date 2: Take Flight!

Want to get a little wild? Try a helicopter tour to see the Smokies in a whole new way! Romantic packages are offered for you and your sweetheart. Take in city views, scenic mountains, and rolling foothills.

For those Outdoorsy Couples

Date 3: Go for a kayak and picnic

Experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains from the water – bring your own kayaks, rent them and/or join a guided tour, which come with kayaks, paddles, life jackets and safety equipment.

Check out Adventure Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge for a beautiful day of fun and adventure. Be sure to pack a lunch – some of our favorite take-out spots in Pigeon Forge include Blue Moose Burgers & Wings, Pigeon Forge Deli and The Pottery House Café.

What’s better than a romantic picnic by the water?

Date 4: Take a hike or a bike ride

With the Great Smoky Mountains as your backdrop, a hike, leisurely walk or bike ride all become romantic if you have your partner by your side.

Head for Patriot Park and take a stroll down the Riverwalk Trail that runs alongside the Little Pigeon River. The trail is perfect for taking in the fresh air, listening to the sounds of the river and enjoying some quality time together.

Another great spot for holding hands or gazing into one another’s eyes. Get down on one knee here?

One of our favorite bike rides is through Cades Cove, one of the most picturesque locations in the national park. With its broad, lush, green valley surrounded by mountains is a can’t-miss kind of place.

The 11-mile Cades Cove loop is perfect for biking or running. In the summer, Wednesdays are vehicle-free days.

Food & Wine Couples

Date 5: Sip on wine or moonshine, sampling the area’s best

Spend the evening, or an afternoon, sipping your way through some of Tennessee’s oldest distilleries and wineries.

Pigeon Forge is home to two distilleries found on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail and two of the wineries that make up the Rocky Top Wine Trail. Take a tour of the facilities and enjoy tasty samples while enjoying the incredible mountain views.

The Rocky Top Wine Trail is made up of five wineries, which you can tour on your own, or forget arguing about who has to drive and hop on a VIP shuttle.

Three VIP tours are offered to cover everyone’s tastes. There’s the original, which includes a personalized visit to Mountain Valley Winery, Hillside Winery, and Millbridge Cider House with free samples at each location and a cheese tray inside Hillside Winery.

In the Shots and Glasses Tour,  you visit Mountain Valley Winery and Hillside Winery, along with Apple Barn Cider House and Tennessee Shine distillery. Lunch is at Quaker Steak & Lube.

Finally, the Taste of the Smokies Tour, provides stops at Mountain Valley Winery, Mountain View Winery, and Cades Cove Townsend Winery; a bourbon and whiskey distillery; and a moonshine distillery. Lunch is served by Amico Deli.

 No matter the time of year, the Great Smoky Mountains offer spectacular views, which make the best backdrop for romance.

Here are some of our favorite romantic food spots

Date 6: Enjoy a romantic dinner and a stroll through town

Gatlinburg

The Peddler

Cherokee Grill

Crystelle Creek Restaurant

Greenbrier Restaurant

The Bar at the Top of the World

Sevierville

Seasons 101

The Appalachian Restaurant

Pigeon Forge and Townsend

Bullfish Grill

Dancing Bear Lodge and Appalachian Bistro

Ready to book a cabin and get started on your romantic getaway?

Find a quiet, secluded cabin – whether you want something without mountain roads, or something fully ensconced in the beauty of the mountains, a cozy bungalow or treehouse or a cabin with all the entertainment – movie theater, pool, big kitchen, games and lots of space, American Patriot Getaways has a cabin for you. Or find a cabin in the middle of it all in Gatlinburg.

Be sure you check out all our amazing featured deals.

Let us help plan your trip to the Smokies with these useful vacation guides! Insider tips to help you plan the perfect Smoky Mountain vacation.

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