How to Spend Father’s Day Weekend on the Peaceful Side 

Written by: Emily Huffstetler 

It’s not too late to make Father’s Day plans on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. Whether you’re building a full weekend around Dad or choosing one special outing, here are two itineraries to inspire you. 

Townsend Father’s Day Itinerary 

A Father’s Day weekend in Townsend can be as simple as a morning hike, lunch in town and a relaxed afternoon activity. You can stay overnight or make it a day trip. 

Start the day with a hike. For something short, take the 0.8-mile roundtrip trail to Look Rock Tower off the Foothills Parkway. It leads to panoramic mountain views. 

For a longer hike, try Middle Prong Trail. Indian Flats Falls is about 8.3 miles round trip, but the trail works well with a shorter turnaround point. Lynn Camp Prong Cascades is about 0.7 miles from the trailhead, making it an easier option before lunch in Townsend. 

There are several restaurants in town to choose from. Peaceful Side Social has outdoor seating and a menu with options for the whole family. 

Cades Cove Golf is just down the road. The new miniature golf course brings the feel of a traditional course to a smaller scale, with mountain views and a different challenge at each hole. It opens at noon on Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. 

If you’re staying at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, the annual Father’s Day weekend cornhole tournament runs Saturday, June 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. You can book it as an add-on when you reserve your stay. 

Later in the day, stop by Company Distilling. For Father’s Day weekend, the Townsend location is offering etched bottles of Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Maple Wood, plus a buy-one, get-one-half-off special on that product, excluding cask strength. 

You can also reserve the Fill Your Own Bottle experience. Guests take part in a premium guided tasting, then fill, cork, seal and sign their own 750ml bottle from the barrel. The current release is an 8-Year Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon. The experience costs $139.99 per person and lasts about 60 to 90 minutes. It’s open to guests 21 and older with valid ID. 

Stick around for live music. The Grassroots Gringos are performing on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. If you’re visiting with kids or anyone under 21, Townsend Abbey is another option for dinner and live music. Perry Bonck performs Saturday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. 

If you’re staying overnight, let Sunday move slower. Grab brunch or an early lunch at Townsend Abbey, which is open for Father’s Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. If the Fill Your Own Bottle experience at Company Distilling or a round at Cades Cove Golf didn’t fit into the day before, both can work as Sunday options before heading home. You could also take a walk along the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum by the Little River. 

Maryville Father’s Day Itinerary 

In Maryville, Father’s Day weekend can include a hands-on activity, live music, brunch and a new indoor golf experience at Greenway Village. 

Creative Spark Studio offers Blacksmithing Basics with Bryan on Saturday, June 20. Classes run from 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Book in advance to make a marshmallow roaster with Dad. The class is recommended for ages 18 and older, or 16 and older with a guardian. 

After class, stay out for dinner or live music. Cats Away performs at Peaceful Side Brewery on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. For a later night, Two Doors Down has a Throwback party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

On Sunday, Maryville has several Father’s Day brunch options. Daisy’s Non-alcoholic Bar and Bottle Shop is hosting theirs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The all-ages event includes games and a pool table. Dads get their first drink free. 

Raven Steakhouse is also hosting Father’s Day brunch. The special menu includes shrimp and grits, biscuits and sausage gravy, smoked salmon, beef tenderloin, pancakes, pastries and more. Brunch is $55 and requires advance reservation. 

End the weekend at The FoxHole Golf Club in Greenway Village. The new indoor golf club uses Trackman-powered simulators, giving players a high-tech place to practice, play world-class courses and track their stats. Book tee times through the website. Children must be 13 and older. 

Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and storyteller of the Greater Smokies region. She holds a Master of Science in Conservation Education from Mississippi State University.