Summer may not last forever, but that doesn’t mean that great vacation destinations disappear when seasons change. Fall in Eastern Tennessee is, in fact, uniquely special, with its cooler-but-still-comfortable temperatures, drier climate, and spectacular foliage covering every mountainside. Great views abound in the region, but there are 5 in particular you’ll want to make sure you visit. Check them out below!
The Look Rock Tower/The Foothills Parkway
Whether you hike the whole 11-mile Foothills Parkway Trail to the top, or you drive on the 16.9-mile Foothills Parkway and pull up to the parking lot that’s a half-mile away, you’ll be rewarded by a great view when you make it to the top of Look Rock Tower. With its short distance and gentle slope, the Look Rock Tower is especially friendly to non-hikers, boasts a view comparable to that from Clingmans Dome, and is less likely to be crowded than the Dome on weekends and holiday weeks.
The Lumber Ridge Trail
This approximately 8-mile hike is a great way to get up close and personal with the changing seasons. The trail was named for the logging expeditions that once took place in the region, but hikers taking on this moderately challenging day hike with occasional mountain views can expect peace, quiet, and plenty of foliage. The logging companies are long gone, but you won’t find a crowd of tourists here, either.
Floating on Fort Loudon Lake
Some anglers hang up their poles when summer ends, but Fort Loudon Lake attracts fishermen and women who are on the hunt for bass and crappie when the temperature drops. Anyone who owns or can rent a boat and is in search of a spectacular fall panorama can find all that, plus a side of serious relaxation, with an afternoon spent on a boat in Fort Loudon Lake or other Eastern Tennessee waterways.
The Elkmont Historic District
Not every fall scene is going to be about a perfect vista, though there are plenty for the taking in Blount County. Fall also features a popular holiday that’s a little bit spooky and a little bit scary, and those who want to celebrate that side of the season can have their chance to do so by visiting the Elkmont Historic District. These abandoned vacation homes from the 1900s have been left to their own devices inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and checking them out is a (safe) way to feel a little bit of a tingle in your spine. The fall foliage is everywhere, too – there’s no one there to rake up the fallen leaves, after all.
Clingmans Dome
It may be popular and well-known, but why wouldn’t it be? Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its height does offer a bit of a guarantee – if you make the climb, you’ll get quite an eyeful, that’s for sure. Expect trees as far as the eye can see, with brighter colors in valleys, and darker browns at higher elevations, where trees tend to shed their leaves earlier.
Tag: Fall
Smartphones and Tablets help leaf peepers make the most of a Fall Smokies Visit
Every autumn travelers journey to the Smoky Mountains from all over the world to experience the crisp air, comfortable temperatures and fall foliage. Affectionately called “leaf peepers,” these visitors seek the best and brightest leaves of the season, stay in the coziest inns and eat popular local cuisine, all at the best rates. Planning a relaxing fall trip isn’t out of reach or overly-complicated. It’s possible to organize an exciting fall adventure at the touch of a button with mobile devices like the 4G LTE iPhone 6, iPad Air 3 or Samsung Galaxy S6.
“Many people take advantage of long weekends for these fall trips, and a lot of times, those weekends go by faster than expected,” says Nathan Waddell, director of sales in Tennessee. “Travelers have to make the most of their time, and with today’s mobile devices and a reliable 4G LTE with national coverage like U.S. Cellular’s, they can be well informed instantly.”
Whatever the reason people travel or wherever they go, studies show that mobile devices are becoming a prominent travel resource. According to a recent U.S. Cellular Better Moments Survey, 23 percent of mobile customers booked airline tickets , and 35 percent of smartphone users used their mobile devices to book hotel reservations. Forty-four percent used smartphones to coordinate plans with others.
To help plan a great fall trip, the experts at U.S. Cellular recommend the following web sites and apps:
Great Smoky Mountains app: With a park map and information about picnic spots and restrooms, this is a perfect app to use when planning your day in the National Park. It includes the official guide book to the Smoky Mountains, too.
AllTrails (iOS, Android — Free): This app is for outdoorsy travelers looking to be on the trail seeing the foliage up close. Featuring 50,000 trail guides in the U.S. and Canada alone, smartphone users will know where to go whether they’re seeking a grueling mountain bike ride, or a kid-friendly hiking trail. Filter trails by activity and location and get reviews by fellow leaf peepers. Trailblazers can even create new trails with GPS tracking, photos and text.
TripAdvisor (iOS, Android — Free): This comprehensive app lets users find reviews for all facets of travel, including airfare, bed and breakfast reservations and restaurants. Including over two million reviews by fellow travelers, everyone – singles, families and retirees – can experience and share the best East Tennessee has to offer.
Flickr (iOS, Android — Free): iOS and Android users can both accentuate the fall colors in their pictures with a wide variety of editing tools, like filters, contrast, and color balance. Take a video or picture and share the experience with friends and family.
“Seeing fall foliage, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, or having a late-season stay in Townsend, can be enhanced with the right information at the right time,” says Waddell. “With U.S. Cellular’s nationwide coverage, you can catch the best wind, find a hayride and see the best colors without getting stuck in the rain.”
Spectacular Fall Drives in the Smokies
Here in Blount County, we like to encourage “leaf peepers” to savor the amazing local scenery. After all, you can stay right in Townsend and see some of the most beautiful autumn colors. Just choose a country road and enjoy the stunning foliage as you wind your way through woodlands and fields.
However, anyone who pays a visit to the Smokies knows that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a motor-friendly park and its roadways were designed to optimize the scenic overlooks and stunning natural views. That is what makes it such a popular and wise choice as an autumn driving destination. Below, we have listed our favorite drives and emphasized those that put the spotlight on the fall colors. Keep in mind, though, that this is just a drop in the bucket in terms of the actual numbers of drives and explorations you can enjoy in the park and surrounding areas!
Cades Cove Loop Road
You cannot pay a visit to the park without making your way through this top attraction. An 11-mile loop road, it is a wonderful spot for taking in the scenery, catching glimpses of the area’s wildlife (including bears) and visiting the many historic churches and cabins along the way. Framed as it is by the mountains, it is also a robustly colorful spot during the autumn months, and there are many hiking trails that can allow you to get out into that beautiful landscape.
Newfound Gap Road
If you want one of the original scenic drives in the Smokies, this is it. It was cut in the late 1800s and allows you to pass through the mountains without having to climb to high altitudes. It is 33 miles from beginning to end, and you’ll want to pack a picnic and bring the camera. There are lots of panoramic and scenic views and if you are hearty and fit, you can hike up to Clingmans Dome (the highest peak in Tennessee) off this road.
Blue Ridge Parkway
This amazing route lets you experience the North Carolina side of the Smokies as the road follows the mountains and winds its way from Cherokee to Afton. It runs more than 400 miles, so it is not a day trip, but rather something to experience in chunks. During the autumn months, it is a place of stunning natural color and scenery and from it, you can reach Mt. Mitchell (the highest peak in the eastern U.S.), the Linville Gorge (the deepest gorge in the eastern U.S.) and many other attractions.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is another must and is a loop road that wanders through natural areas and historic sites.
There are so many spots to hit the roads and take in amazing views, but as we said at the beginning, the area around Townsend can also provide you with more than enough autumn color and gorgeous scenery, and the Maryville Greenway (a walking trail) is a place where the leaves surround you and where anyone can enjoy an autumn stroll.
Take the Kids on an Old-Fashioned Hayride in Cades Cove This Fall
Often described as one of the most appealing and picturesque settings in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove is a lush and beautiful valley framed on all sides by the majestic mountains. Noted for its amazing amounts of native wildlife, it is the spot where millions of travelers have seen such well-loved animals as black bears, flocks of turkeys, and even small groups of coyotes.
Cades Cove Is a Must-See Destination Year-Round
Whether you are traveling in the warm weather of spring and summer or the cooler seasons of winter and fall, Cades Cove is a must-see area in the region. It offers an easy-to-navigate, 11-mile loop drive that includes plenty of places to stop, take in a hike, a picnic and more.
Busiest during the summer and autumn seasons, and especially during the weekends, it is a very enjoyable self-guided tour that can serve as the focal point for your entire day.
However, if you are visiting in the months of March through October, you can see the sights of Cades Cove in a much more relaxed and low-key manner – in one of the old-fashioned hayrides. Offered by Cades Cove Riding Stables, trips range from 1.5 to 3 hours (depending upon traffic in the park) and are usually in the company of a guide or Park Ranger. They are truck or wagon-pulled rides and easily one of the most exciting things for kids to experience.
What to Expect on a Cades Cove Hayride
What will a classic hayride through Cades Cove include? The area is dotted with 19th and 20th century farming communities, or what remains of them. During the autumn season, the late afternoon rides allow you to slowly take in those sites, but also the radiant foliage that frames every view or scene. You get to learn what life was like during the earliest days of the settlers and even discover a bit about their home lives, farming methods, and much more.
You can book an autumn season hayride for the hours of 10AM, 12PM or 3PM. The rides will occur unless weather conditions force a cancellation. Because it is autumn, you will want to be sure everyone is dressed comfortably and warmly, and it is perfectly acceptable to bring a few blankets along for the ride.
If you wish to introduce your kids to the history of the people who settled in the Great Smoky Mountains in the last few centuries and do it in a way that is amazingly scenic and fun, hayrides are the way to go.
Hayrides in the region are a popular autumn activity and you can also find them outside of the park including hayrides in downtown Gatlinburg!
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