It’s been a little over a week since I’ve returned from our girl’s trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. And I’m already thinking about when I’ll be going back! I had visited the Tennessee town as a kid and only have the fondest memories. To outsiders, they might think of Dollywood- the theme park owned by Dolly Parton just 10 minutes down the road in Pigeon Forge. But I remember Gatlinburg for its beautiful Christmas lights and holiday events during December. However, it has grown immensely since my family visit.
What was once a small mountain getaway has turned into a tourist hotspot for people around the country. There’s no shortage of things to do from go-karting to wineries and enjoying live country music on the patio. But no trip to the Smoky Mountains is complete without enjoying the outdoors with things like hiking, skiing, camping, and more. And while it was a great trip with my fellow female content creators, I often thought about how it would be a wonderful option for those looking for a more low-key bachelor party! Read on to see my suggestions of where to eat, stay, and play while you’re in the beautiful city of Gatlinburg Tennessee.
While Gatlinburg is only a 3 hr and 45-minute drive from Charlotte, I was concerned about the weather. Driving on icy/snowy roads on a mountain is not my forte. If you’re visiting in the wintertime this is something you should definitely consider! Instead, I booked a pretty affordable flight from Charlotte-Douglas to Knoxville, Tennessee. After landing I met up with the other 5 creators, rented an SUV, and drove just an hour to our cabin for the week. They all flew in from New York, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, and Georgia so there are plenty of flights available!
It was also a good thing we rented a car because the rideshare options in the town are abysmal. Initially, we tried Uber #1- because the windy roads to our cabin can be intimidating, and #2- when we needed a designated driver. There weren’t enough drivers available (especially for a group our size) and often had to wait when we went out for drinks up to 45 minutes to get back home! After realizing it would be an issue, we opted to use our own car when we could.
Like a lot of the tips I’ll share in this post, it will depend on the season you visit Gatlinburg and your activities for the trip. However, since we planned on a little sightseeing and visiting the ski lodge, I packed accordingly. The best thing about visiting a mountain range in the south is that while it’s still winter, you won’t freeze to death. We ended up getting lucky with perfect weather in the 50s in early February. Our fancy snowsuits looked a bit out of place at Ober Gatlinburg, but dang did we look cute! I knew it wouldn’t be too cold, so I grabbed this sleeveless snowsuit from Amazon and focused on layers instead.
@goodtomicha my office for the week 🏔 #blackwomeninluxury #blackgirlsinluxury #wintertravel #influencertrip ♬ original sound – whoosh
You’ll want to book accommodations as close to the parkway as possible- that’s where all the fun is! And while I’m sure there are a few, boutique hotels to choose from, I highly suggest an Airbnb. A lot of the listings are nestled into the mountain, offering gorgeous views from your back patio every morning. We stayed at this Airbnb– about 15 minutes from the main part of town. It was perfect! Lots of bathrooms for all of the women and no one had to share a bed. I’ve bookmarked it for future trips cause it could work for couples retreats!
There are a lot of solid restaurants in town, but they’re not exactly known for their food. So, we didn’t find it necessary to splurge on this part of the trip. In order to keep costs down, we planned to make our breakfast, lunches, and 2 dinners at the cabin. For the rest of the meals, we explored and found a few local restaurants that were super tasty!
Smith & Son Corner Kitchen – $$
The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar- $$
Cherokee Grill and Steakhouse- $$$
Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria in Elks Plaza- $$
@goodtomichait’s time to unionize hot people♬ beautiful people co dominate – hoziers muse
There is SO much to do in Gatlinburg- I was shocked! We had a few friends join us from bigger cities who were pleasantly surprised as well. If you want to see what we did every day, scroll down to read our itinerary!
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arrive at Knoxville and drive to Gatlinburg
grocery shop for the week and settle in
morning yoga in the cabin
content shooting day
dinner at Cherokee Grill
spend the day at Ober Gatlinburg
dinner at Smith & Son restaurant
lunch at Best Italian Cafe
visit Gatlinburg Escape Rooms
tour Ole Smoky Distillery and moonshine tasting
clean, pack and leave for the airport
There is definitely a tourist trap feel as you first enter Gatlinburg, but it’s up to you how to plan out your trip. I’d recommend visiting from September-February to enjoy the off-season. You’ll be able to take in the fall foliage and all of the natural beauty of The Smoky Mountains without the crowds. For my Southeastern friends, it’s extremely easy to get to and an affordable location for group trips! And I can’t wait to go back sometime in the fall myself.
Have you been to Gatlinburg? Let me know if you think it’s a spot worth visiting!
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