The Vacation Take

We’ve taken two summer trips to the Smoky Mountains, and our second visit looked pretty different from our first.

The first time, we stayed in a secluded mountain cabin with my family, hiked to a waterfall we had completely to ourselves, explored Townsend and drove Cades Cove.

On our second trip, we stayed at a resort with friends, added Dollywood, went back to Cades Cove and spent more time enjoying Pigeon Forge — including the wonderfully campy attractions along the Parkway.

Turns out, we like both versions of a Smoky Mountains vacation.

That’s probably my biggest takeaway after two trips: you don’t need to do everything in the Smokies every time you visit — and you definitely don’t need to recreate the same trip.

Here’s what we’d absolutely do again, what I think is more of a one-and-done experience, and what I’d choose differently next time.

DO AGAIN: Turn the Drive Into Part of the Vacation

On our first trip in 2024, we stopped in Nashville for two nights on the way to Sevierville — and I would absolutely do that again.

Instead of treating Nashville like an overnight stop we just had to get through, we made it part of the vacation. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Nashville right on Broadway, which gave us an easy downtown home base, and visited the Johnny Cash Museum.

The museum was one of our favorite Nashville stops. It’s right downtown near Broadway and self-guided, so it was easy to work into our time there without building an entire day around it.

Breaking up the road trip with two actual nights also meant we arrived in the Smokies feeling like we’d already had one vacation before the next one started.

My take: If you have the extra time, don’t automatically treat your road-trip stop as somewhere to sleep. Nashville was worth making part of the trip.

ONE AND DONE: Cades Cove Loop

We drove the Cades Cove Loop on both of our Smoky Mountains trips, and I think twice was enough for us.

I’m glad we did it the first time, and we actually saw a bear on our second visit — which was obviously exciting. But the second drive just didn’t feel nearly as interesting as the first.

Cades Cove is beautiful, and if you’ve never been, I think it’s worth experiencing. But on a future trip, I’d use that time for something we haven’t done before rather than making the loop part of every Smoky Mountains visit.

My take: Do Cades Cove once. Go early, enjoy the scenery, keep your eyes open for wildlife — and don’t feel like you need to repeat it every time you come back.

CABIN OR RESORT? Both Worked — for Different Reasons

Our accommodations were completely different on our two trips, and I liked both for different reasons.

On our first trip, we stayed in a secluded mountain cabin with my parents, my brother and my nephew. Even with a full house, the cabin gave the trip a relaxed feel. We were all together in one place, surrounded by the mountains, and hanging out at the cabin was part of the vacation rather than just where we slept.

Some of our best memories actually happened at the cabin. We had a bear visit nearby, and because we were there over July 4th, we were able to sit out on our deck and watch fireworks in the distance.

Those are the kinds of moments that made the secluded location feel worth it.

On our second trip, we stayed at a resort with friends, and that created a completely different experience. The kids had pools, pickleball courts and plenty to keep them entertained. Instead of the lodging being about getting away from everything, it gave everyone things to do between our plans.

I wouldn’t choose one because it’s objectively “better.” I’d choose based on the trip I wanted.

For a relaxed trip where everyone can hang out together and enjoy the mountains, I’d absolutely do the secluded cabin again. For a trip with friends where we want built-in activities for the kids, the resort was a huge win.

My take: Don’t treat lodging in the Smokies as just somewhere to sleep. Where you stay can change the entire feel of the vacation.

DO AGAIN: Get Out and Hike

I’m not someone who needs every vacation to revolve around hiking, but in the Smoky Mountains, I think you need to do at least one.

On our first trip in 2024, we got out early and hiked to a waterfall. We arrived early enough that we had the waterfall completely to ourselves, and it ended up being one of my favorite memories from that trip.

I cannot, for the life of me, remember the name of the trail. 😂 And rather than guess, I’m just going to own that.

What I do remember is how much getting there early changed the experience. On a future trip, I’d absolutely choose another hike that works for our group and get started before the crowds.

My take: Pick at least one hike and go early. Having that waterfall to ourselves was worth the alarm clock.

DO AGAIN: Dollywood

We added Dollywood during our second Smoky Mountains trip, and this is absolutely something I’d put on a future itinerary again.

It gave us a completely different kind of day from hiking, Cades Cove and exploring the Parkway. There are rides and attractions, obviously, but it still feels like it belongs on a Smoky Mountains vacation rather than being completely disconnected from everything around it.

And because we were traveling with kids, having a full day where the entertainment was already planned for us was a nice change of pace.

My take: I wouldn’t make an entire Smoky Mountains vacation about Dollywood, but I’d absolutely give it a day again.

DO AGAIN: Embrace Pigeon Forge for What It Is

Pigeon Forge is campy.

Very campy.

And during our second trip, we discovered that we actually really enjoy that about it. 😂

The Parkway is packed with themed attractions, museums, restaurants and mini golf. We played the Scooby-Doo-themed mini golf course, and instead of trying to make every day about mountain scenery and “must-do” Smokies attractions, we just had fun with it.

Mellow Mushroom was also a huge win on our most recent visit and is somewhere we’d happily eat again.

My take: Don’t go to Pigeon Forge expecting a peaceful mountain town. Go expecting Pigeon Forge. 😂 Mix some of that silliness into the hiking and scenery, especially with kids, and it makes for a really fun trip.

DO AGAIN: Save Room for the Smaller Stops

Some of the places I remember most aren’t major attractions.

Little River Coffee Co. was a favorite during our first trip. We tried to return on our second visit, but it was closed while we were there. That didn’t knock it off the list — we’d still go back.

We also loved The Chocolate B’ar in Townsend during our 2024 trip. We later recommended it to a friend who was visiting the area, and she enjoyed it too.

Neither requires building an itinerary around it. They’re just the kind of small places I like remembering for the next time we’re nearby.

What I’d Do on a Third Smoky Mountains Trip

I wouldn’t try to recreate either of our first two trips.

I’d still hike. I’d absolutely consider another Dollywood day. I’d make time for some Pigeon Forge campiness. I’d go back for favorite coffee and chocolate, and I’d choose our lodging based on whether we wanted a relaxing home base or more built-in entertainment.

But I’d skip another drive around Cades Cove and use those hours to find something we haven’t experienced yet.

That’s probably what I like most about the Smoky Mountains after visiting twice:

There’s enough to do that going back doesn’t have to mean taking the same vacation again.

THE VACATION TAKE

Absolutely again: Hiking, Dollywood, Pigeon Forge fun, Little River Coffee Co., The Chocolate B’ar — and a Nashville stopover when it makes sense for the drive.

One and done: Cades Cove Loop. We actually did it twice, and I’m glad we did, but next time I’d spend those hours somewhere new.

Cabin or resort: Both. The secluded cabin made hanging out together part of the vacation — complete with a bear sighting and July 4th fireworks from our deck. The resort gave the kids pools, pickleball and built-in entertainment while traveling with friends.

What I’d do differently: Stop repeating things just because they’re on the “must-do” Smoky Mountains lists.

Would we go back? Absolutely. Just not for the exact same trip.