Please help me plan a trip to Great Smoky Mountains (Charlotte: rental, live in)

[pinetreelover]

We are a family of four - two teens who enjoy hiking, beautiful scenery, nice restaurants and good lodging. We have spent past summers hiking in the BC Canadian Rockies but this year need to stay closer to home.

Please pass along some advice about how to plan a great five days in the Smoky Mountains without encountering too much cheesy tourism!

I looked at The Swag website, but it is somewhat out of this year's price range. Are there other high end lodges that aren't quite so pricey?

Best hiking? Waterfalls? Other activities?

Thanks!

[SLWR]

You may have already planned your trip, but if not, can you give some more details like where you're coming from or what part of the Smokies you want to visit.

If you like hiking, nice cabins and river rafting or floating on a great lake, I would recommend the Bryson City area including Fontana Lake and the Nantahala Gorge/Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). The AT paces through the area, so you can hike that as far as you like and there is a great cabin rental place there called WatershedCabins.com that have a lot of cabins most of which are really nice, each one having a hottub. The town is small but there is a great Italian place called Pascalino's and there is a nice place on the river called Irealia's Garden (I may be misspelling the first name).

I love the area, I head over there from Charlotte, 3-4 times year.

Let me know if you have any further questions...

[chisoxfan]

For spectacular scenery and views, take a drive on the western end of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Maggie Valley/Waynesville area. You'll be able to stop at Waterrock Knob and Richland Balsam, two of the highest peaks in the eastern U.S.

I'll also add my endorsement for Bryson City and Nantahala Gorge. That area is always a delight.

[amorgan714]

I have to say you must go to Devils Courthouse, Graveyard Fields (not a graveyard) and also Waterrock Knob! Those are some of my fav places and I live in Western NC. Mt Pisgah is a wonderful place to stay also the Balsam Inn in Waynesville. A must is Maggie's Galley in waynesville for dining, but the dining at Mt Pisgah is remarkable also. Hope I helpd a little. Also a tip...the best hiking weather is from May till September.

Originally Posted by pinetreelover

We are a family of four - two teens who enjoy hiking, beautiful scenery, nice restaurants and good lodging. We have spent past summers hiking in the BC Canadian Rockies but this year need to stay closer to home.

Please pass along some advice about how to plan a great five days in the Smoky Mountains without encountering too much cheesy tourism!

I looked at The Swag website, but it is somewhat out of this year's price range. Are there other high end lodges that aren't quite so pricey?

Best hiking? Waterfalls? Other activities?

Thanks!

[chroma601]

By all means go to the summit of Clingman's Dome. Spectacular five state views, and there's a half mile hike from the parking lot.

[RVT]

I would recommend the Cashiers / Highlands area. Whiteside mountain has some of the best views around, and the drive from there down to Franklin is first rate and has waterfalls. Stay away from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in Tennesee if you want to avoid the cheese.