Turn this Father’s Day into a trip your dad will always remember with an incredible Smoky Mountain adventure. Enjoy quiet moments of relaxation while fly fishing, bond over a daring zipline excursion, toast to a great life with some mountain moonshine, or just soak up the fresh air in the great outdoors. It’s really all about showing your dad how much you appreciate him and all he’s done for you. Read on for these top 7 things to do in the Smoky Mountains that will make this Father’s Day amazing.
Raise A Glass To Dad
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a refreshing glass of good old mountain dew while soaking up incredible scenic mountain views. Celebrate your dad with a toast at one of these fantastic Smoky Mountains distilleries.
Ole Smoky Moonshine is Tennessee’s first legal (and largest) moonshine distillery. With two locations in Gatlinburg and one in Pigeon Forge, they have made a lasting mark as a leader in moonshine and whiskey production. Sample flavors like Apple Pie, Sweet Tea, Cinnamon, and Eggnog. Take a behind-the-scenes tour to see how the moonshine’s made, and stick around for free concerts, where you just might hear big-name acts like Easton Corbin or the Soggy Bottom Boys.
Belly up to the bar at the award-winning Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg for a behind-the-scenes look at the art and science of distilling, then finish off with a tasting. Try their time-tested classics, or sample original flavors like Blueberry Muffin, Maple Bacon, or Apple Pie. Afterwards, hang around on the back patio for some free live music from talented local bands and touring acts.
Over on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, there’s Elevated Mountain Distilling Company in Maggie Valley. Tour the corn-to-whiskey process at Elevated to learn how their whiskey is made, then sample a tasting. You can also take the stage for karaoke on Thursday evenings or enjoy live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Treat Dad to a Special Meal
Take dad out for some delicious dining! Restaurants in Gatlinburg and all around the Smokies run Father’s Day specials this time of year.
For an elegant – yet not too stuffy – evening out, enjoy the fine dining at The Greenbriar Restaurant in Gatlinburg. They specialize in hand-cut prime steaks, fresh produce, house specialties, and craft cocktails, and their unique chef-driven menu will tempt your taste buds with an array of delightful cuisine.
For a divine taste of mouthwatering BBQ, visit Delauder’s BBQ. A small spot just 10-minutes from Gatlinburg’s bustling center, it’s like stopping by your neighborhood BBQ joint and sharing a meal with your friends.
If you’re on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, head to J. Arthur’s Restaurant, located in Maggie Valley, where you’ll enjoy local Smoky Mountain cuisine and steakhouse dining. Dive into menu items like seafood, steak, Homemade French Onion Soup and Prime Rib. And if Dad is craving seafood, try the Creekside Oyster House & Grill in Sylva, NC. They serve fish, shrimp, and of course oysters as well as burgers, salads, and sides.
If you’re looking for a new restaurant in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, this might be the place for you. HomeCraft Restaurant brings a new dining experience to Maggie Valley. This is inside the Meadowlark Motel and is open from 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm every day. 7 days a week. The restaurant offers a wide range of menu choices from traditional home-cooked meals to a specifically tailored menu. Both locals and visitors looking for something new should stop by HomeCraft for dinner.
Get Your Hands Dirty
One of the most immersive things to do in the Smoky Mountains is exploring the amazing handmade arts and crafts created by local artists – and maybe even making something yourself. There are incredible artisans and craftspeople who pay homage to the heritage of past Smoky Mountain generations with their talents, like Mountain Mike’s Whetstone Woodworks in Maggie Valley, NC.
This shop showcases the chainsaw carvings of Mike Ayers. He looks at a tree trunk and sees the form just waiting to be revealed with nothing more than a chainsaw and his imagination. From a safe distance, you can watch as he carves his creations on-site. You might see anything from native Western North Carolina animals to superheroes or anything you can dream up. (Fun fact: Mike holds the world record for most bears carved in an hour at thirty-eight.)
In many places throughout the Smokies, you can watch the artists create or take a class yourself. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts offers workshops in woodworking, metals, textiles, clay and so much more. If your dad is crafty or good with his hands, this could be just the thing for a special Father’s Day treat.
Go Fly Fishing in the Smoky Mountains
There’s nothing quite like the peace and quiet of a mountain stream. The wind softly whispering through the trees, the soothing rush of water over rocks, the splash of the lure as it glances off the water’s surface. It’s a freedom that every angler knows all too well. Whether your dad is an expert fisherman, or he’s never cast a line, fly fishing in the Smoky Mountains is an incredible bonding experience.
Running right past the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley, you’ll find the rippling waters of Jonathan Creek, part of the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters. The motel’s beautiful recreation area that stretches 200 feet along the banks of the creek comes complete with picnic tables, a fire pit, and a 24×40-foot outdoor pavilion, where you can hear live music every Saturday night along with other Smoky Mountain Heritage Center events.
Or in Tennessee, you’ll find one of the most popular trout fishing spots in the Smoky Mountains on the main section of the Little River. This area flows all the way from the cascading Sinks area inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park down to Townsend, TN. The whole route is easily accessible by road, so you can pick from a wide-ranging area. Choose from waterfalls, deep pools, or expansive glassy stretches bordered by towering evergreen trees.
Go for a Hike
Being a father isn’t always easy. Maybe your dad needs some peaceful time out in nature, a chance to disconnect in order to reconnect. Discover fresh air and freedom with a hike in the woods.
Hiking is a favorite thing to do in the Smoky Mountains, and Cades Cove is certainly one of the most popular spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But if you want to avoid the crowds and get a different perspective of this historic area, take time for the challenging 8.5-mile Rich Mountain Loop Trail. On your way up to a maximum elevation of 3,691 feet, you’ll hike past a gorgeous meadow that’s all dressed up for autumn, surrounded by trees that are changing colors. In the midst of these autumn hues, keep an eye out for the John Oliver Cabin, one of the oldest structures in the entire park.
Before you get to Cades Cove, take a quick detour on Little River Road for a glimpse of the gorgeous Laurel Falls, which is stunning in autumn surrounded by amber toned leaves. At 80 feet tall, this stunning waterfall is named for the mountain laurel shrub that blooms nearby in May. You’ll find the trailhead about 3.8 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center, and it’s a 2.6-mile round-trip moderate hike. The upper and lower sections of the falls are divided by a walkway that crosses the stream. Enjoy the cooling mist along the walkway but stick to the path. The rocks are slick with water and algae – no wading or climbing.
Enjoy a Ziplining Adventure
If your dad is on the more adventurous side, take him on a ziplining excursion! Anakeesta is Gatlinburg’s premiere outdoor family theme park, showcasing the beauty and adventure of the Great Smoky Mountains, and there’s a reason why their ziplining team has won the Best Zipline Award three years in a row. The Dueling Zipline Adventure is not only an exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping ride high above the treetops, but the side-by-side lines allow you to race against each other.
Over in North Carolina, you can soar across two miles of fantastic mountain-to-mountain zip lines that take you above the treetops and into the open air at the Nantahala Gorge Canopy Zipline Tour. This high-flying, fully guided trek located in Bryson City is the original zipline canopy tour in Western North Carolina and continuously ranks as one of the favorite things to do in the Smoky Mountains.
Take a Scenic Drive
After all that excitement, a peaceful scenic drive is just the ticket to round out the perfect Father’s Day weekend – and Clingman’s Dome has views that pay off. At 7 miles each way (14 miles round trip), this drive will take you through the traditional “high country” of the Smoky Mountains right up to the Dome itself. With an elevation of 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which means it also has some of the best panoramic views any time of year. Once you’ve arrived, get out and stretch your legs on the half-mile walk up to the top of the observation tower. There are plenty of places to get great snapshots along the way, but make sure you actually go all the way to the top. You don’t want to miss the 360-degree views that will absolutely take your breath away.
