A month ago, I traveled to the South for the first time. It was fun to explore the state of Tennessee that brought us legends like Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, and Aretha Franklin.

My sister, friend, and I flew into Nashville and then drove to Gatlinburg, the city on the outskirts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our Airbnb was a beautiful cabin that stood upon a lush green hill overlooking the great open roads of Tennessee.

We began each morning with breakfast and then went on our hike of the day.

I hope you find this Smoky Mountains guide useful. Let me know in the comments down below if you’ve ever been to Tennessee and what you thought of it!

To Hike

Rainbow Falls

This 5.1 mile out-and-back hike leads to a pretty waterfall. This hike wasn’t challenging, but parts of the trail were slippery because of snow and ice.

Alum Cave

According to Park Ranger Jayne, this hike has “eye-candy left and right.” Her enthusiasm was infectious, so we followed her suggestion. I loved this hike because there was greenery everywhere and it rained, which made it feel as if we were in some fairytale.

Keep an eye out for the Eye of the Needle, a hole in a rock near the top of Little Duck Hawk Ridge, which can be seen from Inspiration Point. The hike goes through Arch Rock and then leads you to the Alum Cave, where you can rest before heading back.

Chimney Tops

This hike was one of my favorites because the view is a vast area filled with trees, which makes sense why the hike is called “Chimney Tops.” It’s quite uphill, so be prepared to feel your legs burn.

Cities to Explore

Luckily, Tennessee’s cities are quite small, so you can easily drive through them and explore for a bit.

Knoxville

Stop at Knoxville on the way to the Smoky Mountains.

We enjoyed pizza and beer on the rooftop at Preservation Pub. Afterwards, we headed downstairs to see a band perform. This place allows smoking indoors, so I would skip it if that’s not your thing. The vibes were fun and I’d recommend checking it out to get a bit of a culture shock. People weren’t that nice to us because we’re Californians and lots of them are moving to the South. But we made it to their hearts somehow!

Grab a drink afterwards at The Vault, a cool lounge in the vault of the former Holston Bank. According to their website, their dress code is quite strict, but somehow we got in wearing athleisure, whereas everyone else was decked out in suit and ties, or sparkly dresses!

Another secret bar worth checking out is the Peter Kern Library, which you can get in by following the mysterious red light in the alley. Don’t forget the secret password! Tip: check their Instagram or Facebook for it.

Gatlinburg

Take a walk down the main street in Gatlinburg. Tennessee is proud of their moonshine, so stop at Tennessee Shine Co. for a tasting. The tastings are $10 and you can try various flavored moonshine, like strawberry cream, chocolate milk, wild cherry and more. It’s not my favorite, but locals love it. You might get lucky and have TikTok star, Hillbilly Red, lead your tasting!

Stop by one of the wineries and try what the locals love. One of our servers said, “everything in the South is sweet.” And she was right! Our wine tastebuds in California are way different, so you might be surprised by what Tennessee locals love.

Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge is another city you can visit. It’s quite similar to Gatlinburg and also has lots of family-friendly attractions, like the Titanic Museum.

Stop by the Old Mill and General Store for tourist gifts and a selection of Moon Pies.

Sevierville

Visit Dolly Parton’s hometown Sevierville!

Take a photo next to the Dolly Parton statue and then grab a coffee at a local joint!

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I hope you all found this helpful! Would you visit the Great Smoky Mountains? Let me know down below!