Are you planning a vacation in the Smoky Mountains? If so, you’ll definitely want to add a few of these great outdoor activities to your itinerary!
Take a Hike: With 520,000 acres of natural playground space and almost 900 miles of trails, there’s a perfect hike for everyone in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Take a leisurely stroll on the Gatlinburg Trail, hike a section of the Appalachian Trail or trek up to the summit of Mount LeConte. Hike your hike and soak up your time on the trail!
Ride the Rapids: Raft a section of the Pigeon River with the NOC Gatlinburg. You can choose between an intermediate run on the Upper Pigeon Gorge or a relaxing float trip for the family on the lower end of the gorge.
Cades Cove: Walk it, run it, bike it: Take advantage of the Cades Cove Loop Road being closed to vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10a.m from May 8th through September 25th. The closure time is a perfect opportunity to take in the peacefulness of the cove and also provides extra safety for those biking and running the road.
Go horseback riding: Taking a horseback ride is always a great way to enjoy the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and if you’re staying with us at The Lodge at Five Oaks, you won’t have to go far for your adventure! The Five Oaks Riding Stables is located directly behind our Sevierville hotel. During your ride there you’ll not only experience views of the Smokies but you’ll also get a great sense of what life was like on Dr. John W. and Blanche Ogle’s Five Oaks farm.
Zipline through the treetops: While visiting the Smokies, you’ll find plenty of options for zipline and it’s definitely the perfect activity for the thrill seekers that also love the outdoors. If you’re staying with us, the Adventure Park at Five Oaks that is also located behind our hotel with the Five Oaks Riding Stables, is the perfect spot for taking a Canopy Zipline Tour!
Take a walk under the Milky Way: Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles from sunset to sunrise each day, however you can still walk the road after sunset. Walking the road on a clear, new moon night is one of the most magical experiences that you can have in the Smokies. A full moon night? A bit different, but still amazing!
Catch the sunrise from Clingmans Dome: It’s an early wake up call but there’s a good chance that it will be a sunrise you’ll never forget! Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise to catch the vibrant colors of the first light breaking over the ridges of the mountains!
Watch a sunset from the Cliff Tops of Mount LeConte: The Cliff Tops of Mount LeConte is one of the top sunset spots in the park. It requires a trek up the mountain and a night hike back down, but if that’s the type of adventure that you’re seeking you’ll want to add this one to your Smokies bucket list!
Challenge someone to a game of mini golf: Is it really a vacation the Smoky Mountains if you don’t play a round of mini golf? Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini-golf is located across the street from our hotel and is TripAdvisor’s #2 spot for Fun & Games in Sevierville!
Take in the views from the SkyBridge: It’s currently one of the hottest spots in Gatlinburg and the Smokies, take a stroll across the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in American and you’ll quickly see why it’s the talk of the town!
Explore Anakeesta: Wander in the treetops, zoom down the zipline, take in the views, ride a mountain coaster and more at one of the most loved attractions in the Smokies.
Have a picnic in the park: The national park is filled with great picnic spots. Find the perfect location for you and enjoy a timeless tradition among guests. Always practice Leave No Trace in and out of the park, it will help to keep our area clean as well as protect our treasured wildlife.
Spend the day wildlife watching: Wildlife watching is a wonderful way to pass the time in the Great Smoky Mountains, just be sure to always give the wild residents of the park 150ft of space to assure that everyone stays safe.
Tube the river: Rent a tube or bring your own, in the Smoky Mountains, you have never ending access to a beautiful and natural lazy river.
Find a secret swimming hole: Be social and enjoy a dip in one of the most popular swimming holes in the park or hike in a couple miles and find a solitary spot to enjoy.
Spend the day chasing waterfalls: The Smokies are filled with waterfalls and cascades and seeking out their beauty is the perfect way to spend the day!
Explore the park with a ranger: Stop in at Sugarlands Visitors Center for information on their ranger-led programs.
Cast away your worries while fly fishing: There are 300 trout streams covering over 700 miles in the hills of our mountains and they’re waiting for you to spend the day casting and relaxing in them!
Time travel: Take a trip through time in one of the many spots throughout the park where you can experience historical structures, remnants of the past and a glimpse at how life in the park was before the area was designated as a national park.
Take in a Smokies sunset: Don’t leave the Smokies without watching the sunset from a hillside or even in the valley. From Cades Cove to the Foothills Parkway and up to Clingmans Dome – witnessing a sunset is a must before heading back home.
As a guest at The Lodge at Five Oaks, you will not only will you be near some great outdoor adventures and less than 30 minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park but you will also have a free complimentary breakfast each morning, access to our outdoor pool, fire pits to relax by, free cookies in the afternoon, free parking, free wifi and more.
The more save on the little things, the longer you can stay and play.
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