Driving trip in the Smokies
 

My husband and I (50ish)are leaving in late may for a 2 week driving trip in the Smokies . What cannot be missed. We are driving form Houston and want to fish golf and gaze at beauty. Where to?

Are we discussing only the Great Smoky Mountain National Park? And are we discussing driving for 2 weeks in the Smokies. If so you will be driving the same roads a lot.

I think you could drive all of them, even the dirt road at the north east end, the dirt road leading out of Cades Cove and just about everything else in 3 to 4 days.

No golf courses in the Smokies, but look at Gatlinburg. It is a cluster of motels and tourist traps stuck on the Tennessee side.

Then look at Cherokee on the North Carolina side. It has gambling, motels, fishing, etc. I am sure that there is a golf course near there somewhere.

And on the Tennessee side, there is Dollywood in the settlement of Pigeon Forge, which on flatter ground and certainly has a golf course or two or three.

Can't help you with the golfing, but I know there are a lot of courses in the area so maybe someone else can help you there.

Gazing at beauty, you are in the right place. Go to the visitors center in Gatlinburg or Townsend and get the packets on hikes, driving tours, etc. Cades Cove is great. Roaring Fork Motor Trail is gorgeous..The road from Townsend to Gatlinburg through the mountains has lots of pull overs. You will probably see lots of wildlife (deer, bear, turkeys) around the Cades Cove area.

For fishing, definitely contact Little River Outfitters in Townsend, TN, and hire a guide or take a lesson in fly fishing. These people are nice nice nice and always have clinics, etc going on.

You will have fun in the Smokies.

If you are looking for a great place to stay check out oakhavenresort.com...This place is beautiful. Cabins are immaculate and very tastefully decorated. Big porches, hot tubs, grills, swings...

If you want to do any shows, it really depends on your tastes. We have seen shows with just the two of us and have also taken the grandgirls to a few. A really good performance is put on by Louise Mandrell. She is high energy! Another show that is good is Country Tonite.

I love the Smokies. Bring binoculars and don't be afraid to get out at all the little pull offs that they have all over the park. We have had the best time on our vactions getting out at the ones that look like there is nothing there and finding great stuff.

I feel like I am in heaven when I look out over the mountains.

I also agree with Iceeu2 about the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. We go on it everytime we go to Gatlinburg and there are so many great little stops to check out. You can always find short trails to follow.

My brother golfs and had no problem finding golf there. He took picture that were beautiful of a golf course in Pigeon Forge.