Nashville and Gatlinburg
 

My husband and I live in Chicago and we are planning a trip to Nashville and Gatlinburg in the beginning of May. What I need to know which city would you go first and do you think it is possible to do both cities in a ten day span of time?

Thanks

Plenty of time. Gatlinburg is a the queen of tourist kitsch. You don't say what your interests are--the park, Dollywood, music, etc.

Are you flying into and out of BNA? I'd go to Gatlinburg first and then settle in Nashvile if I'm flying out of there. Take a trip to Franklin, very near Nashville and visit the Carnton Plantation. There is a good tour there and downtown Franklin has cute boutiques. I think you will have plenty of time for both. Leapers Fork is also a cute little village. It's on the national registry of historic places.

Sorry about that we want to drive, and we like to do all that touristy things, music, shops and good food

Southwest has a very quick direct route from Midway to BNA, if you're not completely set on driving. If you are, that's still plenty of time; you could even include some of the bourbon trail in Kentucky along the way (or something along those lines) if you're interested.

I don't think it really matters which you do first. If you fly, probably Nashville just so you're not flying and then driving 4 hours in the same day. If you drive, I'd just make a loop. Is your main interest in the town of Gatlinburg/tourist attractions or in seeing the Smokies? Do you plan to stay in a hotel or a cabin?

Just FYI - the town Cjar recommended is spelled Leipers Fork, for easier googling. :)

We spent 3-4 days in Nashville and were busy the whole time.
In Gatlinburg, we spent 3 days hiking & driving in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, one day visiting shops along the Arts & Crafts Loop.
The rest of Gatlinburg we found to be the epitome of tacky tourist trap, so we avoided it as much as we could.

Asheville would be SO much more interesting than Gatlinburg.

hello, ten days is enough to visit any city.
According to me, you should know about the city where you want to visit.
1. Weather of that month.
2. Tickets and accommodation.
3. The attraction of that city.
4. Routes of travelling.
5.All important documents, which you need at the travelling time and also have some photocopy of that documents.
IDEA- You can also book online tickets & hotel in advance with vouchercodesusa dot com

Oh, Karen, Karen, such important ideas for a travel agent to give.

"Asheville would be SO much more interesting than Gatlinburg."

Unless of course they WANT

"Asheville would be SO much more interesting than Gatlinburg."

Unless of course they WANT to see Gatlinburg!

Ooops don't know what happened. Anyway, people love to piss on Gatlinburg when in fact there is soooo much more to the area than just downtown Gatlinburg which yes can be very crowded and tacky.

There are literally hundreds of absolutely beautiful cabins to be had in the surrounding areas that offer just about anything you could ever imagine and are a thousand times more comfortable (and usually cheaper) than an upscale hotel room. There is so much to do in the area as well there is the Smokey Mountain national park which is chock full of things to keep you busy. But there is also Dollywood, golf, horseback riding, art galleries, boating, ATV trail riding, zip lines, ropes courses, whitewater rafting, good southern cooking, moonshine tastings, or just relaxing on your own mountaintop porch gazing at the beautiful scenery.

Don't let the skeptics talk you out of Gatlinburg.

As someone who went to camp just outside Gatlinburg when there was ONLY the Gatlinburg Inn and it was the most charming mountain town, I AM biassed. And when we stayed in a little place on a creek, it was fun. Everyone's idea is different--
If you want wall to wall tourist, it is the place to go.
Asheville is a fun, happening place with great places to eat, and other attractions, less "neonny".

I would only subtley suggest that "gmoney" could be a disguise for "gatlinburgmoney" to keep from being triangled/removed for advertising. Just a cynical thing about me, I know.

""gatlinburgmoney" to keep from being triangled/removed for advertising."

LOL, advertising what? Believe me I have no vested interest in promoting that part of the country, it's just a place that we love to visit and have been doing so for years. If you would look at the area as a whole and not just downtown Gatlinburg you might see that.

I LOVE the area as a whole and not Gatlinburg. Used to spend a good bit of time there but not Gburg. ;o)
What would you suggest other than Gatlinburg for the OP. I just suggested Asheville as a lovely place with a lot to do.

I'm just saying that Gatlinburg is a very small part of the whole area which is GSMNP/Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Townsend. When we visit that area for a week we will only spend about a half a day in Gatlinburg if that. We usually take the very scenic by-pass around Gburg to get to the park. When people speak of Gatlinburg they are usually referring to the whole area.