Smoky Mtns/Southern Highlands in spring
 

I am planning a spring vacation for a middle aged couple in the April-May timeframe for 2014. We like easy to moderate hikes, kayaking and just relaxing with the scenery. We're not picky about lodging but it needs to be clean, quiet and have comfortable beds. We'd like to stay somewhere that we can walk to the hiking trails instead of having to drive everywhere, but we'd also like somewhere that there are restaurants etc within a relatively short drive.

As much as I like the Smoky Mtns, that's just not possible there, nor do I want to have anything to do with Gatlinburg. To me it's overpriced and under-delivers with wall-to-wall tourist traps and crowds. I suspect Cherokee, NC is just Gatlinburg with Indians. Bryson City looks promising but we'd still have to get in a car and drive everywhere.

Smoky Mountains gets all the publicity but the entire Southern Highlands is lovely in spring, down into Georgia and even up into Virginia. Can anyone suggest an alternate location that would still be interesting for about 5 days that meets our preferences?

Clayton GA and the surrounding towns in Rabun County.
Blue Ridge GA and ditto.

Have you considered Townsend...the quiet side of the Smokies? We always stay there to get away from the traffic and crowd nightmare of Gatlinburg. We've had very good luck with Dogwood Cabins and Townsend view Cabins. It's just 7 miles from Cades Cove, the 11-mile one way scenic drive in the park. There's a few restaurants in Townsend and a large grocery store to stock up on supplies. But you will have to drive to get to any hiking trails - this is going to be true anywhere you stay near the Smokies.

You've picked a spectacular time to visit the Smokies when all the wildflowers will be blooming. This site breaks down the trails in the Smokies by difficulty level:

http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/difficulty.htm

Thanks for the replies. I hadn't really heard of Rabun County so I will check it out.

I'm been in Townsend and I feel like we'd have to drive every time we left the hotel or cabin for either the park or dinner.

I'm in No AL, and I definitely agree, spring is the best time of year to hike in this region! That's a great link on the hiking trails; I have bookmarked it for reference.

"We're not picky about lodging but it needs to be clean, quiet and have comfortable beds. "

This is a place you would probably like just outside Clayton GA. You could easily walk to town for shopping and restaurants -
http://www.mountainairecottages.com/

You would have to drive to hike but there's so much to do in the area - and it's the coolest part of Georgia (temps).
Check out Clayton and Dillard and Rabun Gap
Lakes Burton and Rabun (rent a boat for the day)
Tallulah Gorge State Park (walk along the rim or down to the bottom of the gorge)
Black Rock Mountain State Park - highest state park in GA
A couple of wineries in the county
My favorite corner of the world :-)