Unique Things for Couples to Do in the Smoky Mountains
It’s still warm enough to roam wherever your heart desires in these beautiful mountains, but the promise of fall is in the air, especially at night. You’ve unpacked your bags and the map in your heart is wide open to UNIQUE Smoky Mountains suggestions. Let’s get into it!
Covered bridge fans love to veer off the beaten path. Maybe you do, too? Not many who find these mountains a refuge from everyday life want to spend their entire vacation in the maddening crowd. Hop in your car and head to the Harrisburg Covered Bridge for some one-of-a-kind couple selfies. You’ll be able to mind-travel back to this happy time over and over again once you’re back in the daily grind – just look at the printed photo on your desk!
You’ll take TN 339 to Harrisburg Road. You’ll soon roll up to the last historic covered bridge in Sevier County (home of Sevierville, and close to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg). Built in 1875, this structure is actually one of Sevier County’s last surviving historic covered bridges. A true local treasure. You’ll find yourself dreaming of the days when ladies wore elegant dresses and men always opened doors for them. Covered bridges truly bring out the romantic in us all. If you’d like to see a modern covered bridge with a walkway, the Emert’s Cove Covered Bridge in Sevierville, constructed in the year 2000, offers another fun photo opportunity. Though it isn’t historic, it certainly evokes a bygone era and provides a rustic experience. Not many of these being constructed in modern times! The structure fits into the beauty of the nearby river and the overall mountain setting enjoyed in Sevier County.
Another fun diversion off the beaten path may be found in nearby Townsend, Tennessee. The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center offers exhibits geared toward the history and culture of the area, including Appalachian music, Native American art and more. You can enjoy something great to eat at the Peaceful Side Social (open for lunch and dinner).
Over coffee, you can reorient yourselves toward the Cataloochee Valley. While the throngs are descending on Cades Cove, only to crawl inches by the hour, you’ll be flying freely toward a beautiful destination. It’s on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, so it will take a bit to get there, but it is well worth the effort. Six miles north of the town of Maggie Valley, The Cataloochee Valley offers absolutely unmatched mountain views. Visitors report abundant wildlife, including the herds of elk which roam freely in this slice of heaven on earth. The best part? Little crowds to navigate. Few lookie-loos creeping too close to bears or jamming the traffic for six miles. Just nature, nature, and more nature. You’ll find yourself dreaming of living there.
If the idea of finding your own way in a place as vast as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is overwhelming, there’s a company that has designed an experience just for you. The Smoky Mountain Elk and Waterfall Jeep Tour is practically calling your name! The tour departs from Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Ride in an open-air jeep through five historic mountain tunnels. Thrill to the sight of the 120-foot Mingo Falls. Enjoy the sweeping, gasp-inducing views from Soco Gap, from an elevation of 4,340 feet. You’ll experience part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and learn lots of local lore. It is an interesting and inspiring tour to remember. Elk and other wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, but the tour’s success rate is awfully high! Bring a good camera!
Back in the Gatlinburg area, fresh from your North Carolina Smokies adventures, you want some good food and another quintessential “mountain” memory. Anakeesta’s got you covered. What could be more romantic than taking their Crystal Express glass-bottom gondola up the mountain at dusk to enjoy an outdoor meal? We’ll tell you.
Thirty minutes after nightfall, the Anakeesta Treetop Skyline has been transformed into a wonderland of twinkling lights designed to call to mind the synchronous fireflies the Smokies are famous for. Take a stroll through the “Firefly Experience” and immerse yourselves in the magic of a Smoky Mountain night, smooth as velvet and lit by the creative minds at Anakeesta. Another memory to hold close to your heart when you’re back in the nine-to-five. If you’ve been up here before (and even if you have not), it’s time to open your mind to new possibilities. The magical experiences in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are, quite literally, endless. Think outside the box. You’ll be glad you did!
Book Your Stay in Our Cabins near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
B’ s Nest | CJ’s | Kelci Kabin | McKenzie Kabin | Maggie House | Nite Vu Cabin
Would you like more couple’s things to do in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville?
