Sevierville, a quaint mountain city in Tennessee, is the proper launching level for exploring all there may be to see in Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. There are many neat landmarks, museums, and retailers to take a look at. Not solely that, however you’ll discover some superior outside adventures and secret spots that many park-goers overlook.
These are the highest issues to do in and round Sevierville, Tennessee:
Museums & Landmarks
17. Tennessee Museum of Aviation
This fascinating museum is one in all Tennessee’s hidden treasures. To carry historical past to life, the founders of the Tennessee Museum of Aviation selected the Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Airport as its residence. Inside, you’ll discover classic plane, together with trainers, fighters, helicopters, jets, and even an “amphibious plane.” The museum even has flight demonstrations sometimes, so you possibly can see them in motion!
16. The Dolly Parton Statue
As one in all America’s favourite celebrities, that is no scarcity of locations across the US that pay homage to Dolly Parton. This life-size statue of the nation music sensation and philanthropist is particular, although. It’s in Dolly’s residence county, and her followers come from all around the world to see it.
Even if you happen to’re not an enormous nation music fan (I, for one, am not), visiting the Dolly Parton Statue whilst you’re in Sevierville is a ceremony of passage of kinds. Her legacy goes past her music, extending to her unimaginable generosity and charitable contributions. She did donate one million {dollars} to COVID-19 analysis, in any case, a few of which helped develop the Moderna vaccine. Thanks, Dolly!
You could find the statue on the Sevier County Courthouse garden in the guts of city.
15. Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Automotive Museum
I’ll admit that I’m not a lot of a “muscle automotive” type of gal, however I nonetheless discover one thing form of nostalgic about seeing tricked-out traditional automobiles. There’s a sure type of artistry to them that takes me again to lengthy afternoons spent in my grandpa’s storage watching him work on his personal outdated traditional Thunderbird — and doubtless inhaling method too many gasoline fumes…
Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Automotive Museum captures that form of nostalgia with its assortment of 90 muscle automobiles, valued at over $Eight million. The museum additionally homes a cool assortment of memorabilia, which helps carry the legacy of muscle automobiles to life.
14. Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
You could be questioning, Why on earth do salt and pepper shakers deserve to have their very own museum? As a result of actually, are these tabletop staples actually that attention-grabbing?
Properly, the founders of the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum are fairly ready to reply that query. They inform a narrative about their search to discover a new pepper mill and the way it introduced them to begin their assortment. I really like a unusual museum, so this piqued my curiosity. There I discovered a various assortment of over 20,000 pairs of salt and pepper shakers of every kind of styles and sizes.
Who doesn’t need to go residence after their Tennessee trip to inform their household and mates in regards to the wacky Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum? (Though not technically in Sevierville, the museum is only a fast drive away, in Gatlinburg.)
Excursions
13. Moonshine Historical past Tour
The manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of moonshine has an necessary place in American historical past, particularly in Tennessee. What was as soon as a forbidden beverage has now change into an enormous, multimillion-dollar trade. It has reworked from being largely a yard operation (and a harmful one at that) to having gigantic distilleries all around the nation.
You possibly can be taught all in regards to the historical past of moonshine on this Moonshine Historical past Tour by Tennessee Shine Co. Plus, the corporate gives free tastings of moonshine, whiskey, and wine afterward.
12. Wears Valley Helicopter Tour
Mountainous Sevier County is really a magnificence to behold, even from floor stage. Now think about seeing these mountain views from above. Should you’re in search of an exciting method to take in the beautiful Wears Valley, think about a helicopter tour, on which you’ll see the rolling foothills of the Nice Smoky Mountains from a complete new vantage level.
The tour covers 36 miles of Wears Valley and prices $149 per particular person.
11. Sky Excessive Air Excursions
Should you can’t get sufficient of the sweeping mountain views from above, Sky Excessive Air Excursions gives one other neat possibility. In distinction to a high-tech helicopter, Sky Excessive takes a distinct strategy, providing excursions in a 1927 Waco Mannequin 10 Straightwing.
Actually, all I understood from that identify is the “1927” half and, sure, the plane is certainly almost 100 years outdated. Sky Excessive considers this distinctive alternative to be like “taking a journey in a real piece of American historical past.”
Take a look at Sky Excessive’s tour choices right here.
10. Bluff Mountain Driving Tour
The Nice Smoky Mountains have among the most lovely surroundings in the nation in any season. Among the finest methods to get probably the most out of your go to is to take a drive alongside what locals name the Bluff Mountain Route. You’ll see unimaginable mountain vistas, peaceable meadows, dense forests, and far more on this self-guided tour.
Should you occur to be visiting throughout the fall season, even higher! There’s even a particular tour made particularly for fall, however you possibly can comply with the route any time of yr.
Outside Adventures
9. Forbidden Caverns
Whereas most individuals go to the Smokies to see the wonder above the earth’s floor, have you ever ever puzzled what lies under? The Forbidden Caverns are thought-about “one of the best attraction underneath the Smokies” — though I doubt there’s a complete lot of competitors. Regardless, they’re residence to some jaw-dropping underground rock formations, together with grottos, pure chimneys, and even crystals.
Among the finest methods to expertise Forbidden Caverns is to embark on a guided tour to be taught extra about their astounding geology.
8. Foxfire Mountain Bridge to Prosperity
Foxfire Mountain Journey Park is a superb place to go to in itself. It options outside actions comparable to zip-lining, whitewater rafting, and mountaineering trails. The true star of the park, although, is the Bridge to Prosperity. This 335-foot swinging bridge stretches over the Foxfire Gorge. As you stroll throughout it, marvel on the breathtaking views of the gorge under and proceed on to your subsequent journey in the park.
7. Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
The Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster is the longest alpine coaster (comparable to a curler coaster however set atop a mountain) in the USA. So that you already know that I’m about to let you know that you’ve got to journey it at the least as soon as in your Smoky Mountains journey. It’s in Pigeon Forge, solely about 15 minutes away from Sevierville.
6. Rocky High Mountain Coaster
Additionally positioned in close by Pigeon Forge, the Rocky High Mountain Coaster is the obvious subsequent cease. This one can be a enjoyable journey and infrequently will get dressed up for various holidays. Locals particularly adore it throughout Halloween season, when you possibly can journey it at evening for a spooky journey.
5. Rowdy Bear Ridge Journey Park
This theme park is precisely the kind of grownup playground that you just’ve been ready for. You’ll discover a tubing hill that’s over 500 ft lengthy and even the world’s first-ever energy coaster, together with a reasonably epic outside axe–throwing attraction. I don’t find out about you, however throwing a heavy axe at an enormous slab of wooden sounds oddly therapeutic. Discover all of those enjoyable actions at Rowdy Bear Ridge Journey Park.
4. Journey Park at 5 Oaks
As that is the third journey park on this listing, you could be onto my (not so) secret mission to get everybody to unleash their interior little one and have a bunch of enjoyable in Tennessee. With so many nice mountain views in the realm, it’s no surprise why there are such a lot of locations providing zip-lining and different outside adventures.
The Journey Park at 5 Oaks isn’t any exception and has 70 acres of pure magnificence to get pleasure from. There you possibly can zip-line, journey horses, or hike one of many many trails. In contrast to Rowdy Bear Ridge, this park has a extra laid-back vibe and is positioned nearer to downtown Sevierville.
Native Outlets & Eateries
3. Cruze Farm
Typically I’m wondering if different individuals get as enthusiastic about home made ice cream as I do. Should you fall into the class of individuals which are all the time on the hunt for one of the best ice cream joint whilst you journey, I’ve bought you lined with this one. Cruze Farm is a dairy farm in close by Knoxville that prides itself on its capacity to keep custom and high quality through the years.
That is evident in its scrumptious confections at its ice cream stands, that are vastly fashionable amongst locals and guests alike. There’s one in Sevierville, so be sure to cease in to see what all of the hype is about.
2. The Apple Barn Cider Mill & Common Retailer
As a Midwesterner, I grew up consuming apple cider donuts from a neighborhood pumpkin patch each fall. Once I see locations like The Apple Barn Cider Mill & Common Retailer, I can nearly think about the mouthwatering aroma of baked apples wafting via the air.
This homegrown institution not solely has a cider mill that makes recent apple cider, however it additionally has two eating places, a vineyard, a normal retailer, and even an ice cream parlor, all positioned inside the Apple Valley advanced. That’s proper, between The Apple Barn and Cruze Farm, you’ll be absolutely outfitted to run your personal private Sevierville ice cream competitors.
1. Ogle Brothers Common Retailer
The Ogle Brothers Common Retailer embodies the Southern hospitality that the Nice Smoky Mountains are recognized for. A go to right here is the proper method to finish your Sevierville journey, due to its fantastic assortment of handcrafted and domestically made souvenirs. The store options handpicked objects that each one have a narrative and characterize the group and its distinctive Southern spirit.
Sevierville actually captures what makes touring to the South so charming. Between the quirky Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, a life-size homage to Dolly Parton, quite a few journey parks, and the rolling hills of the Smokies, what’s not to love? With so many nice issues to do in Sevierville, think about including this all-American city to your Southern bucket listing and even tacking it onto your Southern street journey itinerary.
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