Our Favorite Things To Do

Scenic Drives, Hikes, Restaurants & Local Attractions

Scenic Drives

Pack a picnic and take some time to explore the natural beauty of the area by driving one of the many scenic drives:

Foothills Parkway

Guests can pick up Foothills Parkway close to the cabin in Wears Valley or jump on it in in Walland and take it to Wears Valley. This drive is a MUST when you stay at Smoky High House and offers plenty of opportunities to see some amazing views of the Smokies!
https://www.gatlinburg.com/blog/post/foothills-parkway/

Little River Gorge Road

Guests can pick up Line Springs Road off of Wears Valley Road (at the intersection of the Mountain Bros General Store) and take it south to enter the national park at Metcalf Bottoms picnic area. Pack a picnic, swim suits, and towels, and find a spot to hang out along the river. If parking isn't available at the picnic area, you can drive either direction on Little River Road to find parking and a place for a picnic along side the river. Depending on the direction you drive, there are plenty of trail heads and beautiful areas to explore.

Cades Cove

Less than an hour drive from the cabin is this popular and historical area of the Smoky Mountains. Guests can drive the 11 mile loop, explore nature, and take a step back in history. Be aware of the days/times the loop is open to vehicles and that later in the day there can be traffic. We like to arrive at Cades Cove when it opens to avoid the long lines of traffic.
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm

Rich Mountain Road

If you don't want to drive the entire Cades Cove loop, you can pick up the entrance to Rich Mountain Road, which is a one-way 7 mile scenic drive through the mountains that drops you off in Townsend. It's definitely a beautiful, secluded drive and has some spectacular views of the Cove. Be aware that it is only open during the summer months.
https://www.cabinsofthesmokymountains.com/things-to-do/rich-mountain-road/

Smoky High House is close to multiple easy, moderate, or challenging hikes. Check out these links for popular trails:

Our Favorite Family Friendly Hikes

Here's a short hike near Smoky High House that is great for families: https://hikinginthesmokys.com/little-brier-gap-trail/
Closer to Gatlinburg is Laurel Falls, another good family hike for all ages since most of the trail is paved. Be aware that this is one of the most popular trails in the park because of the proximity to Gatlinburg. Attempt to go early in the morning or during the off season: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/laurel-falls.htm
Spruce Flatts Falls is another solid one. Our kids loved playing in the waterfall at the end of the trail. The photos below are from our hike to the falls in July 2021-- see if you can spot the black bear we came across when we arrived at the falls! https://hikinginthesmokys.com/spruce-flat-falls/

The towns of Wears Valley, Townsend, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg offer guests a wide array of attractions and restaurants.

Wears Valley Restaurants & Attractions:

Elvira's Cafe is a yummy place for breakfast and morning coffee! Be sure to save your receipt for a discount on your next visit. It recently made the "Top 100 Places to Eat Across America" and it's just at the bottom of the hill from the cabin: https://www.elvirascafe.net/
Harper Brothers Mountain General Store is a cute place to shop (located right next to Elvira's Cafe). There is also horseback riding available and a Skylift, but you can get better views just by driving Foothills Parkway: https://www.harperbrosmountain.com/
Mountain Brothers General Store is also a MUST for shopping and to try a variety of coffee to bring back to the cabin: https://mountainbrothersgeneralstore.com/
The Heavenly Roast is a new coffee shop and bakery (located right next to Mountain Brothers). They have delicious cinnamon rolls, a coffee bar, and a cozy atmosphere.

Townsend Restaurants & Attractions:

The Abbey is a cool old church turned into a Brewery/Restaurant. We love the atmosphere! Get there early enough to grab a place to sit next to the river: https://www.townsendabbey.com/
Trailhead Steak & Trout has great reviews and is a local favorite; you can also bring your own bottle of wine for a small corking fee: http://trailheadsteakhouse.com/
Apple Valley Mountain Village & Cafe is a fun stop for lunch and shopping: https://applevalleystores.com/cafe/
Burger Master is the place to be when it comes for an ice cream treat or a quick lunch stop: https://www.burgermaster.net/
Peaceful Side Social Brewery & Craft Kitchen is new! We love trying options on their drink and food menus: https://peacefulsidesocial.com/
Company Distilling Tasting Room: https://www.wbir.com/video/news/local/company-distilling-closer-to-bottling-bourbon-whiskey-in-blount-county/51-aabc2433-fbae-4f91-8757-be6100a56e2e
Tuckaleechee Caverns is located within a 10 minute from Townsend and a hidden gem! We highly recommend this attraction: https://tuckaleecheecaverns.com/
River Rat Tubing is located right off of Little River in Townsend and provides different options for tubing: https://smokymtnriverrat.com/tubing-adventures/