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It’s 5 O’ Clock Somewhere, Even in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

We decided this summer that we weren’t travelling far so we started searching to see how far we could get in a day that had something for everyone. A late night internet search turned up Camp Margaritaville in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

I had no idea that a place like this existed so I dove a little deeper. It has only been open for 2 years and has all the amenities you could ever want. Plus it is right on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The spaces are all paved and fairly level, each space has full hook-ups that are close and easy to access.

It was late in the summer and I  was lucky enough to snag the last open spot. I love to travel but hate planning it!  It was in the lower loop away from the hustle and bustle which is how we like it and was backed by woods. The campground is also at the end of the “strip” in Pigeon Forge (which if you’ve ever been you know how busy that can be!) so that was a bonus. It is attached to Margaritaville Lodge so you benefit from all the lodge has to offer too – and it’s a lot! You can get breakfast, lunch or dinner right there not to mention boat drinks by the pool all day long! There is a fully stocked game room for rainy days, of which we only had one. Of course that one rainy day was the day we chose to go to DollyWood. Of course. All I have to say about Dollywood is cinnamon bread. OMG!

 The highlight of our trip this year was the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We’ve been around and by this National Park many times but never had the chance to explore it. Wow, what we’ve been missing! Our first day was a 2.3 mile hike to Alum Cave. If you ever go, just know that it is all uphill ( elevation change of 1,2000 ft to be exact)  so be prepared. This was one of the prettiest hikes I’ve ever gone on. It was through a hardwood forest and had these cool log bridges built over the waterfalls of the mountain stream.

The trail follows the stream up all the way up the mountain.

About midpoint you go through Arch Rock which is this gigantic rock structure you climb up through. When you finally reach Alum Cave it is breathtaking! The view is like no other! I’ll admit I was a little nervous about the height and the dry dusty surface of the cave. In my mom mind, I just saw us all go tumbling over the edge so I just parked it on a rock and let everyone else explore. Would I do it again? Of course.

Another day we drove Cades Cove loop road which is an 11 mile one way road that circles the cove. We would have loved to biked it but left them home this year. The park closes the road to cars every Wednesday and lets bikers and hikers have full access. We did not see any wildlife but I was intrigued by the burial landscape of Cades Cove. The loop is full of small, old churches and cemeteries. I had no idea so many of these existed within the hills of the Smoky Mountains. 

Our final journey in the Smokies was to Clingman’s Dome. Full discloser – if you have any fear of heights, maybe sit this one out. The Dome is an observation tower 6.643 feet high which is the highest point in the Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee itself and the third highest point east of the Mississippi. It offers a 360 degree view of the land but you have to climb a very steep (but paved) half mile walk to get there. Thank the park service for putting benches every 20 feet or so!! While we were up there a cloud moved in over us and it was totally surreal! 

And of course you can’t go to Tennessee and not get moonshine. I mean, you literally can’t, it’s everywhere! Some members of my family quite enjoyed multiple free tastings and I won’t say how much we brought home! Our vote for the best was Ole Smoky Moonshine so definitely give them a try!