Plan to spend the day in the cove to give yourself time to explore it. Historic homes, hiking trails, scenic views, hidden waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife make Cades Cove one of the most popular sections of the national park. The 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road takes about an hour to drive straight through – but you won’t do that because you’ll make at least one stop along the way. It’s only a twenty-minute drive to the entrance sign and rarely congested with traffic.
Townsend is my favorite place to stay while visiting Cades Cove. It took nearly an hour to get there and much longer to get back. I quickly learned it was the worst place to stay while visiting the secluded section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – and I never did it again. The first time I visited Cades Cove, I stayed at a nice hotel at the edge of the national park in Gatlinburg.
It was the most fun traffic jam I’d ever seen.Ģ05 Wears Valley Rd, Townsend, TN | 86 | Pinterest No. Near the end, just before the Webb Road bridge, a traffic jam emerged as dozens of people bumped together trying to get out of the water. The occasional burst of giggles and the low murmur of conversation between innertubers was the only break in the silence. The pace was pleasurably slow beneath the shade of massive trees lining the riverbanks. On that particular summer day, the splash of cold mountain water was a welcome respite from the humid summer heat. The more adventurous section from Outpost B – located beside Burger Master Drive In – requires a higher age limit because the river includes more rapids. This section is calm and suitable for all ages. From Outpost A at Wears Valley Road – where I began my adventure – it’s a two-hour float down the river to a pull-out at Webb Road. River Rat has two options for tubing in Townsend. Dressed in swimming shorts with my favorite Crocs Swiftwater Sandal, I plopped into a vibrant yellow innertube and began to drift down the cool mountain stream. Along with dozens of other visitors, I began my summer day at Smoky Mountain River Rat. The only traffic jam I ever witnessed in Townsend happened on the Little River. It takes about an hour to see all the exhibits inside the Main Gallery and take a walk through the Historic Village – but I would recommend spending at least two hours.ġ23 Cromwell Dr, Townsend, TN | 86 | No. The museum charges an admission ranging from $7-$10 per person. The buildings are open for visitors to explore and furnished according to the time the structure was built. The Historic Village is a collection of thirteen historical buildings from the Northeast Tennessee region relocated to the museum. Displayed in well-lit exhibit cases, the artifacts include interpretive information for the history buff.īut the best attraction at the museum is hidden behind, obscured from sight. The museum’s Main Gallery is home to the Native Americans of East Tennessee Collection – an assortment of historical artifacts from the bands of Native Americans who once called the area home. The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center hides one of the best attractions in Townsend. 02 Visit the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN | 80 | Yes! I would like to receive updates, special offers, and other The gift shop also has a nice assortment of clothing, jewelry, toys, and travel accessories.ħ906 E. Loaded with books on local history, travel, geology, and fiction, I always walk away with one or two in my hands. The gift shop is one of the best in the area. The staff will eagerly assist you in picking out travel brochures and even help you collect the National Park Passport cancellation stamp. You can get suggestions on what to do, things you need to see, and inside tips, you won’t find anywhere else – not even on my website. The information desk at the visitor center is always staffed by someone who knows the area. It’s one of the best visitor centers in the Smokies and the first place I visit every time I return to town. The Townsend Visitor Center is one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s official visitor centers – but it also serves the greater Townsend area.
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