The hottest new trend to hit the outdoor lovers community is glamping! There’s all sorts of kinds of glamping, like domes, treehouses, and even teepees. And one of the best places to head when you wanna get glamorous while camping… Tennessee in the US! Here at Stay Minty, we have taken glamping domes to the next level in the most visited national park in Tennessee, and the COUNTRY… The Great Smoky Mountains! But what is there to do besides enjoy your glamping dome?! Let us show you what to do on a glamping weekend in the Smokies!
Take a Hike
It’s no secret we’d all rather be lazy all day long in bed when we’re on vacay. But when you wanna stretch your bones, there are some badass hikes close by to our glamping domes that will absolutely be worth getting out and about. First, Clingman’s Dome. Keep the dome theme of the weekend going at the highest point of the Smokies. Bring your steep incline shoes cause this bad boy is a steep one, but worth the views from the top (pictured).
Second, head to Andrew’s Bald, located about minutes from the domes. The trail leads from the same parking lot from Clingman’s. The trail, named Forney Ridge trail, leads down through a lush tree lined path to a “bald”. A bald is like a clearing from the woods allowing for panoramic views overlooking the most stunning mountains. For more info on the trail specifics, check out this article! And for even more hike recommendations, click here and visit our FAQ of things to do nearby here!
Pull Off On Your Drive Through The Mountains
One of our favorite things to do in the Smokies is drive around to all the different viewpoints from the road. Turn up the tunes and break out the film… cause the views are immediate. As soon as you get out of the gimmicky downtown that is Gatlinburg, you enter some of the world’s best views. I recommend driving up towards Clingman’s and then turning off by the viewpoint area where the road forks down towards Cherokee. Explore that little town and then drive back up through town. Downtown Gatlinburg is a sight to see..
Discover Cade’s Cove
Cade’s Cove is a historical part of the national park that is the best place to see all kinds of animals! The best part?! You get to see it all from the car. It is a one way, 11 mile loop that has multiple different pull off points to see the 1800’s homesteads and other hiking trails. Allow yourself the better part of a day and expect to drive at sloths speed. It takes around 2-4 hours to go the 11 miles because of traffic lol. Still worth it. See the official NPS site here for more info on the current traffic conditions.
Drive through Emert’s Cove Covered Bridge
The last recommendation on what to do on a glamping weekend in the Smokies is to check out Emerts Covered Bridge. Located near downtown Gatlinburg, this covered bridge is a local fav. It is a great spot for family photos or a morning fish! Either way it is super picturesque and will add that travel blogger look to your feed. Click here for directions on how to get there.
Wanna know some more recommendations on what to do on a glamping weekend in the Smokies?! Check out our girl Morgo Goes’s blog here. And make sure to book one of our GLAMP domes here! Wanna know more about each one before booking?! Check out the FAQ’s here.
