Here for a week of relaxation with the gf. Any suggestions on food, attractions, things to do etc. Lookin for something to get into!
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Its busy AF for real, i believe its the most visited national park in the US. Traffic around there suckssss
Dollywood is a MUST
The treetop ziplines and mountain coaster rides are fun
Definitely go hike lots and look for the bears!
So many pancake houses, get fat
Enjoy!
Heres some pictures
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We thought about hiking but remembered the bears lol we ain’t really used to dealing with those. Definitely a good difference in weather vs the heat & humidity.
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Well, luckily its what i call a drive through National Park…in that its made for those who arent used to hiking or nature or have mobility issues but want to experience the beauty of outdoors
Everything is super accessible and almost all the hikes are easy so theres tons of people all over every trail. Encountering a bear is rare and people will be pulled over on the roads trying to get pictures 
Its much cooler in the mountains than you would think
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We saw bears while hiking and they didn’t care about us at all. I had a big male black bear walk across in front of me maybe 20 to 30 ft and he acted like I wasn’t even there. Cades Cove is a decent spot for driving around to see wildlife including bears but it gets super packed by like 9am so go as early as possible. Roaring Fork is another good loop. Hike to one of the numerous falls, and yes it is highly unlikely that you will be alone on any hike. That is such a crowded park.
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Went there today, one bear and a yote pup. Bunch of turkeys!
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Don’t think there’s any wolves there. Probably a coyote…
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They newly introduced red wolves back into Cades Cove. Thought the same thing too…I was here about 10 years ago, place was full of big bucks. Now I don’t think there’s many around.
Edit…I lied, confirmed it was a yote pup.
The red wolf reintroduction there happened in the 90’s and wasn’t successful. There are red wolves in NC closer to the coast, but its a very limited population.
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Black bears are more scared of you than you are of them. They won’t mess with you unless you get between a mamma and her cubs.
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The Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is one of the best aquariums I have been too. Well worth the ticket cost.
The Smokey Mountain Knife Works https://smkw.com/ is fun to just walk around and people watch. I can spend hours there watching the rednecks look at cheap knives. They also have a bunch of cool kitchen gadgets. I bought a burger patty press the last time I was there. And across the parking lot is a lodge cast iron scratch and dent outlet.
One of the best things about that area is people watching. You will see some of the weirdest people that never get out of their home towns except to go to Gatlinburg.
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