Okay Elementors! Going on a road trip to The Great Smokey Mountains in the month of June. I'm staying in Bryson City, North Carolina. I would greatly appreciate it if you guys can give me some advice on things to do and places to go. Great resturants and must do activities in the area would be a great help and of course fun places to take the Element and the family. Hope to hear some awsome feed back! Peace and Thanks-a-Million!:D :D :D

I don't remember the name of it anymore, but there was an awesome restaraunt right in downtown Gatlinburg (if you make it over there) on the main drag. Very rustic feel, and it had a big flagstone fireplace in the middle of it.

Be sure and ride the tail of the dragon. Its a 11.5 mile road with 318 curves.
Here's a map.

Patman thanks for the info. Kissya thank you for that incredible map!! :D

Oh, your welcome. The Smokey's are 30 min from my house on the TN side.:D If you have time come on over to the TN side. You can do a search and come up with lots to do. Be sure to bring your camera. Hope you enjoy your trip.:D

I visit the area...the Dragon that is... :D at least 3 times a year! Twice a year, Spring and Fall, I coordinate S2000 events and then in the late Summer or early Winter, I just go solo (or with a few friends)...but nothing like the events that have 100+ cars! :???:

I've always wanted to take my ELEMENT into that part of the country...but I simply enjoy the S soooo much on the roads...ENJOY! Take great pics and SHARE them with us! :cool:

Thanks guys, I will definitely post pics after I get back! I so stoked!! :D

www.nps.gov/blri

Someone just shared that with me. Have a great trip!

WOW! Great link Barb, thank you! :razz:

My wife and I live near the TN side of the Smokies. We spend many weekends each year hiking in the Smokies. On the NC side, we would suggest a whitewater rafting trip on the Nantahala River, 20 miles west of Bryson City then have dinner at Relia's Garden at the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

http://www.noc.com/

Also check out the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Really cool train ride.

http://www.gsmr.com/

For an easy afternoon hike, try Deep Creek Trail at the Deep Creek entrance of the park in Bryson City.

In GSMNP itself I really liked sunset off the top of Clingmans Dome. The road up is pretty curvy and then it is maybe a mile walk up a paved (as I recall) path to a tower at the top. The tower gets you above the trees and you can get some great pictures up there. Then, of there is a long curvy ride out in the dark!

I would say avoid Pigeon Forge at all costs unless you have to go by Dollywood. PF is a 12 mile long 300' wide tourist trap town of about 5,000 stoplights and you will hit everyone going through it and some twice. :-|

I would say avoid Pigeon Forge at all costs unless you have to go by Dollywood. PF is a 12 mile long 300' wide tourist trap town of about 5,000 stoplights and you will hit everyone going through it and some twice. :-|[/QUOTE]

Sad but very true. I was caught in traffic just a couple of days ago.

There is several towns near Bryson City that have nice downtown areas. Try Dillsboro, Sylva, Franklin and especially Waynesville. Waynesville has Mast General Store which is a unique experience.

A great E ride would be to Wayah Bald Lookout Tower. Incredible sunrises and daytime views.

From Franklin, drive four miles West on US 64 and turn right at Wayah Bald direction sign. Take first left onto Wayah Road (SR 1310). Turn right at sign for Wayah Bald onto gravel road FS 69. Go 4.5 miles to parking area.

About a 45 minute drive from Franklin, NC. You can make this trip a long loop from Bryson City to Franklin to Wayah Bald to the Nantahala River and back to Bryson City. Maybe a 3 to 4 hour drive.

To compliment Kissya's post....you can get all the info you need about the Tail of the DRAGON (http://www.tailofthedragon.com/) here.

Also....be sure you take the time to go swimming at the "SINKS" in the National Park....it is really an experience you will never forget.

Let me know when you are going and if it is definately in June...as of right now I will be there July 14-16 and plan to ride the Dragon if we go.