Couple’s Getaway

Couple’s Getaway: Ages 23-24

Stayed approx. 15 miles outside of Gatlinburg (Townsend) in November.

Day One

What did you do? We ate lunch at Little River Pub and Deli– so good, very quick service, along the river and was attached to our Airbnb which made it even better. We went to Gatlinburg and finding parking and the traffic downtown was awful and there were people everywhere. Definitely would recommend going earlier in the day to beat the traffic! We did the sky-lift to the Sky Bridge– there were a lot of people and the bridge moved a little more than I was expecting it to, but the views from the lookout points were great and when you could find a place to sit it was very relaxing. After this we headed back to Townsend and ate at a local restaurant called Townsend Abbey. Townsend Abbey was SO cool! They had live entertainment, crazy quick service, and the food was AMAZING! They have a very unique vibe where you order at the register, find a seat and they bring it to you. Their indoor seating is card tables and church pews and they had outdoor seating with heat lamps. We ended up staying for a few hours for drinks and music, then went back to Little River Pub and Deli to try out some local craft beers.

What was you favorite part of the day? Definitely Townsend Abbey! We considered going back a second night because we enjoyed it so much, and after leaving we regretted not making a second trip there.

Tips/Wish I would have known: The traffic in downtown Gatlinburg if you don’t arrive early. If you plan on going and don’t want to deal with traffic or struggle trying to find parking, I definitely recommend going early in the morning!

Day Two

What did you do? We left Townsend early to get a good parking spot and to beat the traffic in Gatlinburg (much better experience than the day before!). We went to Anakeesta for zip lining- definitely buy tickets beforehand as they were sold out before they even opened. We took the sky-lift up which was cool and got to experience a lot of the park before it got too crowded. We loved the elevated treehouses and skywalk and all of the beautiful views. We did the mountain coaster which was a lot of fun. We got ice cream at Pearl’s Pie in the Sky, we ate at the Cliff Top Bar and Grill in Anakeesta and while we had a long wait to get seated, our food was quick and pretty good. We also enjoyed some other craft beers while we were there. We went back to Townsend for the evening and had an appetizer dinner at Smokin Joe’s BBQ which was pretty good.

What was your favorite part of the day? Anakeesta! We spent a lot of time there and really enjoyed ourselves. It’s a really unique scenery and gives you a beautiful view of the Smokies.

Tips/Wish I would have known: Buy your tickets for zip lining at Anakeesta ahead of time. This place is really popular so they can be really busy and sell out of tickets days in advance.

Day Three

What did you do? We had a pretty chill day as we were headed back to Lexington. But we did the Newfound Gap Motor Trail which I’ve done before and really enjoyed it. It was super long or crowded and it was soooo pretty with the changing leaves. When we got to the top we did a side trail with no one on it and enjoyed getting to blow off some energy from driving. We then came back down and did the Gatlinburg Trail at the visitors center. It was nice, but not the greatest trail I’ve done. It goes along the road for a little bit until it gets to a wooded area. It’s the only pet friendly trail, which is why we went, but if it hadn’t been for the dog we would have chosen a different trail.

What was your favorite part of the day?  The Newfound Gap Motor trail! It was beautiful this time of year and wasn’t too long.

Tips/Wish I would have known: Since there’s only one trail that’s pet friendly, you can’t do much hiking with your furry friend. We spent our mornings at the Airbnb with the pup, and we wish we could’ve taken him with us for more activities during the day.