It’s time to let dad know just how much his time, money, and sacrifice has meant to the family this Father’s Day, but gift cards and tool kits just don’t seem like enough this year. Go all-out with a family vacation and Father’s Day gift in one in Pigeon Forge! Book a little log cabin for mom and dad, or make a multi-generational father’s appreciation with a large group lodge. The Smoky Mountains are the perfect destination for every kind of dad, too, providing unique and adventurous ways to make memories, a gift he is sure to cherish a lifetime. Use these 10 ideas as a springboard to create his version of a dream vacation…
1) The Perfect Fishing Trip
Babbling streams reflecting the summer sunlight pouring through the trees, sips of refreshing, cold beers, and casting a rod from a lawn chair settled on the grassy banks… Treat dad to a laid-back, fun day of fishing in the trout-stocked streams found in Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Book one of our cabins on the river or hit up one of the numerous fishing spots in the area. Swing by the Smoky Mountain Angler to pick up any gear and some pointers from the local, well-trained staff.
2) Picturesque Day of Golf
For dads whose perfect Saturday morning consist of teeing-up, take him to the picturesque Bent Creek Golf Course in Gatlinburg. Designed by pro golfer Gary Player, this stunning par 72 course is surrounded by mountain views and is traced along by a peaceful, meandering stream creating an alluring course named as one of the “Top 50 Golf Courses in the South.”
3) Dad Jokes to the Max
While not everyone may enjoy dad’s jokes, the family is sure to get a kick out of an evening at the Comedy Barn in downtown Pigeon Forge! It may even supply him with some improved material…
4) Outdoor Adventures
Just up the road from Pigeon Forge in Sevierville, Tennessee, lies 150 acres of pristine Smoky Mountain country with tons of ways to explore and have fun as a family, and it’s some adventure dad will be talking about for years to come. Tour the forests along the area’s longest zipline, the Goliath, walk the Bridge to Prosperity, the nation’s longest swinging bridge suspended 70 feet above the East Prong of the Pigeon River, and sit down to delicious Tennessee barbeque at the Zippn’ Pig Snack Shack. From 8-wheel Bear Crawlers to tranquil hiking trails, outdoorsy dads will feel like they’re in heaven at Foxfire Mountain!
5) Growlers and Games
No need to leave the cabin after picking up your cookout supplies and favorite growler of beer from the Smoky Mountain Brewery. Pack your dad’s favorite outdoor games like Cornhole and Ladders to play outside while burgers and hot dogs sizzle on the grill and faint mountain breezes move through the surrounding forestry.
6) Some Artisanship Appreciation
Does the old man love working with his hands? Then he will really dig the 3-mile loop of shops that are the nation’s largest and oldest group of independent artisans. Along your tour of the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, see and experience first-hand generations of technique in woodwork, glass-blowing, quilting, leatherwork, and so much more!
7) The Way to His Heart: His Stomach
It’s no secret, Southerners love to eat and treat family dinners like a sacred ritual, so of course the Smokies of East Tennessee are home to numerous mouthwatering restaurants like The Old Mill and Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen. Take the man of the hour to his choice of restaurant and then reserve some quality nap time back at the cabin to follow.
8) Guided Hikes and Unique Guides
Whether it’s with the incredibly knowledgeable guides with A Hike In the Woods, or the absolutely adorable llama guides of Smoky Mountain Llama Trek, there are over 800 miles of trails creeping throughout the pristine forests of the Smoky Mountains that your adventurist dad will love to explore!
9) A Day on the Range
The Gatlinburg Sportsman’s Club welcomes non-members by appointment to their numerous shooting ranges and fishing hole when you call ahead. For dads that love their guns, book a day at the beautiful acreage of the Gatlinburg Sportsman’s Club!
10) Maximum Relaxation
When you book a cabin for dad, it really doesn’t take much else beyond the cozy interiors, the surrounding mountain scenery, and relaxing amenities awaiting in a Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Cabin. Let him and mom escape to a secluded cabin in the woods, or take the whole family to a mountain view cabin to grow closer while sharing in the inspiring scenery. No grand plans, sometimes dad just needs to unwind and a Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Cabin to run away to.
