Traveling along a winding road shadowed by peaks of majestic mountains, you enter Cades Cove — a lush pastoral valley floor that has escaped the hustle of the 21st century. Located on the west end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, the area hosts undisturbed wildlife around an 11-mile scenic loop road.
Barns, churches, a school and many cabins that date back to the 19th century dot the scenery. Children will enjoy the working grist mill and the abundant wildlife in the 5,000 acres of open meadows. An occasional glimpse of a native black bear is the finishing touch needed to complete nature’s showcase in America’s most visited national park.
As the golden-hued autumn leaves have fallen, so have the enormous crowds, making winter an optimal time to visit the area. Among the oldest mountains in the world, the Smokies have more than 10,000 species of plants and animals.
The most popular drive through the park is Newfound Gap Road, which reaches a height of 5,048 feet above sea level.
An occasional snowfall leaves the mountaintops decorated with a shimmering welcome for hikers, campers and casual observers.
Laurel Falls
A great family hiking trip is Laurel Falls, with an easy two-and-a-half-mile round trip on paved trails culminating in a 60-foot high waterfall.
The Arch Rock Trail is two and a half miles and leads to an erosion-created tunnel for a magical adventure with children. Check with the Great Smoky Mountains Information Center for an itinerary that is tailored to your level of activity.
For information call 1-865-436-1200 or visit www.great.smoky.mountains.national-park.com/info.htm.
Gatlinburg
Nestled beneath the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg features charming shops filled with local crafts and an array of family attractions.
The unique Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community is an eight-mile loop that is home to more than 100 artists and craftspeople in 80 shops, studios and galleries, preserving the craft heritage.
Ober Gatlinburg
Ober Gatlinburg has long been a favorite destination for church youth groups.
America’s largest aerial tramway can access the ski resort and amusement park from downtown Gatlinburg, for those daring enough to travel through the air. For the more faint of heart, a drive along Mount Harrison is another option.
The park’s spacious indoor ice arena and alpine slide — a dry-track simulated bobsled — are always popular.
The ski resort has one of the largest and most advanced snowmaking systems in the world, but ski area operators do appreciate a good natural snowfall.
Snow skiing is available mid-December through early March with a variety of slope difficulty. For information, call 1-800-251-9202 or visit www.obergatlinburg.com.
Ripley’s Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium is one of Gatlinburg’s and America’s newest and most visited aquariums. It is a great opportunity to teach children about the wonders of God’s creatures in the ocean.
Children enjoy petting a stingray in the Touch a Ray Bay area, viewing 11-foot sharks and observing more than 8,000 species of exotic tropical fish in 1.4 million gallons of fun.
Do sharks sleep? Find out for yourself when you spend the night at the aquarium. The unique program provides a fun-filled night of dive shows and scavenger hunts that end with the participants drifting off to sleep while sharks swim nearby.
Chaperones are required to stay with the group. For information, call 1-888-240-1358 or visit www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com
Christus Gardens
Be sure to visit the nation’s number one nondenominational religious attraction in Gatlinburg, Christus Gardens. It can turn an ordinary afternoon into an uplifting experience.
From the Nativity to the Ascension of Christ, visitors embark on a spiritual journey as they walk through life-size scenes featuring more than 100 biblical characters, music, special effects and memorable narrations.
Once inside, the first thing guests see is The Promise, a 900-square-foot mural depicting Old Testament history. This is the only such painting of its kind in the world by artist Mark Pedro.
Each biblical character features wardrobes made by B.J. Simmons, Ltd. of London, the company that fashioned wardrobes for the movie “Ben Hur.” The use of actual human hair inserted one strand at a time heightens the look and feeling of realism in the figures.
Note the priceless collection of coins from biblical times, considered the finest in the United States.
Among those are the Shekel of Tyre, the type of coin that made up the 30 pieces of silver paid Judas for the betrayal of Christ, the biblical widow’s mite and one of the rarest gold coins in existence, a 10th century Byzantine Empire coin that was the first to portray the head of Christ.
Visitors can also view the Face of Christ, a concave sculpture that is carved into a six-ton block of Italian Carrara marble. The carving was created in such a way that the entire face seems to follow your movements. For information call 1-865-436-5155 or visit www.christusgardens.com.
For Gatlinburg information, call 1-800-343-1475 or visit www.gatlinburg-tennessee.com.
Pigeon Forge
Nearby Pigeon Forge, Tenn., is home to Dollywood, a theme park that is a family favorite.
Of course, the park rides are the first priority with children, but adults can enjoy the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Items from some of the greatest gospel singers, writers and musicians are on display, including the original Blackwood Brothers bus.
The park also hosts the annual Southern Gospel Jubilee held each fall. Check for hours of operation by calling 1-800-Dollywood or visiting www.dollywood.com. For information, call 1-800-251-9100 or visit www.pigeonforge.com.
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