Things to Do – Page 3 – Inside Sevierville

Top 5 FREE Things to do in Sevierville

No matter where a summer, winter, fall, or spring vacation takes you, there’s always that part of you looking for a great deal, or even better yet, FREE things to do while you’re out of town. For a place like Sevierville, there’s no lack of FREE attractions to take in once you hit town.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – The most visited national park in the country and the only one that is FREE to enter. Named an International Biosphere Reserve, the park has more than 10,000 discovered species, including 100 species of native trees (more than any other North American national park), 400 flowering plants, more than 4,000 non-flowering plants, more than 200 species of birds, 66 types of mammals, 50 native fish species, 39 varieties of reptiles, and 43 species of amphibians. The entrance is located approximately 12 miles from Sevierville and the park covers approximately 800 square miles in Tennessee and North Carolina. It’s not uncommon for the park to see 10 million visitors come through its gates annually.

2. Dolly Parton Statue – Sevier County’s own, and its favorite daughter. Take a picture at Dolly’s bronze statue at courthouse square in downtown Sevierville. Parton said at one point that the presentation of her statue (in 1987) was her proudest moment. Parton’s Books From Birth has provided FREE books to young children in Tennessee and across the country over the years and the Dollywood Theme Park bears her name in nearby Pigeon Forge.

3. National Knife Museum at Smoky Mountain Knifeworks – Before buying that perfect knife, tour the National Knife Museum and find out the history of the knife from as far back as 6,000 BC to today. See more than 12,000 knives displayed in chronological order. The National Knife Museum at Smoky Mountain Knifeworks is open seven days a week.

4. Sevier County Heritage Museum – Explore Sevier County’s past from Eastern Woodland Indians to the first white settlers and beyond.

5. Smoky Mountain Winterfest – Millions of twinkling lights dot the Great Smoky Mountains area. Free food, local entertainment, kids’ games and fireworks kick off Winterfest in November. The evening concludes with the “flipping of the switch” to activate the Winterfest lights. Pick up a free pair of Winterfest in 3D Glasses at the Sevierville Visitor Center on Hwy 66 while supplies last. These glasses help you see Winterfest in a whole new light as every point of light shifts into a snowflake. Winterfest take places from the beginning of November through February 28, 2013.

Hazel Creek

If you’re coming to the Sevierville area this year and plan on spending most of your time here in the great outdoors, it’s likely that you’re one of the many people who enjoy fishing the waters of the Great Smoky Mountains. Around here, one of those bodies that numerous anglers seek out is Hazel Creek, located at the southern end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

For fishermen, it’s almost like killing two birds with one stone. Not only are there ample opportunities to catch some beautiful Smoky Mountain trout on Hazel Creek, small-mouth are also said to populate this area.

A tributary of the Little Tennessee River, Hazel Creek is found in the southwest portion of the Great Smoky Mountains and is also home to a few backcountry campsites. It’s one of the larger streams in the park and can be accessed from the Hazel Creek Trail – a 14.7 mile hike found at the site of the old town of Proctor.

But enough with the history lesson, etc., what about the fish? There is plenty brown and rainbow trout in this Smoky Mountain creek. Brook can be found in the headwaters, but those are catch and release only. From a casting standpoint, Hazel Creek is not difficult at all and there is plenty of room.

Many regard Hazel Creek as one of the best, if not THE best, streams for trout fishing in the national park. This is partly due to the food supply – Hazel Creek has a large supply of aquatic insects of different genus and species for the trout to eat like Caddis flies and mayflies. The Hazel Creek valley was also once home to several mountain families, as well as a large lumber company at one point. This damaged the stream in many ways but also, at least from a few standpoints, improved the stream insofar as its ability to support non-native species of fish.

The lower reaches of Hazel Creek not only hold trout, but healthy populations of largemouth, smallmouth, and rock bass. This is one of the very few places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where largemouth bass can be caught by fly fishermen.

Crossing the lake by boat is perhaps the easiest and most popular way to visit Hazel Creek. For a modest sum, the operators of the Fontana Village Resort Marina provide transportation across the lake by arrangement.

Southeastern Select Alpaca Show

If you’re planning on bringing the kids into town, especially during the first weekend in March, a unique way to spend one of the days would be stopping by the Southeastern Select Alpaca Show.

Alpacas will be shown, and their fiber sold during the Southeastern Alpaca Association’s (SeAA) Southern Select Alpaca Show. The show will be held at the Sevierville Events Center March 1-3, 2013. Admission is FREE and open to the public. Friday, doors open at 8 a.m. and festivities will conclude Sunday at 6 p.m.

Alpacas from all across the south including all states that border Tennessee will be featured in the show ring competition. Alpaca enthusiasts, mark this on your calendar! Again, bring the kids to the show! The show will be comprised of classes judging and fleece quality judging in categories for both Suri and Huacaya alpacas.

Saturday morning will feature the halter classes, then the performance classes will be judged before things get started with the costume classes. If you decide to come out, the costume class judging is a great event to take in. Four age groups (under 9 years old, 9-11 years old, 12-14 years old and 15-19 years old) will strut their stuff with their costumed alpacas in the main show ring. This will all occur before lunch by the way.

The way this part of the judging works is that alpacas will be graded on the covering of the animal, the comfort of the animal with foreign objects on their head, legs and feet, how imaginative the costume is, as well as the story. Participants in this class must write in informing judges about their costume, the story, etc.

After the costume competition, fleece show winners will be presented at a special luncheon. Attendance is key if you are interested in learning more about the focus of the alpaca business.

Also on Saturday, an alpaca auction will begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free and appetizers will be served. A cash bar will be available. This auction is sure to keep you on your toes, showcasing top quality herd sires and a room full of energy and anticipation!

Throughout the weekend, artisans will showcase alpaca fiber and examples of felting, fiber arts and more. Dozens of vendors and farm displays will sell the latest alpaca fashions and hand-crafted items.

Meigs Falls

One of the lesser known and far less traveled trails to a Smoky Mountain waterfall is the Meigs Falls trail just outside Sevierville on the way to Gatlinburg.

To reach the falls, take the Meigs Creek Trail, which is located 11.4 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center, just outside Gatlinburg in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The bottom of the falls is actually a great place during the spring and summer months for swimming and cooling off on a hot day.

Don’t judge the area by the parking lot. While it does stay busy and, the Meigs Creek Trail to Upper Meigs Falls is one of the less traversed. Most people use the lot to park and walk to other trails or points of interest in the area.

Just below the confluence of Curry Prong, Henderson Prong, Bunch Prong, and Bloody Branch on Meigs Creek you’ll find Upper Meigs Falls. It’s a 15-foot cascade into a small pool shaded by thick rhododendron and a hardwood forest. You must climb two hills on the way there, which makes it a moderately difficult hike.

The trail drops from The Sinks viewing area into a quiet forest and begins the first of two climbs. Look for bear in the thin understory of this second-growth cove. The trail climbs steadily west to a hairpin at .7 miles, where it turns sharply east and crests with views of Lumber Ridge and Meigs Mountain.

Note white pine, table mountain pitch, and various oak in this Pine Oak forest, a contrast to the poplar, tulip, and maple that dominated the north-facing slope just behind you.

The trail drops into a narrow valley and crosses three consecutive streams on the ravine floor. Maintain navigational vigilance on these sparingly marked crossings and through this notably cluttered forest. After the crossings the trail turns up beside Meigs Creek, where you’ll soon see Upper Meigs Falls through a small chute on your right. Scramble down to reach the falls and drop pool.

The falls spill down a slick rock face into a small pool ringed by boulders and debris. Space is limited, but there’s enough room to maneuver for additional perspective and look for salamanders, which are abundant in this area. The Meigs Creek Trail continues for 2 miles up to Buckhorn Gap at the Lumber Ridge Trail junction.

Martin Luther King Day in Sevierville

Martin Luther King’s life, legacy, and teachings will again be celebrated at First Baptist Church in Sevierville this year on January 21 with a program featuring choirs, speakers, and much more. The day of remembrance is one of Sevierville’s annual featured events marking Dr. King’s birthday.

It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King’s actual birthday is January 15. The floating holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, though the act predated the establishment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by 15 years.

King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

A Baptist minister, King led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957. He led the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986. Hundreds of streets in the U.S. and beyond have been renamed in his honor in the years following his death.

Smoky Mountain Springfest

Sevierville’s Smoky Mountain Springfest begins in early March and goes to June 7 throughout the Smoky Mountain region.

This year spring just can’t seem to get here fast enough.

That’s why Sevierville is ready to get things started going in that direction. Sevierville’s Smoky Mountain Springfest celebration begins mid March and continues through June 7. People can witness the town’s transformation into spring when the streets are lined with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants. Pansies, daffodils, tulips, bougainvilleas, and wave petunias are among the many varieties of flowers that will be seen throughout town.

Marked as the beginning of springtime in the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, Springfest is a 3 month celebration packed with events like the Mountain Quiltfest, Great Smoky Mountain Arts & Crafts Show, the Dollywood Parade, Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, Ribfest & Wings, the Spring Grand Rod Run, Bloomin BBQ & Bluegrass Festival, the Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, Gatlinburg’s Scottish Festival & Games, and many more.

As you can see, Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass is just one of many exciting events. From shopping events to baseball games to car shows and helicopter events, Smoky Mountain Springfest will be in full bloom in Sevierville.

Outside Sevierville, on Easter morning, join in the local tradition and attend Ober Gatlinburg’s 16th Annual Easter Sunrise Service. Free tram rides to the mountain top begin at 6 a.m. and continue in 15 minute intervals until the service begins at 6:30 a.m. Complimentary parking at the resort will be provided for those who prefer to drive. A breakfast buffet will be waiting and available at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant from 7 a.m. Until 10:30 a.m.

Members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community will display unique handcrafted wares as they gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to host their annual Easter Arts & Crafts show April 4-7.

The smell of hickory-smoked barbeque will fill the air as folks roll up sleeves and dive in to sample their secret sauces on delectable ribs and wings from vendors from all over the Southeast on Thursday, April 26 at Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings. This festive street party features live entertainment, lots of fun and barbeque ribs and wings on the open grill just for your tasting.

The 64th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage & Greener Living Expo, set to run April 25-29, is another great event, especially for hikers and nature lovers who love to see delicate wildflowers in bloom. Hosted by the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the University of Tennessee Botany Department, this five-day program offers more than 150 different hiking tours of trails ranging from easy to strenuous, exhibitions, demonstrations, classroom lectures and delightful motor excursions into the wonderful season of spring in the Smokies.

Big Creek

One of the great little getaways just outside Sevierville in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park happens to be an area called “Big Creek” near Cosby, Tn. Whether you’re looking for hiking, camping, or picnicking opportunities, the Big Creek section of the park has it all.

As far as hiking goes, it’s a fairly easy jaunt in the national park. Off of Hwy. 32 in Cosby, which is easy to access coming from Interstate 40 or from Hwy. 321 in Gatlinburg, you’ll find the ranger station with a parking area and the trailhead to Mount Cammerer. Walking on, there is another hiking area for hikers, restrooms, and a camping area before you come to a small trail that leads to the Big Creek Trail.

The Big Creek Trail starts out on steep climb before coming to several pools of water fairly large in size and definitely big enough to swim in during the spring and summer months. The diamond of this hike comes up in another half mile – the Midnight Hole. The Midnight Hole is renowned for its swimming, as well as picnicking opportunities, which are many.

After you’ve cooled off and grabbed your lunch, hop back on the trail and marvel at Mouse Creek Falls, a beautiful Smoky Mountains waterfall approximately 2 miles from the trailhead.

Continuing on the trail, you’ll pass over the creek by way of a wooden bridge. This is a tempting spot for the fishermen in all of as Smoky Mountain trout can be spot swimming with the current if you look closely under the bridge. This creek will also continue to follow the trail until you reach the Walnut Bottoms backcountry camping area in another few miles.

If you’re looking to get into some the more primitive areas of the Smokies, the Big Creek Trail section of the park is the answer.

Additional information on Big Creek camping: The are only 2 backcountry camping sites – Walnut Bottom and Mount Sterling. The Big Creek campground has space for 12 tents and sites run about $35 a night. The campground is open from March 17 – November 1. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-365-2267.

Skiers Flocking to Ober Despite Recent Rainy Weather

Despite the lack of a prolonged cold snap, as well as some recent rainy weather, that hasn’t stopped skiing enthusiasts for heading up to Ober Gatlinburg when they to Sevierville. In fact, quite the opposite. Thanks to some new snow making equipment, the resort has built up quite reserve of snow to keep skiers and snowboarders plenty happy this year.

In fact, Ober Gatlinburg has seen a surge in visitors since it opened its slopes just a few Sundays ago. Lots of folks are sliding down the slopes despite less than ideal conditions.

“We’ve been getting very good crowd responses for the last couple of days,” said John Cossaboom, Ober Gatlinburg winter sports director.

Up until a few weeks ago, the area had seen much more rainfall than average and just a few scattered days of actual snowfall.

“Certainly the rain has affected the amount of coverage we have, but there’s plenty built up and we know how to retain the snow, so even when the rain comes we’re still going to be skiing,” he said.

The snow looks to be sticking as skiers have continued to fly down the slopes and snowtubers keep the lines long at the resort. It looks to be a reoccurring theme this year after the previous year’s season was cut short due to a lack of snowfall. According to most, the snow was pretty smooth on opening weekend.

“It was a little slushy, but it’s understandable considering it’s been raining,” said one skier.

A little snow in the forecast wouldn’t be problem either, just for people driving up the mountain from Sevierville to reach the resort.

“The biggest impact it has is on the ability of our guests to reach us,” said Cossaboom. “If the roads are snow-covered, they’re probably going to sit tight because they’re not accustomed to driving in it.”

Five Oaks Riding Stables

If you truly want to get out and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains and all they have to offer, take a horseback ride in the Smokies at Five Oaks Riding Stables. Five Oaks is one of the premiere stables in the Sevierville area and have years of experience with horses and guiding tours in the Smoky Mountains.

If you’re the type of person that loves nature and horseback riding this is the place to plan your next Smoky Mountain adventure. Five Oaks provides access to their own 70 acre nature park that affords rider with a great, safe place to ride that the horses know and provides riders with beautiful mountain views like that of Mount LeConte that you’ve never seen before.

Five Oaks is made up of a number of historically based trails. An old, authentic moonshiners still comes into plain view along part of the trail. It’s almost more than just a horseback ride. Each rider has their own personal experience with the Smoky Mountains whether it’s a look at the history or a glance at its majestic beauty. Still, it is the inhabitants of the Smokies that receive the most attention, despite the dramatic beauty of the landscape.

Five Oaks Riding Stables has been offering their horseback riding services to visitors and locals of the Smokies for over 27 years. Located in Sevierville at the footsteps of the beautiful East Tennessee Smoky Mountains, Five Oaks has trails in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville that meld to the skill level of riders of all ages. Around 60 horses make up Five Oaks’ stable and they make use of two different trails: the first is a 4 mile trail lasting about 1 hour, and the second is a 6 mile trail lasting 1 ½ hours.

If you don’t believe us by now, come take a horseback ride for yourself at Five Oaks in The Great Smoky Mountains. Five Oaks Riding Stables is one of Sevierville’s major attractions. For more information on deals and specials call Five Oaks at 1-877-741-8070.

Sevierville attractions

Sevierville, TN attractions run the gamut from the spectacular to the downright odd and interesting and most are but a few miles from one another. With so many people visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year, there can be quite a lot of down time for visitors coming to the area. Sevierville is happy to accommodate visitors looking for that once-in-a-lifetime attraction while they’re in town.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of attractions to choose from in Sevierville and most are family friendly. Sevierville sees families from all over the world travel to the Smokies every year, the businesses that last in Sevierville are the ones that cater to all age groups and these following attractions do just that. Visit a few of them on your next trip and find out for yourself.

NASCAR SpeedPark
Who doesn’t enjoy racing around a track NASCAR-style in the Smoky Mountains? NASCAR Speedpark features 8 action-packed tracks as well as an indoor climbing wall, playground, racing simulators, bumper boats, an arcade and the Thrill Zone with 5 new rides for kids. They’ve got all the game you could want. Drive the track the first day then come back the next and do something totally different. At NASCAR Speedpark, you’re driving the fun.
1545 Parkway
Sevierville, TN

Forbidden Caverns
Cool off in the summer beneath the Great Smoky Mountains! No, really, at Forbidden Caverns. Explore the underground caves of the Smokies in this 1-hour walking tour and discover magnificent, sparkling formations, natural chimneys, grottos and a crystal-clear underground stream.
455 Blowing Cave Rd
Sevierville, TN

RainForest Adventures
Discover an indoor RainForest Zoo featuring over 500 live animals including tropical birds, tortoises, cobras and giant pythons. RainForest Adventures is home to exotic creatures from the world’s rain forests as well as some amazing animals native to the Smokies. Live shows daily.
109 NASCAR Dr
Sevierville, TN

Scenic Helicopter Tours
Take an aerial tour of the Great Smoky Mountains, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg on a Scenic Helicopter Tour.
113 Helicopter Ride Blvd
Sevierville, TN

Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Exotic Petting Zoo
Explore a unique barnyard environment on 140 acres in a beautiful mountain environment. Visitors can Walk among, pet and feed over 100 tame deer as well as see and pet many other animals including, zebra, camels, kangaroos, wallabies, miniature horses, emu and donkeys. Other available activities: pony rides and horseback riding on guided trails.
478 Happy Hollow Ln
Sevierville, TN

Other Sevierville attractions:

Eagle’s Landing Golf Club 1556 Old Knoxville Highway Sevierville, TN
Five Oaks Riding Stables 1628 Parkway Sevierville, TN
Governor’s Palace Sevierville, TN
Great China Acrobats 1304 Parkway Sevierville, TN
Cirque de Chine 179 Collier Drive Sevierville, TN
Muscle Car Museum 320 Winfield Dunn Parkway Sevierville, TN
Outdoor Adventures Of The Smokies Parkway Sevierville, TN
Reel Theatres 713 Winfield Dunn Parkway Sevierville, TN
Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini-Golf 1639 Parkway Sevierville, TN
Smokies AA Baseball Stadium 3540 Line Drive Kodak, TN
Smoky Mountain Helicopters Incorporated 1101 Winfield Dunn Parkway Sevierville, TN
Smoky Mountain Links 3426 Winfield Dunn Parkway Kodak, TN
Tennessee Museum Of Aviation 135 Air Museum Way Sevierville, TN