8-Nights Bluegrass Country & Smoky Mountains

Asheville

Nestled firmly between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has many great qualities that attract a truly diverse population, hence the city's moniker: "Asheville: Discovery, Inside and Out."

Although Asheville is nationally known for the Biltmore Estate, George W. Vanderbilt's palatial home built in the 1890s, it represents just one of the attractions the western North Carolina city has to offer.

Since the railroads created easier access to western North Carolina in the late 19th century, swarms of people have been drawn to Asheville's magnificent beauty and hospitable climate. People-watching from one of the city's many outdoor cafes reveals its character more than any tour could: Among the constant flow of tourists, you'll see plenty of young professionals and hippies, retired couples, street performers and mountain folk.

The number of attractions in Asheville is astounding for such a modest city. In addition to the Biltmore Estate, you'll find seemingly countless restaurants of almost every variety, museums, art galleries, theaters, cozy pubs, breweries, eclectic shops and pristine natural attractions. Nearby Pisgah National Forest is a favorite place for locals to squeeze in a weekend hike or simply relax in the woods.

If you're strolling through downtown on a Friday night, you might happen upon an odd sight. In Pritchard Park, hundreds of people of every description, both young and old, gather to dance to the rhythms of a local drum circle. Strange as it might seem at first, it's sights like these that may just entice you to stay in Asheville for good.

In September 2024, Asheville experienced widespread, destructive flooding when Hurricane Helene dumped massive amounts of rain in the mountains of western North Carolina. The storm washed away homes, flooded businesses and destroyed infrastructure, including interstate highways and other roads. Recovery efforts are underway, but the damage to the city and surrounding communities was devastating, and it will take time to rebuild. The region is again welcoming tourists, so please exercise patience and compassion when you visit.

Gatlinburg

Sitting at the edge of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and its neighbors Pigeon Forge and Sevierville form the busiest tourism hub in eastern Tennessee. The area is popular with vacationing families, and its many wedding chapels also draw couples.

The towns owe their existence, in part, to the steady flow of visitors heading to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park puts the focus on nature, but the gateway towns are much more about man-made attractions such as water parks, shrines to country-music performers, miniature-golf courses and music theaters.

They're the type of high-volume travel destinations people either love or hate. You'll need a high tolerance for commercialization to enjoy them, but the attractions can be fun and the setting is beautiful.

The highest-profile Gatlinburg attraction is the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park. It sits high on Mount Harrison, and the preferred way of getting there is aboard the aerial tram that runs from downtown Gatlinburg.

Winterfest is when Gatlinburg truly glitters, with 2 million lights illuminating the town. Spring's wildflower pilgrimage showcases the area's natural beauty. Other activities include skiing in winter, amusement-park rides and a bear habitat in the warmer months, and shopping year-round.

In town, there's a large collection of attractions owned by Ripley's, including a Believe It or Not! Museum, a "Moving Theater" and the Aquarium of the Smokies. Among the many other amusement attractions in town, consider a visit to Mysterious Mansion, a haunted house with moving floors, secret panels and the like.

Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens mixes sightseeing with religion, offering dioramas depicting biblical scenes. Downtown Gatlinburg is also the site of the prestigious Arrowmount School of Arts and Crafts, which offers classes in everything from woodworking and warm glass to paper and fiber arts and drawing, painting and sculpture. The galleries and gift shop are open year-round to visitors.

Golfers will be pleased with the scenic and challenging golf courses in the area. And there's plenty of opportunity to shop for arts-and-crafts items. They're especially prominent during the Craftsmen's Fairs in July and October.

Lexington, KY

Every visitor to Kentucky should spend a few days in the Lexington area. It's in the heart of Bluegrass Country, the region where horse farms predominate, named in honor of the nutritious groundcover that's the staple of the Thoroughbreds. In addition to the farms, horses and scenery, Lexington offers the variety and comfort of a large city.

Louisville

Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky and an industrial, financial, marketing, and shipping center of the South. The city has some of the nation's largest whiskey distilleries and cigarette factories. Louisville developed as a portage place around the falls and as a river port and major commercial center. Many of the nation's most famous steamboats were constructed there. Churchill Downs, a noted racetrack, is scene of the annual Kentucky Derby. The city has noted parks and is site of the state fairgrounds. It has a symphony orchestra and an opera company and hosts an annual festival of new American plays. Among points of interest are American Printing House for the Blind; J.B. Speed Art Museum; Kentucky Center for the Arts; Actors Theater of Louisville; “Farmington”; Filson Club, with a historical library and museum; Jefferson County Courthouse; and Cave Hill Cemetery, where Clark is buried. Nearby is “Locust Grove,” the last home of Clark, as well as the burial place of Zachary Taylor. Fort Knox is in the area.