Going to Tennessee.... need suggestions

going to be heading to Tennessee and Great Smokey looking for suggestions of things to do and places to go.... not looking for tourist traps mostly outdoor and museum oriented stuff will be traveling with my wife and daughter so unfortunately nothing too extreme.... looking for more stuff along the lines of environmental and anthropological or archaeological

 

Cades cove. It's a great mix of scenery, wildlife and historical relics. Lots of cabins, churches, Graves and other stuff from our past. You definitely won't be alone, but it's not nearly as bad as say, downtown Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. But honestly there isn't much in the GSM area that isn't a little bit "touristy".

 

Museum of the Cherokee in Cherokee, NC. Ancient history with artifacts. Admission is inexpensive, and the gift shop is also a bookstore full of research books.
I know, not Tennessee, but a short hop from the Cade's Cove area. That whole border area is full of adventure just waiting to happen. Wife and I spent a week there in June, and going back this summer.

 

Both sounds awesome

 

Old mill restaurant and SMKW! Some great trails around Elkmont.

 

Already told the wife I’m going to SMKW and Cabela’s unfortunately no Cabela’s anywhere near me

 

If you make it over around Cherokee, there's an area called Cataloochi chock full of old houses and buildings, churches, etc. Hiking, camping, and such, but a lot is accessible by vehicle combined with a short walk. Most of the houses have history placards and lots of old census stuff with pictures and maps.

 

My wife's family was from Cataloochi. Her dad did a month on a chain gang at the age of 13 (!) because he got caught hauling shine on a mule through the mountains and wouldn't tell who had the still.

Pre WWII tough love, ya know? Didn't help him any though...

 

Take a drive on the Foothills Parkway to Townsend. Go to the Townsend Visitor Center.
Drive the Cades Cove loop in SMNP.
There are other Visitor Centers in the Park.
Smoky Mountain Knife Works.
Nearby is Buds Gun shop and range.

 

Strangely, Buds Gun Shop is a favorite stop by us Canucks

 

Didn't realize buds was over there...gotta find out if I can purchase a blaster out of state.....

 

Cataloochi sounds great @Andy the Aussie of course I'm gonna bring back a trunk full of shine

 

As far as I know you can't buy hand guns out of state, unless it borders your home state. Long guns shouldn't be a problem.

 

Another vote for the great and awesome: Smoky Mountain Knife Works.

Also BBQ..........

 

Buds prices are very competitive to the point they will ship to your local FFL and you will still be ahead.

 

If you didn’t already know, SMKW has firearms and ammunition as well. The prices are very good also

 

Looks like I’ll be passing by Shenandoah so I’ll be stopping there as well so any more suggestions would be great, going to try and make it to Cherokee N.C. hopefully we will see some Elk while there... never seen one in person

 

Avoid Memphis and the Jack Daniels distillery. Both really suck at what they do.