Always there when you need them for belly laughs, a shoulder to cry on, and supportive advice, girlfriends are special indeed. Rightfully so, an entire day has been dedicated to celebrating gal pals — National Girlfriends’ Day will be here before you know it on August 1! While you could send a handwritten letter, gift homemade fudgy brownies, or grab a bite together in honor of this awesome day, why not make it extra special with a memorable trip to the Great Smoky Mountains? Spend quality time and forge stronger bonds with your best girlfriends on a weekend getaway — filled to the brim with fun attractions, charming boutiques, fine wining and dining, plus a relaxing cabin stay in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN. Be they mothers, sisters, aunties, cousins, classmates, teammates, or coworkers, your girlfriends deserve a break, and so do YOU!
Playtime
Go sightseeing with your girlfriends in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cruise around the Cades Cove loop in search of animal encounters (early morning or late evening is best), majestic mountain peaks, and vast valley views. Better yet, get out of the car and hike to a waterfall tucked away in the forest, explore historical structures (like an old mill, cabin, and church), or bike around the cove for a unique viewing experience.
Interested in playing in town? Check out Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, featuring multiple levels of sea critter adventures. Walk beneath passing sharks, watch penguins paint, ride in the glass bottom boat over Shark Lagoon, meet Sally the sea turtle, visit a tropical rainforest, and much more! Or opt for outdoorsy activities at Anakeesta, an aerial adventure park at the top of a mountain. Ride the chondola to the tippy top, race on duel ziplines, zoom on a mountain coaster, walk 60 feet above the forest floor, roam Firefly Village, and soak in the stunning scenery.
Shopping
Get ready to shop until you drop in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, where country-chic style, outdoorsy gear, home décor, Southern flair, and local crafts meld together for a unique and fun shopping experience you’ll want to share with the girls!
Our starter recommendations:
- Tanger Outlets – Five Oaks
- The Old Mill Square
- The Village
- Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet Mall
- The Island (psst…this is a shopping and entertainment complex — best of both worlds!)
- Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
Wine & Dine
No Girlfriends’ Day getaway would be complete without fine wine and mouthwatering meals. Toast to the good times along the Rocky Top Wine Trail, which features 5 local wineries with free wine tasting. Grab a passport at your first stop and visit 3 or all 5 locations for free gifts! Cheers at Ole Smoky Moonshine, the most visited distillery in the nation. Sip a little shine and take a few jars back to the cabin!
Sit down at Timberwood Grill (on The Island) for fall-off-the-bone ribs, a salmon salad with avocado, or a macaroni and cheeseburger! Go for Southern favs, like fried chicken, mashed taters, corn on the cob, fried okra, and banana pudding, at Mama’s Farmhouse, where every meal is served family style at the table. And if you want something a bit fancier, head over to the Cherokee Grill and Steakhouse, where fried calamari, seared ahi tuna salad, filet mignon, and Tennessee blue cheese grits are ready to please your palate.
Relaxing
While playing in the national park and in town, shopping for fashion favs and souvenirs, and wining and dining every day are great, relaxing is one of the best ways to hang with your girlfriends in the Smokies. It’s the perfect time to catch up, chat about life, and enjoy each other’s company. Where is the best place to relax in the mountains? At your cabin rental with a top-notch view!
With Cabins for YOU, you’ll have tons of cabin options, ranging from 1-16 bedrooms and from budget-friendly to luxury. Choose from ace amenities, like a private indoor pool, home theater, indoor jetted tub, loaded game room, and big screen TVs! Plus, you can have conveniences of home, like a fully equipped kitchen and high-speed Wi-Fi. Lounge around in the living room for a pajama party chat, take spa time up a notch with an in-cabin massage, unwind after shopping all day in the bubbly hot tub, sip wine (yes, more wine!) in the rocking chairs overlooking rolling mountains, and dream sweetly in a plush king-size bed.
Celebrate Girlfriends’ Day with your gal pals — playing, shopping, wining, dining, and relaxing in the Great Smoky Mountains!