Arrive in Gatlinburg, TN, the Home of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Check into your hotel for a three-night stay.  Dinner is included at a local restaurant. (D)

After breakfast, meet your local guide for a Guided Tour of the Great Smoky Mountains featuring a mile-high location with epic views, Newfound Gap!  Learn about the history of the area plus local wildlife, pioneers, and Native Americans.  Plus, hear all the fun-facts about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in America.

Once at Newfound Gap, you will be at a very important historic spot where a national park dedication took place in 1940, right at the North Carolina / Tennessee border, on the Appalachia trail.  On the way down the mountain from the Newfound Gap, back to Gatlinburg, there will be more spectacular photo opportunities, lots of history and local lore stories.

Following the tour, enjoy free time and lunch on your own in Gatlinburg.

The afternoon features a behind-the-scenes tour of the stillhouse at Sugarland Distillery.  Learn the ins and outs of the distilling process from an expert guide.  You will hear the story of how Moonshining became part of the East Tennessee story, and catch a glimpse of how Sugarlands upholds the time-honored traditions.  After your tour enjoy a sippin’ post sampling experience.

Tonight, get a taste of the Smokies at the Smoky Mountain School of Cooking.  Learn the basics of Appalachian cooking through a live demonstration class.  In a homestyle kitchen, the instructors incorporate culinary techniques and season it with folklore to make cooking fun.  Watch, learn, and then eat an Appalachian-inspired meal.  You will get to take home some great memories along with recipes to try in your own kitchen.  There will also be time to browse the Appalachian store. (B,D)

The morning starts with a visit to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies which is literally teeming with life – over 10,000 exotic sea creatures in 350 individual species.  There are more fish in this aquarium than there are people living in the entire town of Gatlinburg.  Traveling on moving glide paths, you enter the ocean realm and come face to face with thousands of fascinating fishes and menacing sea creatures, everything from barracudas, to rays, to jellyfish, octopi, moray eels and giant sharks!

Next, the afternoon is yours to explore the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community.  This unique community, established in 1937, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and commitment to preserving traditional Appalachian crafts.  Spanning an 8-mile loop, this vibrant hub showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of local artisans, offering a mesmerizing array of handcrafted treasures.  From intricate pottery to stunning woodwork, vibrant paintings to delicate jewelry, each shop exudes its unique charm and showcases the rich heritage of Appalachian craftsmanship.  Witness skilled artisans at work, engaging in time-honored techniques passed down through generations.

You will have time for lunch on your own here.  In addition to all of the wonderful shopping opportunities, the Arts & Crafts Community also features some of the very best places to eat in Gatlinburg!

Now, a mountaintop of fun and excitement, high above Gatlinburg is waiting for you!  Start with breathtaking views on the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway from downtown Gatlinburg to the mountaintop.  This 2.1 mile ride will give you amazing panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains.  The Aerial Tram then delivers you to Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area and Amusement Park where year-round attractions, shopping and dining await.

Dinner is included at Ober Mountain. (B,D)

After breakfast, depart for home. (B)