LaLa Anthony waved goodbye to 2020 on the road, ringing in the new year with an RV road trip! She and her family hit the road and explored Tennesse by RV, tube, and ATV.
Sound fun to you? Here’s the itinerary.
Where to Go
On her road trip, LaLa spent 5 days adventuring in Eastern Tennessee.
LaLa’s Road Trip Itinerary:
- Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Gatlinburg, Tennesee
Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennesee is a mountain town in eastern Tennessee. Its plethora of family-friendly activities makes it a popular vacation spot.
Bluff Mountain Adventures
The first must-do in eastern Tennessee is to see the Smoky Mountains. Whether you do that by foot on one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park trails or by ATV with Bluff Mountain Adventures, there’s much beauty to behold.
Guided ATV trail rides take place on 6,000 acres of Smoky Mountain trails, offering a unique and adventurous view of the landscape. Explore the foothills of East Tennessee and ride through the lush forest of the National Park for up to an hour and a half! Then, head off on your next adventure.
Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Show & Adventure Park
Next stop, Lumberjack Feud Adventure Park! After riding through the Smoky Mountains, sit back and relax with a show. The Lumberjack Feud Show is a family-friendly affair! Without spoiling too much, the show involves Dawson and McGraw families’ world-class lumberjacks going head-to-head in some serious competitions.
After that, head off on another adventure — the Lumberjack Feud Adventure! Go against your family and friends in some good ‘ole lumberjack competition.
You’ll have access to:
- The Flying Ox — a zipline roller coaster
- The High Woodsmen Challenge — the lumberjack-themed adventure park
- Logger sports — Log Roll, Boom Run, and Speed Climb
- Timber Towers — two 80-foot freefall jumps
Dollywood Parks and Resorts
Dollywood is a can’t-miss! With more than 50 rides and attractions, top-tier food and entertainment, and so much more, you’ll never run out of things to do. Feel the wind in your hair on the Barnstormer, tube on a Downbound Float Trip, and at night, be sure to catch the fireworks over the park!
Gatlinburg
Not too far from Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg is a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That said, almost anything you do there will have a great mountain view.
Climb Works Zipline
You’ve explored the Smoky Mountains on the ground; now, take it all in from the air. Rated the #1 zipline in Tennessee for 9 years, do we need to tell you this one is a must-do, can’t-miss excursion. Well, it is!
Choose from two-zipline tours:
- Mountaintop Zipline Tour
- Treetop Zipline Tour
Mountaintop Zipline Tour
Ride side-by-side on six dual zip lines, wander across bridges, rappel off platforms, and ATV to the top of the mountain. The adventure and the 360-degree views don’t stop.
Treetop Zipline Tour
Ride through the trees on 9 ziplines, ATV to the top, and rappel at the end. You’ll get to experience the Smoky Mountains from every angle.
Ober Gatlinburg
Now that you’ve experienced all that East Tennessee has to offer by foot, ATV, zipline, and roller coaster, why not see it by tube? A top Smoky Mountains attraction, Ober Gatlinburg has plenty of activities for every season. In the cold months, there is ice skating and snow tubing! And in the warmer season, there is summer tubing and water raft rides.
What to Eat and Drink
Moonshine
Calling all those 21 and over, your trip isn’t complete without a taste of moonshine. Head over to Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler, America’s most visited distillery, for a sip or two or three. Watch the moonshine stills work their magic and treat yourself to $5 samplings. They have every flavor imaginable, from apple pie to white chocolate strawberry!
You can find plenty of Tennessee recipes for any holiday or occasion on their Instagram — like the Ole Smoky Mocha Almond.
All you need is:
- 3 ounces of Ole Smoky Mountain Java Moonshine
- 1/2 an ounce of Half & Half
- 1 ounce of Amaretto Liqueur
Enjoy responsibly at your campsite or around the campfire!
A Dollywood Dinner
Enjoy dinner and a show at Dollywood! Pick from two dinner shows:
- Dolly Parton’s Stampede
- Pirate Voyage
Dolly Parton’s Stampede
Indulge in a four-course feast and dessert, as you watch a show full of competition, horse-riding stunts, and comedy.
The Four-Course Feast includes:
- A Mouth-Watering Tender Whole Rotisserie Chicken
- Delicious Hickory Smoked Barbecue Pork Loin
- Stampede’s Original Creamy Vegetable Soup
- Scrumptious Homemade Biscuit
- Hot Buttered Corn On The Cob
- Tasty Herb-Basted Potato
- Stampede’s Very Own Specialty Dessert
- Unlimited Coca-Cola®, Tea Or Coffee
Gluten-free and vegetarian options are also available upon request.
Pirate’s Voyage
This is really fun for the whole family! This is a very immersive experience. Children can even be transformed into a pirate or mermaid. Don’t worry; makeovers are available for the adults of the group too!
After your makeover, eat a hearty pirate’s feast and watch as Blackbeard and Calico Jack lead the crews in an intense battle.
The Feast Includes:
- Buccaneer Biscuit
- Voyager Creamy Vegetable Soup
- Cracklin’ Pan-Fried Chicken
- Swashbucklin’ Sugar-Cured Ham
- Matey’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese
- Jolly Roger Sweet Potato Souffle
- Walk the Plank Peach Turnover
- Unlimited Coca-Cola®, Tea Or Coffee
Gluten-free and vegetarian options are also available upon request.
What to Drive
A Mercedes Sprinter Van is a great choice for any trip! They’re easy to drive and are usually custom-built to include a bedroom and kitchen, even a dining area. Not to mention, the whole family can pile in there!
Rent a Sprinter like LaLa’s!
What to Pack
Following this trip itinerary, you’ll be on the move quite a bit, riding through the mountains and flying through the forest.
For such activities, you’ll need activewear:
- Tennis shoes, sneakers, or boots
- Comfortable clothing
For winter months, make sure to pack lots of layers:
- gloves
- beanie
- a jacket (or three)
- water-proof boots/shoes with good traction
- wool socks
If you plan on trekking through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, make sure to check everything off the hiking checklist!
Take in Tennessee
Ready to take in all Tennessee has to offer? Everything is all planned out for your 3 to 5 days in the East. All you have to do is rent an RV and book your excursions!
See more of LaLa’s road trip on her Instagram!
