Local lists top spots to have a great bachelorette party in the Smokies
Bachelorette parties come in all shapes and sizes. Some may prefer a calm, peaceful atmosphere. They may come to the national park, stay in a rustic cabin and soak in the natural beauty of places like Cades Cove. Others may like a little more raucous time. And so, they might choose a crawl from distillery to brewery along the Gatlinburg strip. Either way, I think Gatlinburg is a great destination since it is made to get around easily and on foot. I’d say the options are wide open. Here are some of a few of my recommendations to get you started:
1. Scavenger hunt
One fun possibility is a bachelorette scavenger hunt. A bachelorette hunt can take many forms and can be a great way to loosen everyone up for the night’s activities. You can make it Gatlinburg-specific or more generic. The hunt can be a little bawdy or you can keep it strictly PG. The concept is to identify ten or so challenges for the group. For example, get a picture with a stranger. Serenade passersbys on the main strip. Take a pic in a men’s restroom. Ask a random person to buy you an adult beverage. The idea is to find the right level of fun and/or daring so that the guests will be challenged but not so risqué that they won’t participate.
2. Play a few games
Gatlinburg is full of games and activities that can liven up a group. In particular, escape rooms are popular with groups as is mini golf. Axe throwing has also become a thing. Got someone in your bachelorette party who needs to work out a little aggression? Help her throw a hatchet before she buries one.
3. Rocky Top Wine Tour
The Rocky Top Wine Trail began in 2008 and now features five participating wineries in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. It’s also a perfect way to work in a little dining and shopping while tasting the best local handcrafted wines. You can tackle the wine trail in a self-guided tour. Or you can book a VIP Wine Tour which also includes a personal guide. The guide will take you to select wineries and deliver private, behind-the-scenes tours, premium tastings and a wine and food pairing lesson. Visit the website to learn more.
4. Do a moonshine crawl
Now we move into the more stereotypical bachelorette party planning. Gatlinburg has a wide array of options from wine tours to pub crawls to moonshine tasting. The strip in Gatlinburg has multiple places where you can sample the local wares with a tasting. If it was me, I’d book our rooms at the bottom of the strip. I’d start our crawl at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery and work the way back down. But certainly, you can do it happenstance.
5. Listen to live music
There are a lot of places to hear some live music along the strip. However, for Bachelorette party purposes, I would have to think Blake Shelton’s place, Ole Red, is the perfect place to have a great time. Fully equipped with a private venue and banquet space, Ole Red has a top-of-the-line video and sound system. In other words, it’s perfect for parties, VIP events and exclusive seated dinner events. The new Jason Aldean’s Kitchen and Rooftop Bar is another good option.
6. Just chill out
What’s better to follow up all the dancing and pub crawling and celebrating than a spa day? A relaxing massage is just the thing to work out all the tension or the aches and pains. In fact, if you want to go all out in this vein, consider Oak Haven Resort in Sevierville. It has a large resort complex with cabins where you can enjoy full spa services. In Gatlinburg proper, there are several options. For instance, the best of which for bachelorette party purposes, is the St. Somewhere Spa at the Margaritaville Resort. It’s located at the bottom of the strip, not far from Anakeesta or Ole Red. You can book your group in the hotel, plan all your events along the strip, and then wrap everything up with the spa’s indulgent treatments.
Are you planning a bachelorette party in Gatlinburg? If so, what are your favorite things to do? Let us know in the comments. Be sure to check out our coupons page when planning your trip.
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