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Your Host(s): George Ancheta
Drive Pace: Moderate
Day | Start Time | Finish Time | Cost | Meeting Place | People Limit | MINIs Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday | 7:30am | 4:30pm | Pay for Lunch / Cavern Tour | General Store Parking Lot | none | 20 |
Get ready to enjoy great day of motoring and nautre. We'll start off by driving the Dragon and then the Foothills Parkway on our way to Cades Cove. The roads in Cades Cove are gravel but well maintained. In the past we have seen bears, turkeys and deer. The animals in the park are wild and may or may not be visible. Bring a camera with a long lens or binoculars. Bring water and snacks as there aren’t any vending machines in the park.
Cades Cove is a lush valley surrounded by mountains and one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. Deer are almost always sighted in the fields, and observations of other wildlife, including bear, Wild Turkey, and fox are possible.
A wide array of historic buildings dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries is scattered through-out the cove. These include a grist mill, a variety of barns, three churches, and a marvelous collection of log homes and outbuildings.
After Cades Cove we'll drive to Townsend TN for lunch at Miss Lily's Cafe and then off of to Tour the Tuckaleechee Caverns before driving back to Fontana Village
Start | Finish | Activity |
---|---|---|
7:30am | Meet at the General Store Parking Lot at Fontana Village | |
7:30 am | 10:00 am | Drive to Cades Cove via the Dragon and the Foothills Parkway (stop for gas/snacks/restrooms) |
10:00 am | 11:30 am | Stop at Cades Cove Visitor Center |
11:30 am | 12:10 am | Drive to lunch |
12:10 pm | 1:30 pm | Lunch at Miss Lily's Cafe in Towsend, TN |
1:30 pm | 1:40 pm | Drive to Tuckaleechee Caverns |
1:40 pm | 3:00 pm | Tuckaleechee Cavern Tour |
3:00 pm | 4:30 pm | Drive back to Fontana via the Foothills Parkway and The Dragon |
Additional Links: | Cades Cove |
The Foothills Parkway | |
Miss Lilys Cafe | |
Tuckaleechee Caverns |
Pictures from Cades Cove | |
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