I’ve been back from my Tennessee vacation for three weeks now, and I’m just now getting around to finishing up my recaps. Sorry for the delay—2023 wrap-up posts took priority. I gave everyone a peek into our cabin life earlier this month, and now I’m going to show you guys the fun things we did while out and about! If you love to have the best vacation experience, then you might want to try the best things to do in St. Louis.
Horseback Riding at The Deer Farm Riding Stables
One of our first adventures in Tennessee was horseback riding! I’ve been horseback riding a few times (mostly on cruise excursions) and it’s always a good time, so I booked a reservation for the three of us on Thursday morning. It was cold that day (I think in the 40s) and I forgot my gloves at the cabin, but once we were moving and in the sun, it didn’t feel too bad. We were on a group with three young girls and our trail guide took us all around the backwoods. We went up some really steep hill and also went down those same hills, and I’m glad it was my horse that had to get me up and down them because I don’t think I would have made it! My mom was on a super slow horse who just wanted to meander and never wanted to get very close to my horse (I was in front of her), so I made up a great story about the lover’s quarrel these two horses were in. You wouldn’t believe what happened! My mom said she really loved having such a slow horse, though. It felt safe!
Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Exotic Petting Zoo
After horseback riding, we zipped over to the exotic petting zoo located in the same farm area. I have family that goes to this petting zoo on their trips to Gatlinburg and have raved about it, so we had to give it a try! It was one of the best experiences of the trip, I think! We all got a huge cup of seeds and other random mishmash that we could feed to the animals and we also bought a bag of apples that certain animals were allowed to eat. We saw all kinds of animals here! Goats, deer, bunnies, a zebra, a horse, a camel, reindeer, cows, ostriches… and probably so many more that I’m forgetting! We were able to go into the deer area with our food, but whoa… they went crazy! I had a deer nosing into my bag of apples to take some for themselves and at one point, I was fully surrounded by the deer who wanted me to give them all of the food. Little adorable savages! We left the deer area before we totally ran out of food (although they did take all of our apples!) and were able to feed a few more animals before we were all out of the good stuff. Once we had finished giving out our food, we strolled around the area to see the other animals and then my mom and I went into the goat encampment to hang out with them. They were mainly interested in the people feeding them, though, so they didn’t give us much time of day sadly. It was a fun time and I’m glad we went!
Gatlinburg SkyPark
We spent a day in Gatlinburg, and boy was it busy there! Apparently, everyone comes to Gatlinburg for NYE—who knew?! We had a very early lunch (we planned to have a late breakfast at Crockett’s Breakfast Camp but it was a two-hour wait!) and then headed over to Gatlinburg SkyPark. We went on a very cold day (for us Florida gals—it was in the low 30s) and we had the most wonderful snow flurries so it really felt like a magical experience. We had to take a skylift over to the park, which was actually kind of scary?! IDK, I didn’t feel very safe so I just tried to stay as still as possible, haha. The park itself was wonderful! There were many different paths to traverse, including the SkyBridge, which is touted as the “longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America.” It was a pretty gray day so we didn’t get the full view of the Smokies, but it was still amazing! There were tons of photo opps, some fire pits to stay warm by, and a great shop located on the SkyDeck where I bought some souvenirs (a hoodie, Smoky Mountains mug, and Christmas ornament).
Gatlinburg Trail
There are two dog-friendly trails in the Smoky Mountains and thankfully, one of them was less than 30 minutes from our cabin! So one morning, we loaded up the dogs in the car and took them on a hike in the mountains. The trail was super smooth with only one or two uphill sections. There was a downed tree in the path at one point and it was cute to see the dogs hop over it with their little sausage legs. The dogs were definitely celebrities on the trail in their adorable winter coats, and one little girl tried to take Chip home with her, haha.
We only walked for about an hour or so; we didn’t want to tire out the dogs even though the trail is a 4-mile loop. But it was enough time to get some exercise, take some pictures, and enjoy the fresh air!
Ober Gatlinburg
We spent our last full day in Tennessee at Ober Gatlinburg, which is an amusement park that turns into a winter wonderland when the weather cools down. There’s not a ton to do here (the ski slopes are the main draw and there’s also an indoor skating rink) but I was super excited to go snow tubing for the first time ever. We took a tram up to the park, where they crammed us in with 100+ other people, and it’s a good thing we got there early because there can be a 3+ hour wait for the tram during peak time! Once at the park, we got our day pass + snow tubing tickets and then strolled around for a bit before deciding to do the mountain coaster. It was a long wait (probably an hour) and I passed the time by playing the only game on my phone that doesn’t require a phone signal, ha. (Ober Gatlinburg is a dead zone for phones.) The mountain coaster itself was super fun! I was zipping around so fast, I was scared I was going to fly off the mountain! (My mom hated it, as she mixed up how to speed and slow down the coaster in her head, so she was going AS FAST AS POSSIBLE and terrified—going at top speed would have terrified me as well!)
And then it was time for snow tubing! At first, I was really scared once I got up to the top of the slide because it looked much scarier from there than it did from below. But I calmed myself down by reminding myself of all the little kids who were doing this and I only had to do it once. If I hated it, I didn’t have to do it again. Thankfully, I loved it! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! It really wasn’t scary going down the slide and I was screaming with delight the whole way down. My mom and I ended up doing three runs total (eventually, we got super cold and needed to warm up inside—who knew that my fashion boots and Target cotton gloves weren’t going to keep me warm in the snow?!) while Robert was out there the whole time. He went down 7 times, so he definitely got his money’s worth on the snow tubing.
My mom and I got a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and found a table inside where we could rest and warm up, which was delightful!
And that’s what we did in Tennesee! There was also a visit to an indie bookstore in Gatlinburg, some yummy restaurants (including a moonshine tasting at The Calgary distillery that got me very tipsy one night), and a visit to the Apple Barn where I got to enjoy my first-ever cider tasting that was delicious! It was a wonderful vacation with my favorite people.
Have you ever been horseback riding?
I loved reading this! My takeaway is that I need to go to Gaitlinburg ASAP. I would be all about the Skyway bridge.
Yes, please do! It was such a cute little place. I’d love to go back.
What a great trip! So many fun things. I have gone horseback riding, but not in, oh, 25 years or so. I wouldn’t mind a slow horse either, is what I’m saying.
And don’t feel bad about not posting your trip right away: I was in Key West in September, and I haven’t written much about that yet! I keep meaning to do it. One of these days.
There is something very comforting about being on a slow horse! Mine was pretty low-key, too; he just loved stopping to eat the grass on the trail, haha.
Trip recaps can be a lot to put together!
Tubing is so much fun! I’m glad that you enjoyed the winter weather!
How did the dogs do in the cabin when you had to leave them for your outings? I’m super curious about traveling with dogs these days.
The dogs did great! We brought their crates with us since we drove from FL to TN, and they stayed in their crates when we were out of the cabin and at night.
I love seeing all these fun outdoors activities! They pair perfectly with the lounging inside the cabin. It really seems like you got the best of both worlds on this trip!
I want to go tubing. I bet I would be screaming with joy the entire time too!
I have been horseback riding! We had a horse growing up. He was my mom’s from when she was a kid. I went once as an adult. I’d like to go again!
We had a lot of fun being outside and then coming back to the cabin and chilling! It was the perfect mix.
Kim, you would LOVE tubing! I have no doubt about that.
Well it sure looks like you had a lot of fun! I am glad that it snowed a little so that you guys could get the true mountain experience, but also glad that it did not snow too much so you could still go hiking etc. The snow tubing looks fun too and it seems like Robert is a fun guy!
I am so glad we got this little bit of snow – it didn’t make driving inconvenient/scary but did give us a little magical element to one of our days. It was very cool for us Florida gals!
This looks like so much fun- I want to go! Many years ago we went up north in the winter and took the kids snow tubing- it’s a great winter sport for Floridians who don’t know how to ski or snowboard. We had the same experience as you- we had fun with it but then got too cold to continue.
Hee hee- I love Chip and Lucy on the hike with their winter coats! I can see how they were popular.
I was very glad we had decided to snow tube rather than ski, since I’ve only been skiing once in my life and it’s been two decades since then. The snow tubing was the perfect experience!
Oh fun!! Paul went snow tubing for the first time over winter break – it was a field trip during one of the days he spent in the after school care program (which provides full day care on most non-school days). I thought it might terrify him because he is not the most brave kid but he LOVED it and wants to go back. I’ve actually never been snow tubing but I’ve done a ton of sledding with my kids which I really love so I know I’d like snow tubing, too.
I am glad that you had such a fun getaway and found a variety of activities to do. I have only been horse back riding once in my life and will never do it again honestly! I went horse back riding through the rain forest in Australia. It sounded so lovely but it was terrifying. I was the only person in the group that had never rode a horse and had mentioned it to the guide. And then we get out of the barn and he tells me to take the lead and I’m like – why? He said, ‘you have the fastest horse.’ Who gives the newbie the fastest horse? At one time he took off bolting and it was like the scene with the runaway horse in Runaway Bride. he had to catch up with me and get the horse to slow down. Overall it was a terrible experience and I don’t care to try it again!
Lisa, your horseback riding experience sounds so terrifying! I don’t blame you for not wanting to try to do it again. That is so irresponsible of the tour guide/company. Ugh.
Well, Lisa’s horseback riding story just made me angry. What an irresponsible person to give her a fast horse! YOUR trip, however, looks beautiful and I love all of it. I’ve never heard of snow tubing, but it sounds like fun. I love love love horses, and that kind of riding I can do. I took lessons for awhile many years ago, and learned that in order to get good, you need practice (what a shock), so I didn’t feel like I was really improving and it was expensive. Sigh. I would be happy to have a horse as a pet, however!
Aww… I wish you could have a horse as a pet and to ride whenever you wanted. The upkeep of having a horse is too much for me, but I love that other people love horses so much!
Wow, I loved reading this. You squeezed in a LOT of activities and I’d like to do ALL OF THEM, esp. the horseback riding and the Skybridge. How fun!
We did end up doing a lot, and that’s even with taking a day off and just hanging at the cabin! It was a nice, long vacation and we saw a lot of this area of Tennessee, which was really cool.
It sounds like a wonderful and adventurous vacation. You did so many fun things. I bet the skybridge is so fun in early spring or fall. Ive never been horseback riding. I always feel it is a fun activity but am scared I wouldn’t know how to do it and stay on the horse.
The horseback riding felt really scary at first! I was so high up on the horse. How was I going to stay up there without falling down? Somehow I did it, but I totally understand the hesitation!
OK, I am trying to remember the last time I went tubing, and I have realized that it is approximately… never? How is this right? I need to fix this! (Well, as soon as it gets colder than FIFTY in February… I am so over this weather pattern it’s not even funny.)
I am so, so glad you had such a wonderful time and that you got your hoped-for snow (flurries)!
Random question – no need to answer if you don’t want to. How long has your stepfather been in your life?
Always happy to answer questions, Anne! I’m trying to remember when my mom and Robert started dating – I believe it was 2013. They got married in 2015 and were dating for a few years before then.