Looks like we are going to have a lot of Newbies up at the Dragon this year. Thought it would be a good idea to provide a list of day activities to do for those that are not familar with the are. You can find a complete list of suggestion and links for each activity HERE

Run the Dragon (duh!!)
Fontana Dam - has a little history museum there too.
Joyce Kilmer National Forest - nice easy hiking trail and some hugh trees.
Dillsboro - A quaint main street town with shops (check out the Jarrett house for lunch)
Guided Pontoon Boat Tours - At the Fontana Marina
Smoky Mountain Train Ride - Can catch at Dillsboro or Bryson City
White Water Rafting A 11 mile scenic loop with several historic homesteads
Jet Boat Rides - on Lake Fontana
Cherohala Skyway - Alot of folks like this one more than the Dragon!!
Tuckaleechee Caverns - Awesome caverns just 95 mins. from Fontana.
Marina and Boat Rentals - Pontoon rentals on the lakes are a great way to spend the day.
Biltmore Estates - see America's largest home with over 250 rooms and breathtaking grounds.
Mountain Glides - Take a Segway tour thru Franklin, NC.
Waterfalls - Their are several nice waterfulls in and around Graham County.
Hiking Trials - 68% of Graham County is in the National Forest, so you have some awesome trails to choose from!
Oconaluftee Village - Recreated Cherokee Village of the 1750's.
Gatlinburg, TN - Scenic drive to get there and lots of shops.

Links and additional info on the above can be found HERE

 

Um, yea, but what about day two? Really, looks to this Noob like the Dragon needs to be about two weeks. Come-on retirement!

 

I have to tell you that the tours of the Biltmore Estate were incredible. Not cheap but well worth it. For my wife and I to do the main tour and two behind the scenes tours (with audio for the main tour) it was $140. And I would gladly pay that again to see it again.

 

Yeah, the Biltmore Estate is incredible. I was glas we got to see it on the 1st MOTD.
Don't forget horseback riding. I did this last year, and while not as exciting as say the caverns or rafting, it's still nice to take a leisurely ride in the woods.

 

The cades cove trip is really nice!!

 

in Gatlinburg, look for the Cherokee Orchard Rd which becomes a one-way Roaring Forks Motor Trail (it's a paved road). Cruise at 10 MPH for 1/2 hour, see original homesteads, walk some trails, take the Rainbow Falls Trail (do-able in tennis shoes), see the place of 1000 drips (water).

Cades Cove is best at just after dawn or just before dusk....allow 1 hour to drive it

 

The Biltmore Estate winery has a great tour . . . and the wine tasting ain't bad either. -- just bring a non-drinking friend along for the drive back.

 

Great chicken and dumplings at the Jarrett house in Dillsboro

 

some of the best mountain biking in the east at Tsali trails.... road biking as well.... maps are available at the Nantahalla Outdoor Center

great trout fishing on several creeks and rivers... maps at NOC and there are guides for those who want to spend the $

Asheville also has some great nightlife..... it is a throw back 60s kind of an "artsy" city and there is some great venues (bars) with live music.

speaking of art, lots of art galleries with local work of a very high caliber as well as folky more craft kind of work... jewelry etc

Asheville also has some great food..... there is an emphasis on the art and outdoor lifestyle...... lots of healthy looking people just enjoying their lives in a beautiful setting.

Me, I'm there to spend time with all you Mini people....Atl is only a few hours away and I have been in that area a lot..... hard to do better

 

I second the great mountain biking, road biking and hiking in the general area but especially Tsali, plus rafting and canoeing on the Nantahala and the Ocoee is awesome too.

Additionally I would highly recommend that people spend a day and a night in Chattanooga at either end of the trip as Chattanooga is truly a scenic city ad offers a lot of history, great entertainment, fantastic food plus of course some neat MINI cruising roads.



Check out this blog about What to do in Chattanooga

 

the best I've tasted in a long ime...worth the drive.

 

I second Chattanooga, great town.....

 

how about rock climbing or bouldering? are there any local stones that would be recomended?...
also are there mtn bike rentals? my bike has been parted... : (

 

contact the Nantahalla Outdoor center NOC you can google them

 

koolmini and I have been to the caverns listed on the first post. We had a great time.

 

Idk if you all have seen this but I think this would be a really cool thing to do:

Appalachain Amusement Center - Vertical Wind tunnel

 

Im trying to make it down for my 1st time, If I want to bring the MINI I need a pilot! Unfornatly I wont be able to do any of the fun outdoorzy stuff as my knee will be in a brace! Spidey, we will hafta hook up and talk about all the loot we burnt on the MINI!

 

oh no! what happen? sugery?

 

A couple of my favorites from roadsideamerica.com...

Bear Pits!
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/bear.html

Bloody Crypt!
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/...ctionNo==12298

The Lost Sea and Forbidden Caves sound intriguing.

And of course Pigeon Fordge sounds like a bizarre adventure. Dollywood!!!

 

Pigeon Forge is indeed a most different destination!
http://www.mypigeonforge.com/
This place is a bit different from the routine hokey attractions. It's an updated incarnation of the one in Orlando:
http://www.wonderworkstn.com/

 

Do you know how far away from the Fontana area these places are? Mainly b/c one of their locations has the Zorb

http://www.zorb.com/smoky/index.html

 

OMG!!!!

 

The curvy channels look fun and sickness inducing all at once!!

 

They have Indoor Skydiving in Pigeon Forge too:

http://www.flyawayindoorskydiving.com/pf.html

 

There is so much to do that fitting it all into one weekend will be hard. All the more of a reason to make sure and go back next year.
For me and the girls there will have to be a side trip over to Athens, Tenn. and visit my old stomping grounds.