Your Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary - Let Us Help

There are three ways to plan your Great Smoky Mountains itinerary. On the one hand, you can just show up and see what happens. Maybe you’ll get lucky…

On the other hand, you can do a ton of time-consuming research and depend on the “always accurate” internet to plan your trip.

Waterfall surrounded by trees and rhododendrons

But there’s a third option that is much better. Let someone who has spent a lot of time in the Great Smoky Mountains help you plan your itinerary!

What's Inside This Post...

Smoky Mountains Ventures Custom Travel Planning

Let Smoky Mountains Ventures Custom Travel Planning do the “heavy lifting” on planning your Great Smoky Mountains itinerary. Each trip is unique and custom-planned, with lots of input from you, the travelers, whether you’re on a family trip with kids, traveling solo, young and adventurous, or older like we are!

Momma bear with two young cubs on the roadside in the Great Smoky Mountains

Who We Are and Why You Should Trust Us

Hi there! We’re Jeff and Mary Ellen. We live just a couple of hours from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we have been visiting there for years. We have hiked the best hikes and visited the most beautiful waterfalls, including the ones most people don’t know about!

We know the best places to stay in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and the best places to eat. We’ve been to Anakeesta (more than once), Dollywood, Ripley’s Aquarium, and other area attractions. We know what’s worth your time and expense and what’s not.

We have the experience and expertise to craft your perfect adventure.

Jeff and Mary Ellen standing under a very blue sky

Do I Really Need a Custom Travel Planning Service?

That’s a great question!

As we mentioned above, there are several ways to plan a trip to the Smokies. One of those is to not plan at all; some just show up to the Smokies and hope for the best. We meet people like that all the time. On our most recent trip, we met a family who knew nothing about the area and had gotten in “way over their heads” on a difficult hike. They were miserable!

The problem with just showing up and hoping for the best is that you don’t know what you don’t know. Which trails should I hike? Which waterfalls should I see? Where should we stay? Where are the best restaurants? What attractions are in the area? Where can I see a bear?

Great Smoky Mountains in the early morning

Others spend hours upon hours and days upon days searching the internet or AI for info. It’s time-consuming and often inaccurate. Who has time to do that?

Large Great Smoky Mountains waterfall pouring into a wide base pool, with a stone face on one side and mountain shrubs on the other

Answer these questions to help decide if we can help…

Have you been to the Smokies before?
Do you know the best places for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, or dessert?
Do you know the places the best places for lodging and the places that are a bit “sketchy”?
Do you know your way around the park? (It’s HUGE!)
Do you know the hikes worth taking and the waterfalls worth seeing?
Do you want to “supersize” your time in the Great Smoky Mountains?
Do you like to save $$$?

We can help in each of these areas and more!

What Will I Get in My Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary?

Our Smoky Mountains Ventures Custom Travel Planning service is dedicated to crafting a truly unique travel experience tailored specifically for your visit to the Smokies. Here’s what we offer:

Insider Tips: Benefit from our experience and expertise and gain insider knowledge on hidden gems and lesser-known wonders of the Smoky Mountains.

Route Planning: Whether you’re taking a scenic road trip or booking a flight, we’ll map out the most convenient and picturesque travel route.

Sunbeams shining on rippling mountain stream flowing by green moss-covered banks

Budget Management: Collaborate with us to set a realistic travel budget and ensure you stick to it so you can enjoy your trip without financial stress.

Personalized Itinerary: Based on your interests, we create a detailed daily itinerary packed with the must-see spots and must-do activities, ensuring you make the most of each day.

Lodging & Dining Recommendations: Receive customized suggestions for the best places to stay and dine, whether it’s cozy cabins, luxurious lodges, or local eateries. We also highlight top-rated hikes, breathtaking waterfalls, and other captivating area attractions.

What’s the Process Look Like?

First, you’ll complete the short response email at the bottom of this post and return it to us to let us know of your interest.
Second, we will respond within 48 hours (usually sooner) with a personal email and a questionnaire to help us understand more about your travel style, expectations, lodging preferences, etc.

Old log cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains

We will also send more info about Smoky Mountains Ventures Custom Travel Planning, as well as our package descriptions and prices. (These are based on the length of your trip. They are NOT pre-planned trips.)
If you agree to everything, we will sign a contract and collect payment by credit card.
Next, we’ll schedule a video call so that we can answer ALL your questions and fully understand your expectations and desires.

Gravel road through a grassy field with mountains in the background

In three to five days, you will receive a rough draft of your itinerary. You will review it and suggest any changes you would like to make.
Two days later, you will receive your digital copy of your unique custom plan for your adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains!

How Do I Get Started?

That’s easy! To get the ball rolling, just fill out and return the response email below. We’ll respond within 48 hours (usually sooner).