Tips for a Girlfriend Getaway in Sevierville, Tennessee

A Sevierville vacation with friends is all about comfort foods, shopping finds, nature’s beauty, big thrills, and sweet wine. If you want to bond your besties, here’s why to book a Southern-style girlfriend getaway in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Cataract Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cataract Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Smoky Mountains

There are plenty of places you could pick for your girlfriend getaway, but none with better views or prettier hiking trails than those in Sevierville and the surrounding areas. Located about 20 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, nature-loving gal pals will appreciate the scenic mountain drive through the park.

During your ascent, you’ll notice the trees change from green and leafy to pointed and piney. Fellow Travel Mamas who are prone to motion sickness like me should take the wheel OR pop a Dramamine before the drive.

Clingmans Dome view of the Smoky Mountains
Clingmans Dome view of the Smoky Mountains (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Choose from trails for all hiking levels, from easy to difficult. If your time is limited, pick a path close to the base of the mountain like Cataract Falls. This short, rocky trail leads to a small but lovely waterfall.

The winding drive to the top is worth it for the expansive, 360-degree views from Clingmans Dome. You may need to stop a couple of times to catch your breath as you march up this steep path because the air is so thin this high in the Smokies, but the air is so clean and pure you won’t mind. Stop for a picnic in the park and enjoy lunch in the shade of dogwood trees amid tweeting birds.

Rocky Top Wine Trail limousine tour
Wine-tasting in Sevierville with the girls (Photo credit: Travel Mamas)

Wine-tasting

Splurge on a limousine and go wine-tasting during your girlfriend getaway in Sevierville. The Rocky Top Wine Trail features five wineries within 12 miles. Get this: they don’t charge for tastings! Yep, you can sample wines made from local grapes without coming out-of-pocket. Of course, if you’re like me, you’ll want to purchase a bottle or two to drink later. Be sure to tip your hosts for sharing their wines and knowledge with you.

Apple trees used for making wine at the Apple Barn Winery in Sevierville, Tennessee
Apple trees used for making wine at the Apple Barn Winery (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

At each tasting room, expect a couple of drier options like chardonnay or zinfandel and a whole lot of sweet Southern wines like spumante and muscadine. Got any teetotalers or expectant moms in your crew? The wine rooms will happily serve up alcohol-free drinks like strawberry lemonade or sparkling cider.

Get a stamp at each spot. If you hit up three wine rooms, you’ll be rewarded with a wine glass souvenir. Visit all five spots on the trail to get an Italian (stemless) wine glass. Book a Moonshine and Wine Tasting Tour now!

Ducking and laughing after our helicopter ride in Sevierville
Ducking and laughing after our helicopter ride in Sevierville (Photo credit: Scenic Helicopter Tours)

Helicopter ride above Sevierville

Nothing bonds friends better than experiencing an adrenaline-pumping thrill together! My favorite part of this blogger trip was an exhilarating flight with Scenic Helicopter Tours with my new friends.

I almost didn’t go because I was afraid I’d get motion sick (and I couldn’t take a Dramamine because I’d been wine-tasting all day). But then Anna, author of the My Life and Kids blog, insisted I go. She all but dragged me onto the launch pad. I had gotten very queasy when I flew in a small four-seat airplane years ago, but I felt absolutely fine aboard this helicopter.

We embarked on a brief 15-minute tour of Sevierville and the surrounding areas. It was just long enough to experience the thrill of takeoff and landing and view the gorgeous scenery of the area’s plentiful treetops. Longer tours are also available.

As our group departed the helicopter, we almost crawled on our bellies away from the launch pad because we were all so paranoid about being hit by the propellers. Meanwhile, the Scenic Helicopters employees stood up straight and didn’t seem to lose their heads. We all giggled and held hands, joyous from our flight. Book your flight now!

Adrenaline Park's glass bottom bridge, Sevierville, Tennessee
Fellow blogger, Jennifer from the Baby Making Machine blog, was terrified of the Adrenaline Park’s glass bottom bridge but again it was Anna who forced her to join the fun

Zip-lining

For more adventure, visit the Adrenaline Park for zip-lining. Zip with your girlfriends across the French Broad River, shouting, “Woooo-hoooo!” all the way. Once is never enough, so buy a second zip. Ask the operator to spin your harness for an extra thrill on your way down. After your zip-lining experience, be sure to take a walk on the glass bottom Mountain Dew Sky Bridge to peer down at the trees below. The Adrenaline Park also offers jet boat rides and horseback riding.

Shopping with Donna from Faithfully Fashionable at the Tanger Five Oaks Factory Outlet in Sevierville, Tennessee
I promise, Anne Taylor Loft did NOT sponsor our shopping excursion!

Shopping in Sevierville

No girlfriend getaway is complete without a little shopping! Before you hit the stores, book a Faithfully Fashionable consultation with Donna Roland. She’ll tell you which colors work best for your skin, hair and eyes. Donna taught us there are five color profiles. Apparently, I’m a “soft” which means I should opt for pastel colors and never, ever wear black because it makes me look old.

She will also help you determine your body type. Donna gives suggestions for dressing and accessorizing to accentuate your best assets. You can even book her to go shopping with you and your girlfriends. She steered me away from some frumpy mom jeans and told me when colors didn’t look right on me. I wish I could take Donna with me every time I go shopping. Truly, I know I will shop smarter (and look cuter!) because of her fashion advice.

The Tanger Five Oaks Factory Outlet is home to a multitude of shops, from Gymboree Outlet and Disney Store for kids to Ann Taylor Factory Store and Michael Kors for adults. Check their website for coupons and sales before you go.

Pick up cute apple-themed souvenirs at the Apple Barn and Cider Mill in Sevierville, Tennessee
Pick up cute apple-themed souvenirs at the Apple Barn and Cider Mill (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Looking for Sevierville souvenirs? Head to the Apple Barn Cider Mill & General Store for all things apple-y and quaint. This complex is home to the Apple Barn Winery, one of the stops on the Rocky Top Wine Trail, as well as the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant, which serves up delicious apple fritters with every meal.

Giant porch at the Oak Haven Resort & Spa in Sevierville
Our giant porch at the Oak Haven Resort & Spa in Sevierville (Photo credit: Oak Haven Resort & Spa)

Where to stay in Sevierville

My six new friends and I bedded down in a cabin at the Oak Haven Resort & Spa. Our cabin provided gorgeous mountain views from a huge porch outfitted with rocking chairs aplenty. After days jam-packed with activities, it sure was nice to come back to our spacious, homey cabin with its patriotic country decor.

There was a plethora of space to hang out way past our bedtime munching popcorn, sipping wine and gabbing. Our cabin boasted six bedrooms, a full kitchen (plus a kitchenette in the basement), a pool table, two arcade games, a washing machine and dryer, two Jacuzzi bathtubs, a hot tub on the porch, and an outdoor barbecue.

Check out the view from our Sevierville cabin!
Check out the view from our Sevierville cabin! (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to check out the resort’s outdoor pool, playground or spa. I would love to stay at this cabin resort again and explore more of Sevierville someday during a visit with my family. I need to cross the nearby famed Dollywood off my bucket list!

Comfort food options abound in Sevierville
Comfort food options abound in Sevierville (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Dining out

You don’t go to Sevierville for quinoa and yoga classes. And, you won’t find a lot of fruit smoothies or martini bars in this Southern town. You will, however, find lots of pulled pork, hush puppies, corn bread, collard greens, and fried green tomatoes. Forget dieting here and embrace the greasy goodness! Read more about dining in Sevierville.

Downtown Sevierville statue of hometown resident Dolly Parton
Downtown statue of Sevierville resident Dolly Parton (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Why book a girlfriend getaway in Sevierville

One of the best things about a girlfriend getaway in Sevierville? The prices! I was blown away by how inexpensive everything was in this town. From free wine tastings to affordable helicopter rides and discounted clothing, Sevierville makes a wise choice for friends or families seeking a vacation they can afford.

I didn’t know much about Sevierville before my visit, besides that it was the hometown of country music star Dolly Parton. This friendly town offers hiking in the Smoky Mountains, wine-tasting, helicopter rides, zip-lining, shopping and lots of good ol’ Southern cuisine. Who knew?!

Southern-style Girlfriend Getaway in Sevierville, Tennessee

Learn more

Located about a half-hour from Sevierville, take a look at fun things to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Further afield, there lots to do in Chattanooga, too.

For additional girlfriend getaway trip ideas, read our tips for visiting Las Vegas with friends or Phoenix with your besties.

What’s your favorite thing to do on a girlfriend getaway? Let us know in the comments below!

A Note from The Travel Mama: The Sevierville Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted my visit. All opinions are mine, as always. 

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7 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for all the tips and i would love to do the Donna Roland thing y’all did but this chica doesn’t make it easy ! How did you book this thing? I tried her website no way to book and I don’t have social media so maybe that’s how idk ! Please let me know how you did it ! I can’t wait to go next week !

    1. Hi LaShawn I am so sorry you are having trouble reaching me. You can submit your information via the Contact Me form on my website or please feel free to email me at donna@donnaroland.com or call or text me at 865-599-6682. Or post your contact info here and I will call you. I look forward to hearing from you!
      Donna

    1. Who knew, right?! Sevierville blew me away – so friendly, so fun, so beautiful, so tasty!

  2. We have been near here once and found the scenery to be some of the best in the US. I, too, would love to see Dollywood. Dolly has been on TV lately promoting her new album – Blue Smoke? Speaking as someone who owns a dog named Dolly I can say I am definitely a fan. Great article. I would not have thought about a vacation in Sevierville if I hadn’t read this.

    1. I think you would really enjoy Sevierville…especially the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…and the outlet shopping! Seriously, there were some great deals at those stores!