Sunday, June 26, 2016

Greenbrier, the quiet side of the Smokies!

The Great Smokey Mountains are full of beautiful places to visit . Most are crowded with tourists since the park has a few million visitors a year. One of the less visited areas in the park is Greenbrier. A thriving little town at one time, it is now great for hiking, playing  in streams and rivers and viewing spectacular wild flower displays in the Spring. The area is full of history. There are remains of several buildings and old cemeteries to explore. Ramsey Cascades waterfall is another destination in the Greenbrier area. This is a strenuous hike but worth the trip. I recommend picking up a brochure about Greenbrier before heading out if you're a history buff so that you don't miss any of the interesting sites it has to offer.
A BBQ restaurant just across the road from the entrance serves delicious food, Hungry Bear BBQ. They offer a variety of smoked meats with delicious side choices. Great place to pick up a picnic to enjoy at one of the picnic areas in Greenbrier.  .
 
Take you chairs and towels. There's plenty of spots to swim or just sit and put your toes in the water. An inner tube is also something to consider.  Nothing like floating down a river on a hot Summer's day.

It's a short drive from downtown Gatlinburg on E321 at Pittman Center. Turn right off E321, the entrance is across from Hungry Bear BBQ.  The blacktop road eventually becomes gravel but it's in good shape.