Some places just seem made for young honeymooners: They've got beautiful scenery, lots to do, and affordable prices. If, after spending a wad on your wedding, there's not much left over, consider vacationing in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in the heart of the Smokies.
Spanning parts of both Tennessee and North Carolina, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is some 16 miles wide and 50 miles across.
It has more than 900 miles of marked hiking trails, and those who explore on foot may spot some of the 70 animal species (including black bears) and 235 different kinds of birds found here. Turn a corner, and a cliff or waterfall may await you behind a protective rail. Dotting the park, original homes, mills, and churches built by settlers have been preserved to offer a glimpse of 19th-century life.
If you want to go freshwater fishing, you can do it year-round in the park -- as long as you buy a license. If rafting appeals, there are trips for beginner as well as experienced paddlers.On-site information is available at the Sugarlands Visitor Center on the Tennessee side and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in North Carolina.
Of course, you won't want to spend all your time in the woods, not when there are so many unique Smokies attractions -- including jet-skiing, prospecting for gems, a Victorian tea room, and Big Daddy's Fireworks emporium.
Then there's Dollywood, the theme park created by Dolly Parton (open April through December). It features rides, musical reviews, a steam-powered train ride, shops, and artisans who demonstrate pottery-making and fiber arts skills. Big-name country music stars perform here, and Dolly herself shows up once in a while, too. Since the park gets crowded in summertime, buses and trolleys are the best way to motor around. If you just can't get enough kitsch, there's an Elvis Museum in town, too.
Gatlinburg, the other major Smokies town, has forests and streams, mountains and wildlife -- as well as shops, art galleries, and restaurants. For great views, there's the Ober Gatlinburg sky-high amusement park.
You will want to find time to sleep and snuggle, of course. Mountain Valley Properties rents more than 90 different cabins and chalets in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, provides links to local sites, directions, and even has a fiddle tune for you to listen to as you're surfing.
If you live in the area or are contemplating a destination wedding, there are a number of chapels that offer wedding services. You can even have the ceremony performed in your own cabin.
