We got married in the fall, so when we started planning our honeymoon, we knew we wanted a getaway with plenty of time outdoors. Rather than flying somewhere tropical, we planned a road trip from Louisiana to Natchez, Mississippi, through the Smoky Mountains, and into North Carolina.
Our honeymoon lasted from October 14–21, 2016, and each stop offered something a little different. We started with the Natchez Balloon Festival, spent several days hiking and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, and finished with a scenic drive through the mountains before one final night in Cherokee, North Carolina.
It was a lot of driving, but for us, that was part of the fun. We love exploring new places together, and this trip gave us the perfect mix of outdoor adventures, good food, scenic drives, and time to enjoy being newlyweds.
In honor of our 10-year anniversary, I’m looking back on our honeymoon and all the memories we made. And secretly hoping we can plan another fall adventure soon!
Trip At a Glance
Trip: Honeymoon road trip
Dates: October 14–21, 2016
Destinations: Natchez, Mississippi; the Smoky Mountains; Cherokee, North Carolina
Where We Stayed
- Natchez: Grand Natchez Hotel
- Smoky Mountains: Blue Mountain Mist Inn, Morning Glory Cottage
- Cherokee: Harrah’s Cherokee
Trip Highlights
- Natchez Balloon Festival
- Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains
- Rainbow Falls
- Porters Creek
- Clingmans Dome (now Kuwohi)
- Forney Ridge to Andrews Bald
- Cades Cove
- Gatlinburg SkyLift
- The Christmas Place and WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge
- The Island in Pigeon Forge and Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen
- Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers
- Scenic drive along U.S. Route 441
- Newfound Gap and Cherokee, North Carolina
Stop 1: Natchez, Mississippi
The Natchez Balloon Festival
We kicked off our honeymoon at the Natchez Balloon Festival, watching the balloon glow and listening to live music one evening before seeing the balloons launch over the Mississippi River the next day. It was a memorable way to start our fall getaway before heading north to the Smoky Mountains.
Want to know more about visiting Natchez? Check out our Perfect Couple’s Weekend in Natchez, Mississippi for more details and things to do around town.
Where We Stayed: Grand Natchez Hotel
We stayed at the Grand Natchez Hotel for two nights before continuing our honeymoon. Its location along the Mississippi River made it easy to walk to many places around town, and we enjoyed the complimentary breakfast, especially the biscuits!
We’ve stayed here several times since and would happily return. It’s a convenient home base for exploring Natchez.
Stop 2: The Smoky Mountains
After leaving Natchez, we headed north to Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. Fall was the perfect time for this part of our honeymoon. The trees were showing off beautiful fall colors, and we were excited to spend several days outdoors enjoying the mountain scenery.
We packed a lot into our time here, from hiking to waterfalls and scenic overlooks to exploring Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Where We Stayed: Blue Mountain Mist Inn
We stayed at Blue Mountain Mist Inn from October 16–20 in the Morning Glory Cottage. The cottage was spacious, private, and quiet, with a large bathtub and fireplace. It was the perfect place to unwind after a day of hiking.
The food was another highlight. Breakfast was served in the main house, with to-go options available, and there was a sweet treat each afternoon. Michael especially loved their pumpkin cake, which inspired us to buy the inn’s cookbook so we could try making some of the recipes at home.
Between the cozy cottage and home-cooked meals, this was one of our favorite parts of the honeymoon.
Hiking in the Smokies
We spent several days exploring the Smokies on foot, tackling hikes to waterfalls, historic sites, and mountain overlooks.
The beautiful fall colors made the experience even better, and one of my biggest surprises was how many hikes we managed to fit into our trip. Some were more challenging than I expected, but the views and experiences made the effort worthwhile.
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls was our first hike in the Smokies. We started early in the day, so the trail wasn’t as crowded as we expected.
The hike took longer than we anticipated, with plenty of rocky steps to climb along the way. Along the trail, we crossed a log bridge, spotted a chipmunk, and came across a huge tree that caught our attention. Little moments like these made the hike more than just a walk to a waterfall.
The waterfall at the end made the effort worthwhile and was a beautiful sight to see.
If you’re planning this hike, give yourself plenty of time rather than assuming you’ll be back as quickly as you might expect. The rocky terrain and elevation changes made it more challenging than we anticipated.
Porters Creek
Porters Creek was another moderate hike, but it was much less crowded. I think we only saw one other person while we were there!
The trail also featured a historical site and a log bridge, making it a nice change of pace from some of the more popular spots in the park. It was a peaceful hike and a good opportunity to enjoy a quieter side of the Smokies.
Clingmans Dome (Now Kuwohi)
Clingmans Dome, now known as Kuwohi, offered a different kind of challenge. The path to the observation tower is paved, but it is very steep!
Even though the walk is relatively short, we had to stop several times to rest and catch our breath. Thankfully, there are plenty of benches along the way.
Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On clear days, the observation tower offers views that can extend across seven states. Unfortunately, it was foggy when we made the climb, so we didn’t get to enjoy those sweeping views.
This is a popular stop, and parking was limited when we visited.
Forney Ridge to Andrews Bald
Of all the hikes we did, Forney Ridge to Andrews Bald was my favorite.
The trail is considered moderate and includes plenty of log steps. The hike down to Andrews Bald is beautiful, but remember that the return trip is uphill. That climb can be rough when you’re already tired from the hike out!
The views at Andrews Bald were breathtaking. We had beautiful fall colors and a blue sky, and the scenery made every step worthwhile. I loved the view so much that I still have a photo of it hanging on our wall today.
Exploring Cades Cove
We also spent a morning driving through Cades Cove, one of the most popular destinations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We went early because we’d heard that was the best time to spot wildlife, and it did not disappoint! A deer crossed right in front of our car, and we also saw turkeys along the way.
Driving the loop took us about an hour and a half. We stuck to the scenic drive rather than getting out to explore the historic buildings and churches because the area was so busy.
For us, it was a worthwhile experience, but not necessarily something we’d need to repeat on every visit. That said, we’ll probably make another trip through Cades Cove someday when we return with our daughter. I think she’d really enjoy spotting deer and other wildlife from the car!
Exploring Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
Of course, we didn’t spend our entire honeymoon hiking. We also made time for some of the classic tourist attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
A Ride on the Gatlinburg SkyLift
On our first day in Gatlinburg, we had to take a ride on the obligatory Gatlinburg SkyLift!
The Christmas Place and WonderWorks
While in Pigeon Forge, we stopped at The Christmas Place, a Christmas-themed store where we purchased wedding and honeymoon ornaments. It was a fun way to commemorate our trip, and those ornaments made for a special souvenir from our first adventure as newlyweds.
At Michael’s suggestion, we also visited WonderWorks. It was fun to mix in some touristy activities and do something a little different from hiking and exploring the national park.
These stops were a nice reminder that a mountain vacation doesn’t have to be all trails and overlooks. There are plenty of other things to do in the area, too.
The Island and Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen
We also visited The Island in Pigeon Forge, where we spent some time shopping and exploring.
While we were there, we ate at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, and the food was amazing. Come hungry because you get a lot!
The restaurant serves food family-style, so you choose main dishes and sides for the table, along with dessert. We ordered chicken and dumplings and fried fish, along with mac and cheese, green beans, black-eyed peas, and sweet potatoes. There was plenty of food to share!
If you go, make sure to save room for the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. It did not disappoint!
Visiting the Great Smoky Mountains Visitor Centers
We visited both the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers to pick up information and learn more about the park. At Oconaluftee, we also explored the Mountain Farm Museum, which features historic farm buildings.
One of our favorite souvenirs was collecting trail patches for every hike we completed. We bought them at the visitor centers, and they’re now displayed in our guest room as a reminder of our honeymoon adventures.
Stop 3: North Carolina and the Mountain Drive
After four nights in the Smokies, we took U.S. Route 441 through the mountains toward North Carolina, stopping at overlooks along the way, including Newfound Gap, where Tennessee and North Carolina meet.
The fall colors were beautiful, and after several days of hiking, it was nice to enjoy the scenery from the car and take our time along the way.
Our Final Night in Cherokee
We spent our final night at Harrah’s Cherokee in Cherokee, North Carolina, a more upscale change of pace from our cottage in the mountains.
That evening, we had dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. I’m not a huge steak eater, but I enjoyed the meal and especially the crème brûlée, one of my favorite desserts. It was a nice way to end our honeymoon before the long drive home.
After several days spent hiking, exploring, and enjoying the outdoors, ending our trip with a comfortable hotel and a special dinner felt like a fitting way to wrap up our honeymoon.
What We Loved About Our Honeymoon
Our honeymoon was the perfect fall road trip, combining the Natchez Balloon Festival, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, and a final stop in Cherokee, North Carolina. We loved having the freedom to explore at our own pace, mix outdoor adventures with downtime, and enjoy the journey as much as the destinations.
Ten years later, the fall scenery, our favorite hikes, and our stay at Blue Mountain Mist Inn are still some of the memories that stand out most.
Our Honeymoon, Looking Back
Looking back on our honeymoon, here are a few favorites and takeaways:
- Favorite Destination: The Smoky Mountains, for the fall colors, waterfalls, and scenic drives.
- Favorite Activity: Hiking to Andrews Bald. The views were so beautiful that I still have a photo hanging on our wall.
- Favorite Meal: Blue Mountain Mist Inn’s home-cooked food, especially the pumpkin cake Michael loved so much that we bought their cookbook.
- Favorite Lodging: Morning Glory Cottage at Blue Mountain Mist Inn. It was peaceful, spacious, and the perfect place to unwind.
- Biggest Surprise: How much hiking we did! Some trails were more challenging than expected, but the effort was worth it.
- Anything We Would Change: We’d plan our Cades Cove visit differently to account for the crowds, though we’d still recommend it for wildlife viewing.
I’m so glad we chose a road trip for our honeymoon. Ten years later, we have so many wonderful memories to look back on, and I’d happily take another fall adventure with Michael anytime.
