The Appalachian Mountains are a wide mountain range covering a large portion of the eastern seaboard’s interior. Stretching from Georgia to Maine, the area is known for its lush greenery, wildlife, and plentiful outdoor activities. The range is home to several national parks, including Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains, and many states have turned portions of the Appalachians into state parks and nature preserves. If you are interested in hiking, there are trails for every skill level. Other popular activities in the mountains include rock climbing, exploring cultural museums, and visiting historic sites. If you are visiting the mountains during the fall season, you will be treated to a display of vibrant colors as the tree leaves change from green to red, yellow, and orange.
There are many amazing towns within the region and valley, we picked the following towns because they have family-friendly activities and a selection of big family friendly cabin rentals to serve as your home base while you explore the area.
Blue Ridge, GA
Tucked away near Chattahoochee National Forest, Blue Ridge offers a little something for everyone in the family. Blue Ridge Adventure Park as well as Haunted Blue Ridge ghost tours offer different types of thrills, whereas Daffodil Hill Farm, the Lilly Pad Village and Old Toccoa Farm golf course provide more chilled out experiences. Blue Ridge Lake delivers on just about everything you could want out on the lake, with opportunities to boat, water ski, swim and fish for a fairly wide variety of catchable species. Looking for picturesque hiking destinations? The Blue Ridge area has no shortage of nearby waterfalls to trek to. Long Creek Falls, Falls Branch Falls, Sea Creek Falls and Jack River Falls all sport stunning levels of natural beauty, and these are just a small sample of all waterfalls in the Blue Ridge area. Find a cabin for your big family nearby.
North Conway, NH
The New Hampshire town of North Conway makes for a perfect blend of outdoor recreation and cultured getaway in one neat package of a base camp. Nearby natural offerings include a number of places to go hiking, fishing, and skiing, along with plenty to see among waterfalls, lakes, and Dahl Wildlife Sanctuary. Closer to where you’ll stay is where you’ll find numerous outlet malls, Kahuna laguna Waterpark, and a varied selection of eateries. With an equal variety in lakeside cottages and more rustic log cabins, North Conway will have you and your family spoiled for choice. Start your trip with a nearby cabin rental.
Bryson City, NC
Bryson City, North Carolina is a peaceful town surrounded by nature. Ornate with greenery and home to a diverse portfolio of wildlife, Bryson City serves as an excellent gateway into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With a balance of all-encompassing as well as a proper dash of standard city convenience, Bryson City will take you far from home, but with all the necessary comforts still around. Check out these nearby cabins rentals.
Gatlinburg, TN
Among the most popular places to visit in the Appalachian Mountains is Gatlinburg and for plenty of good reason. Serving as an alternate gateway for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ll have no less pool of choices than you would in Bryson City. Chief among the nearby outdoor offerings are a collection of hiking trails, waterfalls, zip lines, and wildlife sanctuaries. Within town, you’ll find plenty of adventure with the Space Needle, the Sky Lift, and the local ski resort, Ober Gatlinburg. Check out Gatlinburg cabin rentals.
Ellijay, GA
Known as the “Apple Capital of Georgia”, Ellijay lies in a quiet little spot of Gilmer county. Though it may be mostly known for its Georgia Apple Festival every October, there’s plenty to see and do near Ellijay year-round. The nearby Chattahoochee National Forest offers nearly countless ventures for fishing, rafting, and kayaking along the water. The nearby Blue Ridge Adventure Park offers your more daring kids an intricate aerial obstacle course. Fort Mountain State Park and Fall Branch Falls truly encapsulate the natural beauty of Appalachia, and when it comes to the Ellijay area, they’re just scratching the surface. Find Ellijay cabin rentals for big families.
Pigeon Forge, TN
With the motto of “The Center of Fun In The Smokies”, Pigeon Forge will do far from disappoint. From the inside out, the Pigeon Forge area is jam-packed with activities to keep you and your family going all day, every day. Several zipline parks on the outskirts of town offers exhilarating outdoor fun, while Parrot Mountain and Gardens offers an idyllic bird-watching experience. Within town, fun family activities range from zoos to aviation museums and even Dollywood! With such variety across the Pigeon Forge area, you may just have to make multiple trips for your family to see it all. View Pigeon Forge cabin rentals.
Berkeley Springs, WV
Originally founded around the local springs as the town of Bath in 1776, Berkeley Springs is a top-tier relaxation destination. Just east of the Potomac are a range of trails and natural points of interest, such as Prospect Overlook, Eagles Nest Lookout, and Exline Iris Gardens. Within town, Berkeley Springs State Park offers natural mineral springs and a relaxing spa, while the Museum of Berkeley Springs showcases a vintage 1815 bathhouse. Plan a trip with these Berkeley Springs cabin rentals.
Greenville, ME
About as central in Maine as you can get, the Greenville area is the northernmost locale we’ll share with you today. Encircling The Highlands are a multitude of ponds and lakes ideal for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and boating. Moosehead Lake is the largest in the state and covers almost 75,000 acres. The nearby Big Squaw Mountain Ski Area offers plenty of learner-friendly runs for the kids, along with a slew of nearby trailheads offering up some of the best sights Maine has. Within the town proper, you’ll find the Currier Aviation Museum and a hodgepodge of cozy restaurants to unwind towards the end of the day. Plan a relaxing trip with one of these Greenville cabins.
