Good Lord Felonious Fig, you'd swear that you thought that the only nice part of the area was the touristy spots. Every look at a map and wonder where "that road" goes? There are lots of good drives in your area.
There's a neat forest road that connects the Cades Cove loop to a nearby highway. It's several miles long, crosses the mountain, and has many great scenes and other pretty views. It's not recommended for cars, but you could creep along in a car as long as it isn't too low.
Chris
f it were me, I'd make sure to come down the BACK side through Gatlinburg; instead of coming down through Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, go through Townsend. Less commercially built up, still very beautiful.
+1 on this. I went to G'burg back in Sept for daughter's wedding, which happened to be the same weekend as the big Hot Rod car event. Took a couple of hours to get through. When it was time to leave I asked the guy at the hotel the back way out of there. Much easier drive.
French G said
Do us all a favor and try to hit a SCAD student with that ugly pick-up of yours.
(he laughs manicaly......) muahahahaha
Save some cash for Savannah, I ate until it hurt, really great restaurants there. Stay away from the riverfront, there is a lot of touristy food there, not as good quality. Tybee Island can be pretty entertaining as long as it is not kid season, things move pretty slowly out there. Stayed in a nice B&B there. Do us all a favor and try to hit a SCAD student with that ugly pick-up of yours.
Overall, really great city, I enjoyed it as much as Charleston, SC, a lot of the same attractions, antebellum architecture, good food, and not near as many idiots as say, New Orleans. If you make it to Savannah, meander two more hours and hit St. Augustine. A1A brewery and restaurant, they have some beer and cheese base soup you will slap your momma for. Good beer too.
If you are going to Savannah it is worth the time to find Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House. Best lunch in Savannah, in my opinion.
http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/whereweeat/stern_wilkes.shtml
http://www.mrswilkes.com/