Serving as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, TN, offers a special retreat into nature you can't quite get anywhere else. Known as the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies," this charming small-town backdrop offers a healthy alternative to its more famous neighbors.

If you find yourself in Gatlinburg, Tennessee it can be overwhelming. I like to call it the Wisconsin Dells on steroids to all my Chicago friends. If you find yourself trapped at a family reunion in this southern Chuckie-Cheese, here are some ideas of things to do to get away from the chaos.