One of my favorite things about living in Raleigh, North Carolina is being only a few hours from the mountains and ocean. Every autumn, Alan and I spend a weekend in the mountains chasing the beautiful fall colors and disconnecting from technology. I’ve been following Under Canvas for quite some time, so when I heard they were opening a new site at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (five hours from Raleigh) I knew we had to visit! If you’ve never glamped before (glamorous camping), I highly recommend a stay at Under Canvas. The staff thought of everything to make our experience luxurious, comfortable and relaxing.
We stayed in a gorgeous Deluxe tent which was larger than our bedroom at home! The tent was equipped with a king bed, wood burning stove, a full bathroom (with hot, running water), lounge seating and a private porch facing the forest. Under Canvas is dog friendly, so we were able to bring Crosby (who LOVES the mountains) for a small nightly fee. Crosby had the time of his life and begged us with his sad doodle eyes to stay forever.
On Saturday morning we awoke to the gentle pitter-patter of rain on our tent. It was the perfect excuse to enjoy a slow morning. After a hot breakfast at the on-site restaurant and coffee by our fire, we spent the morning reading and playing board games before heading out to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There was no internet or cell service at the camp, so we got to truly enjoy each other’s company and the gorgeous nature around us.
We spent both Saturday + Sunday afternoon in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. TIP: I recommend leaving plenty of buffer time (at least an hour) as traffic can be slow through Gaitlinburg and the Smokies during peak seasons (especially when people stop for bear sightings).
There are plenty of pull-offs and view points in the park if you simply want to drive through and forgo hiking. My favorite “trail” was Clingman’s Dome (fyi – not dog friendly) which leads to 360-degree views. It is a very easy paved walk – a great option for families – and the perfect spot to watch the sunrise or sunset. Due to fog we were prohibited from hiking Charlies Bunyon and driving through Cades Cove, but those are on my list for next time!
The cozy lobby at Under Canvas (designed by West Elm) is complete with every board game imaginable. You can bring your own meal or order from the restaurant. Complimentary s’mores are available by the outdoor fire and on Friday nights you’ll enjoy live music! Obviously, we did not rough it.
This was one of our favorite weekend getaways yet! We loved it so much that we plan on making a yearly visit to Under Canvas Smokies.
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