My favorite weekend trip destination is a mountain town with cute shops, superb hikes, and access to a national park

• I love the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but my go-to nearby towns have gotten crowded.
• In search of an alternative entry town, I found Bryson City, North Carolina, and fell in love.
• Bryson City has a slower pace, a quiet vibe, and a quaint downtown area.

I've been visiting the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee since I was a child.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was our go-to destination for family vacations, and I've carried that tradition into adulthood with my husband and two children.

Growing up, we always stayed in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Sadly, large crowds of tourists, heavy traffic, and seemingly endless car fests have made these areas less than ideal for a relaxing weekend.

So, I started looking for alternative destinations nearby that could check all our boxes. We first visited Bryson City, North Carolina, on a whim, not knowing much about the town other than that it was close to the national park.

That was enough reason to visit, and once we did, we fell in love with the slower-paced vibe and the minimal crowds — things we'd been missing on previous mountain vacations.

Bryson City offers access to the Great Smoky Mountains with a remote vibe

A hidden gem on the edge of the Smoky Mountains, Bryson City is a little town about 15 minutes from Cherokee. It's also closer to my home in Georgia, which has saved us more than an hour of driving each way.

Bryson City is not the place you go for elaborate mini-golf courses, luxury hotels, or quirky attractions.

However, it's perfect if you want to appreciate the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for what it is: a haven for all things nature.

Camping and cabin rentals are popular here, along with fishing, tubing, and white-water rafting. Hiking trails and waterfalls are abundant, especially in the Deep Creek area, which is the gateway to the national park.

The hiking trails haven't ever been too crowded when we've visited, so it feels like a true escape from civilization. We've never had to sit in heavy traffic, and wait times at restaurants have been minimal.

We're also not constantly competing for space on the sidewalk while exploring, which is a pleasant change from the crowded streets of Gatlinburg.

I love how easy it is to explore the downtown area

In town, there are several great local eateries and shops. Our favorite is The Tuck and Table, which is a beautiful lodge-style restaurant on the river.

Shopping at Market on the Square is a must for toys, candy, and gifts. We usually stop for giant cookies at Honey Bear's Cupcakery and sweets from The Chocolate Shoppe.

The downtown area is also home to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, a scenic train experience with beautiful mountain views.

We can usually finish exploring the town, meal included, in just a few hours. It's small enough so that we can walk almost anywhere.

Despite the limited number of activities, what Bryson City offers is enough for my family. Our trips there are pretty affordable, too.

Hiking at Deep Creek only costs a small parking fee, and exploring the city is free. Accommodations here are less expensive than what we've typically seen in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, so our weekend trips as a whole are usually cheaper.

Bryson City inspired me to seek out other hidden gems

Bryson City's energy is noticeably different from Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. With under 2,000 residents, the town's population is about half the size of Gatlinburg's and a third of Pigeon Forge's.

It's cozier and calmer, with a non-touristy atmosphere that I love. It lacks the overdone mountain kitsch of the bigger tourist towns in the Smokies, offering a more natural ambience.

Although this is my new favorite place, finding it has inspired me to visit other towns in the area as well. I'll always treasure my childhood vacation hot spots, but branching out has given me a new appreciation for my happy place.

Bryson City proves that a mountain weekend escape can still feel like a true getaway, especially when I want to spend my time relaxing and reconnecting with nature instead of sitting in traffic on the Parkway.