IT’S TUBIN’ TIME IN TENNESSEE!
One of the most relaxing
things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains, is to float down the Little
River in Townsend, Tennessee, on an inner tube. This is not your
ordinary inner tube, but a large, colorful, heavy-duty inner tube
constructed to transport you safely and comfortably down the river.
Several Tubing companies are located in Townsend, which bills itself as
The Peaceful Side of the Smokies, and you will find peace floating down
the river on a sunny day in east Tennessee. The companies will supply
the tubes, life jackets for the little ones, a ride from the exit point
of the river back to the departure point, and usually unlimited trips
down the river.
Your journey starts by wading into the
Little River and plopping own on the tube. You can sit on it or lay on
your stomach, the choice is yours. From then on the current will float
you down the river and the trees on both banks of the river provide a
canopy of shade. There are a few long drops in elevation which provide
for a mini-whitewater adventure that shoots you along and spins you
around gently for a fun ride.
At the end of the
hour-and-a-half ride you pull yourself and your tube out of the water
and board the bus that takes you back to the beginning. There you can
choose to jump back into the river for another ride, or towel off and
seek new adventures.