I would second the recommendation for the Great Smoky Mountain National park area. My better half and I spend a week there each year, and there is always something new to do and discover. She does not fish, but always finds plenty to do and enjoy while I am fishing or in conjunction with it. The Gatlinburg/Pigeon forge area has literally tons of things to choose from in the way of restaurants, attractions and shows.
Within the park, there are lots of things for the fisherman and the non-fishing types to enjoy. Cade’s Cove has the old settlements and mill that are open to be explored, along with wildlife in the area that is quite accustomed to the presence of humans. You can expect to see turkey, deer and black bear in the area at about any time. The road through Cade’s Cove also gives you access to the trail head for the waterfall on Abram’s Creek, which is a favorite attraction in the area. And as luck has it, Abram’s is one of the best streams to fish in the park, so you can combine the hike to the falls with some fishing along the way. Another area of the park that is a must see is the Cataloochee Valley. This is where the elk herd has been introduced to the park. Going there, it won’t be a question of if you see an elk, but rather how many, and how close they will be. “Close” in some cases can be measured in feet. Cataloochee Creek flows through the valley, and it can be very good fishing. It’s also one of the places in the park that you can catch the “Smokey’s Slam” of a brook, a brown and a rainbow all in the same stream. Clingman’s Dome is another “must see” spot in the park for it’s fantastic vistas of the area. It’s an “easy” 3/4 of a mile, hour plus hike up to the structure. However, as it is one of the highest points in the park, the view is worth the effort. Another popular vista to see is the Chimney Tops, which is a bit longer hike, as it takes about 2 hours. However, the one section of the trail actually follows Road Prong Trail. Road Prong is one of the streams in the park that has a population of native Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, which are actually genetically different from their northern cousins more commonly caught in the northeast. And while the stream is bordered by a fairly popular trail, not many people actually fish it. A good fish there is 8", and they are plentiful. Last summer I picked up 9 8"+ fish in about a 100 yard section of the stream while we were on our way back from Chimney Tops.
With respect to a place to stay, the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area has every kind of hotel or lodge you can ask for. However, we like to stay a bit out of the tourist rush, so to speak, so we get a cabin in the Townsend area. The views are much nicer, and if you want the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, it’s only about a 20 minute drive away. If you google up “Townsend TN fly fishing”, you will find the local fly shop listed there. I’d put their name in here, but I don’t know for sure if the rules of the board allow that for a non-sponsor. They are about the nicest group of folks you could ever ask to deal with, and are very knowledgeable about the park and it’s fisheries. A call to the shop, or a stop in there, and they can tell you the areas to target, as well as what is working at the time. I’m sure they can also recommend a few guides to talk to as well.
There are some good books on fishing in the park that were written by Jim Cassada and Ian Rutter (who I think is the guide that billhouk has hooked up with) that give you some good insights to the park waters, and how to access them. With 700+ miles of wild trout streams to choose from, there is always new water to explore.
If you decide to head to the park, feel free to PM me, and I can pass onto you in more detail what I know of the area.
Bob