My mom and I are big fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, and we’re particularly fond of the petite, hardy, and ever-hungry hobbit folk (probably because we see ourselves in them). When I stumbled upon Mountain Shire, a clutch of hobbit-inspired vacation rentals nestled in Wears Valley in Tennessee—less than two hours’ drive from where my parents live near Asheville, North Carolina—I knew it would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift.
So I surprised my mom with a two-day minibreak, along with matching “Second Breakfast Club” shirts, of course. Our quest not only led us to an unforgettable stay, but also helped us discover some amazing things to do right in my mom’s backyard.
Let’s go on an adventure, shall we?
The hobbit holes
Mountain Shire’s accommodations are not exactly holes, but rather, adorable tiny homes with round doors just like a traditional hobbit dwelling. Each tiny home has its own theme, including dragons, plants, and wizards. Ours was a “magical woodland cottage.”
I’ll be honest: I kept my expectations in check, thinking our hobbit hole might turn out to be a kitschy, overpriced tourist trap. But I needn’t have worried.
The houses and grounds were just as cute in person as they looked on the website, and we were very impressed by how much thought had clearly been put into them—from maximizing the small space to ensuring every last detail fit with the hobbit vibe.
We spent two cozy nights drinking tea, eating scones, and enjoying quality time in our hobbit hole. But that was just the beginning of our adventure.
Hiking the Great Smoky Mountains
A hobbit-themed holiday wouldn’t be complete without plenty of walking. Our hobbit hole was conveniently located just 10 minutes from the nearest entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so we availed ourselves of the park’s vast network of forest-shrouded hiking trails.
Since I’m accustomed to the craggy mountains and scrubby desert of Colorado, the rolling green patchwork of the Great Smoky Mountains was basically a tropical paradise in my book.
Even better, Great Smoky Mountains National Park charges no entry fee; all you need is a parking tag. You can pay for parking ($5 for a day or $15 for a week) in the park or online.
Dinosaur golf and goats on the roof
On the opposite side of Mountain Shire lies the unforgettable town of Pigeon Forge—home of Dollywood and much, much more. Think Las Vegas, but smaller and more southern.
Everywhere you turn, you’ll find some sort of amusement center, often with a wacky theme. There are buildings shaped like King Kong climbing around Tokyo and the Titanic hitting an iceberg. There are souvenir stores the size of Wal-marts advertising real, live alligators and sharks.
We dipped our toe into the odd energy of Pigeon Forge with a round of dinosaur-themed mini golf at a place called Goats on the Roof. Yes, there were actual goats grazing on the grass-covered roof, in addition to animatronic dinosaurs and a small roller coaster.
How to plan your adventure to Middle Earth
You can book Mountain Shire tiny homes direct or through Airbnb.
Prices vary widely; they can climb past $400 a night on summer weekends, but they were closer to $200 per night during our midweek visit in late April. They can go even lower in the winter, and thanks to the area’s warm climate, you could enjoy many of the same activities in the cooler months.
We only stayed two nights in our hobbit hole, but we could easily have spent a week exploring the sprawling national park and the many quirks of Pigeon Forge. I can see why this is such a popular vacation spot for families, whether in search of outdoor adventure or affordable amusement parks—or, in our case, living out our literary fantasy.