Atlanta to Gatlinburg drive: 24 ranked stops worth the detour

The Atlanta Chinese community's go-to for cart-service dim sum on Buford Highway. Order: Har gow and shrimp dumplings.

A 1,000-ft gorge with a swinging suspension bridge

short but steep to a rocky perch

staircases into a dramatic 1,000-ft gorge; permit for the floor

A Cherokee comfort-food buffet stop for the Newfound Gap Road day, especially useful on the quieter North Carolina side.

paved to an 80-ft waterfall — an RV-crew favorite

Emory-area favorite smoking until the meat runs out, so arrive early. (Decatur) Order: Pulled pork and mac and cheese.

One of the last of the Parkway's 26 tunnels before the road ends at the Smokies, named for a 19th-century Cherokee leader -- a five-second reminder that this whole drive terminates inside the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' homeland.

Downtown Decatur tapas destination pairing Spanish-inspired small plates and charcuterie with an extensive Iberian wine and sherry program. Order: Pork cheek bocadillo.

Eighteen of Jack's favorite holes from around the world, recreated outside Atlanta. A greatest-hits round you can actually book.

Restored Decatur train depot with an oyster-obsessed raw bar, absinthe fountain and French-technique New American cooking behind a landmark bar program. Order: Oysters on the half shell.

James Beard-recognized Indian street-food spot bursting with color and bright, snacky chaat. (Downtown Decatur) Order: Sev potato dahi puri and okra fries.

Reservation-only lunch tea room tucked in the hills serving homemade seasonal fare with a devoted local following. Order: Wild plum tea and daily quiche.

wrapped in The Battery — a year-round dining-and-music district that changed the ballpark model

The marquee layout at a 45-hole winery resort, no overnight stay required to play. A parkland design winding past vineyards 45 minutes from downtown Atlanta.

a roaring roadside fall on the dramatic Cullasaja Gorge drive

the tallest fall in the Smokies, in old-growth forest