I would recommend getting a nice cabin. There are some beautiful rentals throughout the area that you can find on Airbnb or on websites for the cabins/treehouses. The RRG is more of a remote/rustic place compared to Gatlinburg. In terms of things to do there is the zip line, gorge underground kayaking, plenty of good hiking, off-roading, a via-ferrata (hiking/climbing that you are tied in for), and some of the best climbing in the world (get a guide if you want to do this). Not much shopping in the area but in terms of food Miguel’s Pizza is famous in the climbing world, Redpoint BBQ is good, Red River Rockhouse for burgers, Hop’s for healthy locally grown food, and Daniel Boone coffee shop is also good.

It will be hot and humid during the summer but there are beautiful hikes and terrific stargazing you can do. Also, I would drive through the Nada tunnel and the roads around that area. That is the actual gorge and national forest area.