Budget Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg trip

[Cara]

Tina, If you live close to TN and are a military wife, I'll bet we are neighbors.

We love Gatlinburg. Our DD 10 REALLY enjoyed the Dixie Stampede. Our favorite mini-golf place is Hillbilly Golf. And I have been to the Disney outlet 2-3 times and have never really had good luck.

Have fun!

 

[princess-rn]

We were just there in March. It was our first time too. BEAUTIFUL place. HEre's a few tips..
1. there are people EVERYWHERE offering you "$100" to "view" some new condo they are building. IGNORE them.
2. Just get out and walk around in Down town Gatilinburg. You can park your car for about $6 and just enjoy the day. There are lots of little odd "museums" and such you can pay to go into or you can just soak up the atmosphere.
3. If your family is a Dukes of Hazzard fan "Cooters Garage" is a must. THere are cars from the show and lots of memorabilia inside. and it's FREE!!!
4. If you want to go out to a special resturant while you are there I HIGHLY reccommend "The Peddler". It's off the strip in downtown Gatlinburg so alot of tourists don't know it's there. AMAZing salad bar and great steaks. Kids eat for 50cents times their age. (ie..my DS who is 2 years old ate for a dollar)
5. If you are teddy bear fans look for the LARGE barn off the main highway in Pigeon Forge. It's a Boyd's BEar mall. It's HUGE and filled with nothing but Boyd's bears. It's free to get in and there is lots to see. (and buy if you want to) There is also a resturant there that I heard is tasty.
6. Lots and Lots of pankcake houses. Try one. YUMMY
7. Cades cove..beautiful
8. The outlet mall..pretty good deals. We hit the disney store and bought tons of stuff for rock bottom prices.
I guess that is it. I hope you guys have a great time. It's a beautiful place to visit.

 

[westjones]

Oh, it's been about 3 years, but when we went there was a Disney Outlet store in Pigeon Forge. Does anyone know if it is still there?
DJ

 

[debbiedoo]

I beleive the Peddler is also known as the park grill. I know The Patk Grill is going south---last rest on the left-----Thomas Kinkade on the left---not to far. This is the rest as I posted earlier that kids eat for half their age. I have ornaments from there--and they are packed away!! Lots of wood out front -- gorgeous restaurant!!

 

[Disney_dude]

Love to eat at the Peddler. Do Clingsmans Dome. Shop at Smoky Mountain Knife Works. That would be a complete trip for me

 

[Disney_dude]

I beleive the Peddler is also known as the park grill. I know The Patk Grill is going south---last rest on the left-----Thomas Kinkade on the left---not to far. This is the rest as I posted earlier that kids eat for half their age. I have ornaments from there--and they are packed away!! Lots of wood out front -- gorgeous restaurant!!

The Park Grill is the Park Grill and the Peddler is the Peddler. Love the Peddler

 

[mommytobug]

I am sooo excited someone started this thread. We are renting our points this year and will be going to Gatlinburg.....this has some great ideas!!! I am looking for somewhere great to stay!!! ANy suggestions???

 

[Disney_dude]

I like staying here:www.gatlinburg-tn-hotel.com/index.html (BEARSKIN LODGE on the river)

 

[totallydisney]

Yummy places to eat, but you have got to try the Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg, Best pancakes you will ever eat! Go early lines get really long. Also a cheap and fun activity is to go to Townsend and rent a inner tube,and go into the national park and spend the afternoon tubing. Lots of fun.

 

[AspiringCindy]

How is Bennett's Barbeque? Also, has anyone been to Santa's in Cherokee?

 

[mommytobug]

I like staying here:www.gatlinburg-tn-hotel.com/index.html (BEARSKIN LODGE on the river)

That is where I was looing but read mixed reviews...is it walking distance to downtown?? DOes it have cont breakfast?? THANKS Tell me what you can about it

 

[Disney_dude]

The place is in town on River Road. It is in walking distance to downtown. It's been a couple of years sense I've stayed there. They did have a continental breakfast, (donuts, muffins etc) standard. Covered parking lot. It's only a few years old, so it's clean. And it sits by my favorite place to eat the Peddler. Bennett's Barbeque is near by as well, it's good.

 

[christinadei]

I am sooo excited someone started this thread. We are renting our points this year and will be going to Gatlinburg.....this has some great ideas!!! I am looking for somewhere great to stay!!! ANy suggestions???

If you are interested in renting a cabin, we used Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg http://www.mountainchalets.com/

They always have great specials like the 4th and 7th night free or 1/2 off the 3rd night if you'll only be there 3 nights. Plus they have the lowest rates on cabins anyway. I think we paid about $95 a night with the 7th night free. It's more expensive than a hotel (maybe?) but you can save a lot of money because the cabins have full kitchens, so you don't have to eat every meal out.

 

[princess-rn]

I am sooo excited someone started this thread. We are renting our points this year and will be going to Gatlinburg.....this has some great ideas!!! I am looking for somewhere great to stay!!! ANy suggestions???

If you are looking for a cabin- (which I do reccommend to get the true mountain experience) We rented from www.patriotgetaways.com They also usually have specials. When we went in March is way "pay for 2 nights get the 3rd night free." Have a great time!

 

[Sunny37]

How is Bennett's Barbeque? Also, has anyone been to Santa's in Cherokee?

We love Bennett's barbeque! We eat there a couple of times every time we visit that area.

 

[ncgolfer]

You gotta try The Brass Lantern in downtown Gatlinburg. Our favorite place to eat.

 

[WDWannabe]

I'm not too sure about Santa's land, the rides, I think they are per ride or you can get a wrist band....not WDW rides...but, they have the greatest candy apples you have ever tasted...huge and I have never seen them with walnuts on it! They are closed on Sundays...during the winter months...so is most of Cherokee that time...

we live about 4 hours from PF and Gal and we love Dollywood...good clean park...we did do the water park one time...we had a blast...I dont usually like the pool time but loved the lazy river, good toddler area and wave pool. You have got to at least like country music somewhat to enjoy DW, it's all through the parks, take heed, the train ride is very hokey. I agree with the other poster who thought the parks were nicley decorated for the fall and winter times...have been to both and very nice.... probably my favorite time to go... I was excited to hear that they added more rides to the country fair area this year that area need more... Has any one been, what are the rides? Sorry so long but had to read through all the posts...we are too planning a trip this summer, May 31-June 3...

 

[disneyfan551]

AspiringCindy... We went to Santa's Land last year for the 1st time in several years, and it was ok. Honestly, I live in the area, and I wouldn't even waste my time on it again! We decided to buy AP's at Dollywood this year instead, and enjoy it ALOT more! At SL, there are only a few kiddy rides, a petting zoo, a little train, a few carnival games, and that's about it! Not worth the $20 or so!

Hope everyone visiting our area enjoys our Great Smoky Mountains! It's beautiful here, but I'd rather be at Disney World!!

 

[FFFlying]

We always rent a cabin...last time we shared one with 2 other families.


http://www.volunteercabinrentals.com/

These are about 8 miles west of PF, which I like. We like to just spend time at our cabin away from the hussle and bussle.

Clingmans Dome

Hill Billy Golf

Aquarium

Dixie Stampede...bias as my entire family is horse crazy

and we always seem to end up getting quilts at Dolly's "somethin or other" on the main drag in PF.

 

[AspiringCindy]

AspiringCindy... We went to Santa's Land last year for the 1st time in several years, and it was ok. Honestly, I live in the area, and I wouldn't even waste my time on it again! We decided to buy AP's at Dollywood this year instead, and enjoy it ALOT more! At SL, there are only a few kiddy rides, a petting zoo, a little train, a few carnival games, and that's about it! Not worth the $20 or so!

Thanks! I won't waste my time at Santa's Land!