Dollywood and Gatlinburg! Who’s been?

[MinnieFan4ever]

Hey everyone! Planning a trip to Dollywood and Gatlinburg this summer and I’m looking for some pro tips. Help! It’s our first time going to this area.

 

[vlmartin]

I live 15 minutes away, so feel free to ask any questions its a very fun and touristy place....we still go over once a month even though we practically live there lol

 

[fla4fun]

Make time to visit the National Park. Even if you just drive through it, there are lots of places to pull off and enjoy the view.

 

[nemodad]

Do the roaring fork motor trail. Well worth the time

 

[Southernmiss]

It's been 10 years since our family went.

Dollywood is not a park that you have to plan for. Just go and enjoy yourselves. At the time we were able to enter after 3 and go back the next day for free. That was plenty of time for us to do all we wanted to do.

Our family enjoyed the Smokey's and outdoor activities more than Dollywood. We toured the Tuckaleechee caverns and walked a lot of trails, searched for waterfalls, and Cades Cove and did sight seeing more than anything.

 

[Mango7100]

I live near Dollywood. It takes zero planning to go to the park, totally different than Disney. It is relaxing and a much slower pace. If you go more than 2 days to it, it’s cheaper to buy a season pass. Gatlinburg can get stupid crowded in the summer, we don’t go in the summer to avoid the tourist traffic. There are plenty of tourist trap attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The aquarium in Gatlinburg is fun, more geared towards kids. Anakeesta is supposed to be worth a few hours as well.

Spend some time in the national park and the quieter side in Townsend.

 

[WVU Disney Fan]

The water park at Dollywood is great. Also you might check out Ober Gatlinburg. Not sure how Covid has changed things but we loved it a couple years ago.

 

[JimMIA]

Last time we were there was before the terrible fire they had in and around Gatlinburg. Not sure how that or Covid has affected things.

I recommend going to Cades Cove very early in the morning. It's about an hour drive from where we stayed in Sevierville, but well worth the trip. We took the early morning hayride Ranger-guided tour and it was great. Lots of wildlife early in the morning. Later in the day, Cades Cove can be a parking lot, so go early.

We also drove across the Smokys to Cherokee and went to "Unto These Hills." If it's being offered when you are there, it's a great show on Cherokee history and how some of them hid in caves and avoided the "Trail of Tears."

Also, the NC side of Great Smokys National Park has many more visitor areas and ranger activities than the TN side, which basically just has Sugarlands visitor center and Cades Cove.

Here's a link to the park website:

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

 

[bjscheel]

Dollywood is not a park that you have to plan for.

Maybe just a little. I had read people say this, so we went in 2019 with very little knowledge. I just felt out of the loop when we entered, I had no idea which way to head or what any of the rides were. You might at least peruse a map in advance and read some ride descriptions. That could be just me though, feeling very uncomfortable knowing nothing.

We spent time in the National Park other days, and downtown Gatlinburg. We stayed at Old Creek Lodge which was a nice location for easily driving into the park but able to walk downtown and not drive that street.

The highlight, especially for DH, was a UTV tour we took. Pretty sure it was Smoky Mountain Adventure Tours in Cosby. But you need a member of your party that is very comfortable driving one, over all kinds of terrain and fast

 

[spiders]

Dollywood is nice but geared more towards an older crowd (and by older I mean 50+).

Gatlinburg has a certain charm about it. Clean, well kept and right next to it is the entry to the Smokies.

Pigeon Forge is a giant tourist trap filled with cheap souvenir shops and gimmicks. I used to live in Knoxville. I’d take detours around Pigeon Forge all the time.

 

[MGMmjl]

We really enjoyed doing the Cades Cove loop road and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Both take some time to drive through, but they are well worth it. We also like driving on US 441 (Newfound Gap Road) between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, NC and stopping at Newfound Gap. The Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg is really nice, and we also enjoyed the Titanic museum in Pigeon Forge. Dollywood is fun, but it has been a while since we've been there (I think around 2005 or so).

 

[TwoMisfits]

1st tip would be decide what you like?

Are you into tourist traps?
Cheesy shows?
Music shows?
All things nature?
All things Tennessee?
Museums?
Just amusement rides?

Once you decide, then pick out some places and attractions you might like...the area can be as cheap or expensive as one makes it, but the way to not lose your entire wallet is to preplan what you think you might want to do...and stick to the plan.

We loved the area. But I know my plans helped my family love it - we had restaurants, attractions, shows, and days roughly planned...and then adapted as we went b/c you don't have to "pre-reserve" except for shows...

 

[jlwhitney]

Dollywood is so much fun! Personally I feel like its more a kid/teen/YA park with all the rides. There are shows also and those depends on the show who it will appeal too. The water park is awesome too, really nicely themed too.

1 day is tough to do everything at Dollywood unless not interested in the shows at all.

Dollywood just changed their mask rules and you don't have to wear them outside when walking around, and honestly they aren't that strict about them in general, the tram is the strictest part. So a heads up if that is something that will bother you. But to be honest the whole area is very loose on mask wearing in general and their mask mandate ended.

 

[rotlex]

We went for the first time last year. Absolutely loved it. We stayed at Dollywood's Dream More Resort which was absolutely beautiful. Had a family suite with bunks for $200 per night. Staying there also gives you the benefit of free "fast pass" for the park. Park Wise, we thoroughly enjoyed Dollywood and Splash Country. (Their waterpark). Few things we did\learned:
- We bought season passes as it wound up being cheaper than daily tickets and at the time gave a great discount at the resort.
- Go go Gatlinburg. Very fun town with a lot of good shopping, eating and sites. Be sure to visit the Skybridge!
- Definitely visit the Smokey Mountain national park. We actually parked at the Sugarlands visitor center and hiked a few of the trails. We then walked the "Gatlinburg" trail which took us to downtown Gatlinburg. Had a fantastic time.
- Spend some time just sight seeing in the area. It's absolutely beautiful with a number of unique things to do
- We enjoyed it enough that we went back again for Christmas and were blown away by the decorations, festivities and all around beauty of the area.

Highly recommended!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Thanks everyone! You are all the best!!! Very helpful!

 

[JimMIA]

One little side trip we took that was fun was to Bush's Beans. Yep, a bean cannery, it's located in Chestnut Hill, TN -- about 30 miles from Gatlinburg. Their visitor center and restaurant are currently closed due to Covid, but you might check back right before your trip.

We enjoyed the tour and also enjoyed the food in their restaurant.

https://www.bushbeans.com/en_US/about-us/visitor-center

 

[KingLlama]

Gatlinburg was our go-to for family vacations as a kid. I've spent countless hours walking up and down that strip. And even though it's not like it used to be (more franchise-driven and a bit less locally-owned and unique), I still really enjoy it.

Everyone's tips are good, but I'll add a few...

-I still love playing Hillbilly Golf. There are plenty of putt-putt golf options, but Hillbilly Golf allows you to ride an incline up the side of the mountain at the beginning of your round and descend down the hill as you play. Parking can be a challenge, but I still really enjoy it.
-Pancake Pantry gets a lot of love (and a lot of crowds) because it's been popular for decades, but the best breakfast I've had there recently has actually been at Crockett's Breakfast Camp, farther down the Strip. I think word is getting out, because it's getting more popular now itself, but the food has been outstanding.
-As others have said, I could completely ditch Pigeon Forge and be completely fine with it. Having said that, The Old Mill is a great restaurant value if you find yourself over there around lunch/dinner time. Really good food, and HUGE portions (two people can easily split just about every single entree). At the other end of Pigeon Forge, I always enjoy stopping at Apple Barn. I've had good meals there, but I also enjoy just shopping there and picking up some apple butter to take home.

 

[JimMIA]

Another side trip that we would NOT recommend is rafting on the Little Pigeon River. It was a joke. Our guide purposely steered the raft into a rock to give us a little excitement and tried to tell us that was a Class III rapid. He's apparently never even seen a Class III -- the entire trip was Class I, easy. Ripoff.

There is some seriously good rafting in the Appalachians, but Little Pigeon is a joke!

 

[TwoMisfits]

One little side trip we took that was fun was to Bush's Beans. Yep, a bean cannery, it's located in Chestnut Hill, TN -- about 30 miles from Gatlinburg. Their visitor center and restaurant are currently closed due to Covid, but you might check back right before your trip.

We enjoyed the tour and also enjoyed the food in their restaurant.

https://www.bushbeans.com/en_US/about-us/visitor-center

We also did that - and really enjoyed it, and the restaurant...that's one of those "only in Tennessee" attractions. It's nothing big, but it's cool and free...

 

[Mango7100]

Another side trip that we would NOT recommend is rafting on the Little Pigeon River. It was a joke. Our guide purposely steered the raft into a rock to give us a little excitement and tried to tell us that was a Class III rapid. He's apparently never even seen a Class III -- the entire trip was Class I, easy. Ripoff.

There is some seriously good rafting in the Appalachians, but Little Pigeon is a joke!

Very true. It’s also really polluted and nasty water quality