Gatlinburg-- Just got back

[my3sons77]

Any opinions on Cade's Cove vs. the Roaring Fork Motor Trail? Unfortunately we have to go on a weekend, I assume it will be packed, and we may not want to deal with that for two days.

I don't know much about Roaring Fork Motor Trail but Cades Cove is beautiful!

 

[3boymthr]

Has anyone rented bikes to do the bike ride around Cades Cove? I know that the NPS rents bikes but was wondering if anyone knows how that works. We could easily be there first thing in the AM and ride the loop. My kids are used to hills and used to riding that distance (they rode 34 miles in one afternoon earlier this summer).

 

[wergoin2camouse]

Interested to know about your hopper pass. We leave Sunday for two weeks...

Also looking for best gem mining, rafting, and horse back riding suggestions.

Anyone know if there is a close drive-in theatre? Closest I found so far is about 45 miles west of sieverville.

And lastly.... We are bringing our dog.... I know there are only two trails in the parkway (pet friendly) .... But any other nature and water holes/creeks we could venture too? Here in Pennsylvania we take him to the creek about twice a week and we just walk upstream for fun

 

[InMemory]

To the Cade's Cove vs Motor Trail, they are both nice. Cade's Cove is flat and more prairie. We usually see a lot of deer and even saw a ram once. We enjoy the ride there but it is away out from town, like an hr I think. Roaring Fork Motor Trail is just on the edge of Gatlinburg and is easy to get to and not s long. It is very wooded and we have always seen black bear. A couple times we saw cubs and once a larger cub came up behind me when I was getting out of our car. Others driving by stopped and scared it away. We like to get out and rock hop in the streams along the drive. We haven't hiked either place but for views and convenience, Roaring Fork wins for me.

 

[my3sons77]

To the Cade's Cove vs Motor Trail, they are both nice. Cade's Cove is flat and more prairie. We usually see a lot of deer and even saw a ram once. We enjoy the ride there but it is away out from town, like an hr I think. Roaring Fork Motor Trail is just on the edge of Gatlinburg and is easy to get to and not s long. It is very wooded and we have always seen black bear. A couple times we saw cubs and once a larger cub came up behind me when I was getting out of our car. Others driving by stopped and scared it away. We like to get out and rock hop in the streams along the drive. We haven't hiked either place but for views and convenience, Roaring Fork wins for me.

You description of Roaring Fork sounds exactly like our last trip to Cades Cove. We saw black bear cubs with their mother. The drive getting to Cade's Cove, we saw several people pulled over and playing on the rocks in the water.

 

[North of Mouse]

I was in Pigeon Forge last week and it's the first time we've been in the last 2 years and I was amazed at the level of the crowds in town. It seems half of Pennsylvania and Ohio invaded last week. I think it will be off our list for summer going forward due to the crowd levels.

I remember the days of a quite little town in the mountians before the yankee invasion!

We too just returned from an annual vacation in the Smokies. We camp in a MH in Elkmont (inside the park). No hookups but well worth the sacrifice.

We, too, started going many years ago when it was such a unique interesting little mountain town (Gatlinburg) and Pigeon Forge wasn't much of anything. Now, we steer clear of PF on Sat and Sun. as the turnover crowds are horrendous passing through.

Any opinions on Cade's Cove vs. the Roaring Fork Motor Trail? Unfortunately we have to go on a weekend, I assume it will be packed, and we may not want to deal with that for two days.

Two 'very' different drives!! Roaring fork is like taking a hike deep into the mountains with all the beauty, but 'in a car'. It's a must do every trip.

Has anyone rented bikes to do the bike ride around Cades Cove? I know that the NPS rents bikes but was wondering if anyone knows how that works. We could easily be there first thing in the AM and ride the loop. My kids are used to hills and used to riding that distance (they rode 34 miles in one afternoon earlier this summer).

Cades Cove on a bike is the 'only way' for us. If you go (during summer) on Wed. & Sat. mornings until 10, it is sooo relaxing. Vehicles are banned during those hours, otherwise you have to fight the traffic and that's not much fun!!

The 'do' rent bikes at the bike barn there beginning at 7am, but the clunkers they rent don't look so good. You need good bikes with several speeds to navigate some of the 'very' long upwards grinds! We have our own bikes with 27speeds and even the lowest speed is hard on some of the steeper grinds.

Even though we've gone a very few times in cars, you 'see' so much more when you are closer on the bikes. Have seen lots of bears, turkeys, deer, pheasants, ground hogs, and more while biking. Also, the advantage of no vehicles means less noise - which tends to scare the wildlife. It's 11 miles round the loop, but we always take our time and allow at least 2 1/2 hours.

Guess you can tell it's our favorite park - last week we went on several hikes - beautiful cool weather.

 

[mrsklamc]

Kinda surprised no one mentioned the new "The Island" area in Pigeon Forge. You'll know it by the huge ferris wheel. Kinda like PF's version of Universal City Walk or Downtown Disney. There was an info booth to the left of the fountains (left as you face Build a Bear) that had a $2 coupon off the ferris wheel price. There's also unlimited access to the wheel and other rides for $20.

 

[mrsklamc]

Oh and re: the nascar deal - the downside is if you would just like to go WATCH your kids but have no interest in the go carts- that'll be $7.

 

[abaldacci]

Kinda surprised no one mentioned the new "The Island" area in Pigeon Forge. You'll know it by the huge ferris wheel. Kinda like PF's version of Universal City Walk or Downtown Disney. There was an info booth to the left of the fountains (left as you face Build a Bear) that had a $2 coupon off the ferris wheel price. There's also unlimited access to the wheel and other rides for $20.

We just got back Sunday and just know the wheel is very uncomfortable for the cost we used the coupon and it was 50 dollars for four people, and the seats are just carpet no padding, my butt was numb when we stepped off the ride.

 

[mrsklamc]

We just got back Sunday and just know the wheel is very uncomfortable for the cost we used the coupon and it was 50 dollars for four people, and the seats are just carpet no padding, my butt was numb when we stepped off the ride.

I guess I hadn't really thought about it. You are right that there is no padding but we didn't find it uncomfortable.

 

[3boymthr]

Thanks for the tips everyone. We just got back last night. We did rent the bikes from the Cades Cove campground - they were definitely clunkers, but we totally enjoyed the ride. It's a tough ride but worth it. We passed within 5 feet of some deer.

We arrived on the 15th and the traffic in PF, Gatlinburg and the Park was horrible for Sat, Sun and Mon but on Tuesday it died WAY down. We hiked to clingman's dome on Sunday (exhausting going up and tough on the knees going down) and the parking lot was packed with cars lining the road for a half a mile down from the parking lot. On Tuesday we went back so DH and the kids could hike to Andrew's Bald and there was more than ample parking.

We didn't make it to any of the restaurants recommended here because on the days we did eat out DH wanted BBQ (I was not impressed with any of it but he had to have real southern BBQ - I thought the stuff we get at our local place was better). We were agreed on the Old Mill - finally - for Saturday morning breakfast but skipped it because they were closing the streets for a parade and we needed to get on the road home. I do have a restaurant recommendation though if you are looking for a quick lunch on your way out of Cades Cove- On Wednesday after the bike trip we wanted to escape driving the windy roads in of the park back to Gatlingburg and took the highway cutoff out to Townsend (I think it's state route 72). In Townsend we stopped at a little hamburger shack for a quick lunch; Barbob's Burger Master Drive In. Definitely a greasy spoon with just a window and outdoor seating but the burgers and fries were really good and for my family it was less expensive than McDonald's!


We also did white water rafting on the Pigeon River. If you like the thrills and don't mind getting wet it was well worth the cost. My kids had a blast. We used USA Raft. Not as big an outfit as some but the price was right, th guides were good - and had lots of experience, we got more personalized service and the take out was right across the street from the main office which is a plus because it meant no bus ride in wet clammy clothes.

 

[North of Mouse]

Glad you had a great trip! I agree about the Bar B Q being no good. We don't get it anymore after a few tries several years ago. We do 'love' The Old Mill though - excellent food.

Now, you see about the rental bikes being clunkers!! Did you go on Wed/Sat. when there were no vehicles allowed? We saw several bear this trip on some of our hikes.

 

[julieamedeiros]

We just got back this past Sunday. Traffic getting in on Saturday wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Got to our cabin around 5p and it was amazing!

We did splash country on Sunday....great weather and not many crowds.
We did go carts alot....ATV tour thru the mountain...white water rafting on the upper river (did the lower a couple of years ago so we were ready for a little challenge)....Titanic....Moonshine tasting in Gaitlinburg....Drove thru Roaring Fork and hiked to the waterfall (mild-mod hike uphill but so worth it at the end)...saw big black bear there and a momma and cub about 10 feet away from us!

Be ready to drop alot of cash....everything you do is $20pp and up. Don't bother with the jurasic park boat ride...not worth the $$. Friends of ours did the indoor skydiving and really liked that.

Then we drove over to Nashville for a couple of nights...totally different vibe but TONS of fun. Especially if you like country music!

 

[mom2t]

Love to eat at Cheddars very reasonable.

 

[ceecee]

Love to eat at Cheddars very reasonable.

Is this the chain Cheddars??? I love that place, where is it? We haven't been for 2 years and don't remember seeing it. We love Old Mill and Applebarn.

 

[North of Mouse]

Love to eat at Cheddars very reasonable.

Is this the chain Cheddars??? I love that place, where is it? We haven't been for 2 years and don't remember seeing it. We love Old Mill and Applebarn.

We really love Cheddars also. Didn't know there was one around Gatlinburg. We've eaten at the one in Asheville, but that's the only one.

Also agree about the Old Mill - ate there 4 times this past trip - two lunches, two dinners. Didn't make it to the Applebarn this time - love their breakfasts best.

 

[Carina]

We were at Dollywood on Sunday, literally walked on all rides all day, didn't even need to get off log flume ride - they just asked if we wanted to go again, they asked a third time but we were headed for another ride at that point.

The ONLY ride we waited for was just shy of 5 mins for the fire coaster.

During our 5 days in the area we also did the Nascar go-carts (good deal but WAY slower than the ones in our town), Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome - how did I get the mistaken idea that the parking lot was right beside the viewing area. I kept seeing people older than me and heavier than me coming back down and it was only the thought of 'if they can do it, I can do it' that got me to the top. It was REALLLY hard.

We also did Roaring Forks Motor trail and Moonshine tasting at Sugarlands in Gatlinburg, I am not a drinker, but that was VERY fun!

Saturday we went to the Nascar race in Bristol.

Our cabin was great - about 5 mins off the strip

Fun week!

 

[danygirl]

Spent some time there Monday after dropping DD at college in Sewanee. Enjoyed the wheel very much. Near as we could tell no one was at Dollywood but we didn't have time for that this trip

I am thinking of doing a night at dollywood to see the Christmas stuff when we pick her up in Dec. is it worth doing?

 

[my3sons77]

Spent some time there Monday after dropping DD at college in Sewanee. Enjoyed the wheel very much. Near as we could tell no one was at Dollywood but we didn't have time for that this trip

I am thinking of doing a night at dollywood to see the Christmas stuff when we pick her up in Dec. is it worth doing?

Dollywood in Dec, absolutely worth it! We went years ago when our oldest boys were little. It was so nice and so pretty.

 

[pinkvol7]

We really love Cheddars also. Didn't know there was one around Gatlinburg. We've eaten at the one in Asheville, but that's the only one. Also agree about the Old Mill - ate there 4 times this past trip - two lunches, two dinners. Didn't make it to the Applebarn this time - love their breakfasts best.

. Chedders is in Pigeon Forge. I loved reading these posts about Gatlinburg, D'Wood, and PF. We go up about 4 times a year. We usually stay at the Wyndham Resort in PF. We are going next weekend and staying in Gatlinburg with my in-laws. We go up this time very year for the Shades of the Past car show. We eat at the Pancake Pantry for breakfast every morning and Bubba Gump's at least once. We will also eat at Mama's Farmhouse. It's all you can eat family style and so yummy!! We also have SP to D'Wood because we are close enough to drive up just for the day. The Fall Harvest Festival and the Christmas Festival are my favorite times to go!! And if y'all like the Old Mill, try the Pottery House Cafe across the street. Same owners and it is fantastic!!