For those following or planning a trip to this area... We just got back. We didn't exactly follow our "plans" and played it by ear. We had a lot of good food, a lot of fun, and stayed within our (generous) budget.
I'm updating out blog now and hope to have it finished by tonight. (My DH always writes it while we're traveling, but I edit it, and provide more details and pictures when we get back.)
A brief synopsis for those who don't want to read the whole detailed
blog...
One day at Dollywood was enough even for this theme park loving family. We took advantage of going at 3pm and returning the next day for free. We arrived a bit before 3pm and they didn't make us wait to get in for the record.
We ate at The Old Mill twice (a favorite from last time and it's definitely still a favorite. Be prepared to wait but you can wander the shops while you wait and hear them call you on the intercom or just go back at your estimated time. Corn fritters with maple butter, corn chowder, salad, and choice of dessert accompany all the adult meals. I expected the dessert to be so-so, but it was very good. My favorite is the pecan pie! The blackberry cobbler topped with their homemade vanilla ice cream was excellent too. The kids enjoyed the chocolate cake. Even though it says kids meals come with ice cream, the servers let them pick other desserts at no extra charge. One server brought them full size versions, the second server cut the cake pieces in half (fine with me!)
We ate one breakfast at Applewood at The Apple Barn in Sevierville and one dinner there too. There is on restaurant at each side of the complex. As far as I can tell they are the same. It was great for both and a bit pricier than The Old Mill. They serve apple fritters with apple butter and "Applewood Juleps" which is mixed fruit juice with both breakfast and dinner. Dessert is not included with the meal. We wandered down and picked up a fried apple pie (single serve...but big enough to share) from the cider bar to take home. They don't offer it in the restaurant and people say it is the best choice.
The best breakfast we had though was at Crockett's Breakfast Camp. I'm shocked no one recommended it! We just happened upon it our first morning. We stayed at a condo up off of Ski Mountain Road. Crockett's is in Gatlinburg on the far end of the main road (close to us.) We were too hungry to drive the half hour out to Sevierville to the Apple Barn that morning like we planned, so on a whim we stopped there. The atmosphere was awesome and the food was amazing too! Huge portions! Watch out if you order a skillet...it's served in a full size cast iron skillet along with an inch think pancake on the side! Even the kids meals were big and everything was delicious!
I'm not sure what big appeal is for the Log Cabin Pancake House
. I took the advice and we ate there even though once we were in the area we remembered we had eaten at the once in PF last time and weren't impressed. This time we went to the one in Gatlinburg which does have better atmosphere. I had a blackberry belgian waffle and it really was delicious but there didn't appear to be anything special about anyone else order. It just seems like a typical family restaurant to me.
Apple Barn and Crockett's beat it by a mile in my opinion.
To get a break from Southern food, we ate lunch at No Way Jose's in Gatlinburg, There is one in PF now too. The food and service was good and it's such a pretty location. We ate there on the day we went to Ripley's Aquarium. Very convenient to take a break and return for more fun at the aquarium. We did get into the aquarium (and other Ripley attractions) for $7 each with our homeschool IDs. Excellent deal...thanks for the tip!
We went to the Hatfield and McCoy dinner show. It was just okay. It was cute and the food was pretty good. I think I would try Dixie Stampede instead based on others' recommendations.
We did the mirror maze at the MagiQuest in PF. It was expensive ($12 adult, $9 child) but my kids really love mirror mazes. You can go through as many times as you like for the one admission price. The had a deal where you could do an hour of MagiQuest along with free admission to the mirror maze and minigolf for $20. We didn't have time or we might have found better value in that. The mirror maze was good though.
We also did Hillbilly Golf in Gatlinburg. You ride a lift up the mountain and then golf down. That was the unique part that made us choose that place. The minigolf was about what you'd expect. I'd recommend it.
Someone at our resort's pool recommended Nascar Go Carts. For $20 you can do all the go carts and amusement rides you want all day. There are also coupons in all the books for $2 off (so really $18.) We didn't do any go-carts.
Feel free to ask any questions you have! I'm happy to do my part to help out now!
