Kae
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2002
I have to say we so liked the old mill over the apple barn http://www.old-mill.com/ Way better food and service. Zoders INN is classic Gatlinburg to us. We rented a cabin last time we went.
Kae
Kae
We have also stayed at the Best Western that's next to Dixie Stampede. We would stay there again! We enjoyed both Cades Cove and Roaring Fork. We've been to Dollywood and enjoyed that as well. We did the Alpine coaster on our last trip. It was close to where we stayed at the BW off the parkway on Wears Valley Rd.I am thinking about making a short stop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on our way down south.
I was wondering what hotels people might recommend near Gatlinburg, TN.
Has anyone tried the Ober Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster?
What else would you recommend?
We have also stayed at the Best Western that's next to Dixie Stampede. We would stay there again! We enjoyed both Cades Cove and Roaring Fork. We've been to Dollywood and enjoyed that as well. We did the Alpine coaster on our last trip. It was close to where we stayed at the BW off the parkway on Wears Valley Rd.
More than any other tourist attraction we've done, PF and Gatlinburg can be Disney expensive or one of the cheapest getaways you will ever take.
I concur to look at hotels in PF and on Tripadvisor.
Apple Barn is a must do for breakfast.
Spend time in the park, another vote for Cades Cove from here.
A stroll through Downtown Gatlinburg to just to peak at the shops is a nice relaxing evening.
Apple Barn, Bennets BBQ & Flapjacks Pancake House are highly recommended meals!
Plan extra time getting in/out of town as traffic is rather heavy(Fridays & Sundays seemed the worst). We find it best to park a block or two out of downtown Gatlinburg, then walk around the downtown area...definitely could take a full day! Lots of shopping and unique stores/atmosphere to the area.
A couple attractions that were very popular on our family reunion trip last summer were the Alpine Coaster, Ober Gatlinburg, Ziplining, Horseback Riding, and the Ripleys Aquarium.
I have always stayed in cabins, never hotels, but that's definitely a unique option to check out depending on your party size.
Hope you love it & hope the economy helps with all the fire recovery from last summer. I have been on several trips there and loved every second of it!
Oh, one more thing that hubby and I agree was worth the money are the outdoor go-karts (more so than alpine coaster). There is one place along the main area on Parkway in Pigeon Forge where you can drive 2 outdoor tracks and one indoor track. The karts go up the 40mph and are sooo fun! I rode with my husband since he's the better driver. No helmets and sometimes people will bump you.
There is a new mountain coaster (more like a roller coaster than the luge-style track at Ober Gatlinburg) across from Baymont Inn Gatlinburg- we didn't get to ride it since we last visited in December, but it looked like fun.
A family could easily waste a lot of money quickly on touristy stuff like this though- I would recommend the park over any of these experiences if I had to choose.
Zoders Inn & Suites in Gatlinburg is older , family-owned, but in a good location downtown, and the rooms are right on a creek which is really pretty and relaxing. Our room had a balcony practically right on top of the creek, and we loved it!
If you're looking for something not too upscale but safe and clean, I highly recommend!
I like the Bear Skin Lodge in Gatlinburg, easy walk to downtown. After several bad experiences with hotels check Trip Advisor! Apple Barn is a good stop to eat in PF and Cade's Cove is nice.
I have to say we so liked the old mill over the apple barn http://www.old-mill.com/ Way better food and service. Zoders INN is classic Gatlinburg to us. We rented a cabin last time we went.
Kae
White water rafting was fantastic!!I live in the Great Smokies, and the high point is the beauty of the Park. You MUST drive through the Park towards Cherokee/Bryson City, NC (about an hour drive), and enjoy an amazing drive!! All of the touristy stuff is ok, but THIS is what it's all about! If you go into Cherokee, it is an Indian Reservation with a Harrah's Casino, and many wonderful things to see. Bryson City is the home of the Great Smoky Mountains Railway, & is an extremely popular option. Outdoorsy? You must go whitewater rafting at the Nantahala Gorge, or tubing in Deep Creek (National Park). So much to do here! Enjoy your trip!