I love Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge!
I usually use my parent's timeshare but I rented a cabin once from
www.cabinfevervacations.com. The cabin was nice but the check-in people weren't very friendly.
My favorite places to eat are:
The Old Mill
AppleWood (especially for breakfast, they give you apple fritters and apple butter)
The Peddler Steakhouse (Also enjoyed the Alamo steakhouse)
Huck Finn's Catfish (all you can eat fried chicken and/or catfish with all you can eat sides for a reasonable price [if I remember correctly around $15])
There's so many places to eat (especially pancake houses) that you will certainly not be at a loss for places to eat.
Lots of heavily themed mini-golf that is fun (and can be costly).
LOVE Dollywood (as long as you don't even try to compare it to WDW).
There's a section in downtown Gatlinburg called "The Village" that has a very cute, "off the road" feel with a candy shop where you can watch them make taffy.
The Boyds Bear place is cute as well as the Christmas shop.