Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville

[horseshowmom]

Looking for suggestions for shows to see and which restaurants to hit while we're there leading up to Christmas.

Also planning on going to Dollywood, but I was surprised to see that they don't open until 2 p.m. Is that going to be enough time to do everything?

 

[rufus jones]

We visit PF several times a year, so let me warn ya traffic is horrible this time of year due to the Festival of Lights. Get a map and use the back roads like Teaster Lane, River Road, and Rena Street to avoid the traffic. Also depending on which way your coming in i-40 is closed at the NC/Tenn state line due to a rock slide.


Restaurant Recommendations:

Old Mill (best breakfast ever)
Calhouns
Alamo Steakhouse
Apple House

Park Grill (Gatlinburg)
Peddler (Gatlinburg)
Pancake House (Gatlinburg)

Shows:

Dixie Stampede (Christmas Show)
Comedy Barn
Black Bear Jamboree


Dollywood should be open 2-9 for the christmas season and 9-9 on Sat. We were just there last weekend and just a bit of advice.

If your going to ride the rides they will have zero lines. If your going to see shows good luck because the lines are huge (lining up an hour in advance) due to the grey hair crowd that comes in to see the lights and shows.

We gave up on the shows and just rode the roller coasters over and over with no waits. It's also nice to just wonder around and look at the lights and see the small light parade they do. My DD (6 years old) watched it (about 10 floats) and with a puzzled look on her face said where's the rest of it, this isn't like Spectromagic.

We had dinner in the park at the Backstage Restaurant and it was great. Our other favorites are Red's Diner or the Whistlestop Grill. Aunt Granny's for breakfast with Santa is also good.

 

[Magalex]

We went to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg in June 2008. Loved the area. Tons of fun! Don't have any tips for Christmas season but just a few other general tips:

The show Magic Beyond Belief is fun(Pigeon Forge show) and enjoyed breakfast at Log Cabin Pancake House in Gatlinburg

Great area for a vacation

 

[CruiserMom]

We will be there the week of Christmas! This will only be our second time, first time was back at Spring Break of this year.

We are planning to go to Dollywood (bought season passes earlier this year), the AppleBarn Restaurant, and we are going to the Miracle Theatre on Christmas Eve. I figure that will get us in the Christmas spirit! We also plan to do the Trolley tour for the Christmas lights. After that, we are not sure what we will do. If the weather is decent we might do some short hikes. We did some nearby caverns back in April that were AWESOME, but I don't think they are open this time of year.

 

[mrsksomeday]

I second the recommendations of the Old Mill (but we had dinner, loved it we go every time we are in the Smoky's) and the Black Bear Jamboree. I also agree with finding ways around the traffic. My inlaws have a vacation home there and they know all the back ways thank goodness. It is beautiful there at Christmas. We liked Dollywood too, we must have caught it on a slow day because we did go to the shows and didn't have to wait in line that long

 

[horseshowmom]

We visit PF several times a year, so let me warn ya traffic is horrible this time of year due to the Festival of Lights. Get a map and use the back roads like Teaster Lane, River Road, and Rena Street to avoid the traffic. Also depending on which way your coming in i-40 is closed at the NC/Tenn state line due to a rock slide.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm going to print them out.

Dollywood should be open 2-9 for the christmas season and 9-9 on Sat. We were just there last weekend and just a bit of advice.

If your going to ride the rides they will have zero lines. If your going to see shows good luck because the lines are huge (lining up an hour in advance) due to the grey hair crowd that comes in to see the lights and shows.

I definitely DO want to see the shows. We were planning on avoiding the weekend and going on Monday or Tuesday (the 21st or 22nd). I don't really expect that to help much though. We'll leave on the 23rd (DH wants to be home for Christmas).

I read on another thread that you could go after 6 and then go back the next day free. Is that correct? Also, does the little extra thingy that you can pay for get you into the shows any better? Or does it even work for the shows?

We gave up on the shows and just rode the roller coasters over and over with no waits. It's also nice to just wonder around and look at the lights and see the small light parade they do. My DD (6 years old) watched it (about 10 floats) and with a puzzled look on her face said where's the rest of it, this isn't like Spectromagic.

We went to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg in June 2008. Loved the area. Tons of fun! Don't have any tips for Christmas season but just a few other general tips:

The show Magic Beyond Belief is fun(Pigeon Forge show) and enjoyed breakfast at Log Cabin Pancake House in Gatlinburg

We will be there the week of Christmas! This will only be our second time, first time was back at Spring Break of this year.

We are planning to go to Dollywood (bought season passes earlier this year), the AppleBarn Restaurant, and we are going to the Miracle Theatre on Christmas Eve. I figure that will get us in the Christmas spirit! We also plan to do the Trolley tour for the Christmas lights. After that, we are not sure what we will do. If the weather is decent we might do some short hikes. We did some nearby caverns back in April that were AWESOME, but I don't think they are open this time of year.

We're also planning on doing the Trolley Tour. I think I'd better go ahead and make reservations now.

I considered the Miracle Theater, but we have done a lot of that type of production and thought I would try something different. I do have tickets to Cirque Chine and Dixie Stampede already.

I second the recommendations of the Old Mill (but we had dinner, loved it we go every time we are in the Smoky's) and the Black Bear Jamboree. I also agree with finding ways around the traffic. My inlaws have a vacation home there and they know all the back ways thank goodness. It is beautiful there at Christmas. We liked Dollywood too, we must have caught it on a slow day because we did go to the shows and didn't have to wait in line that long

I've been checking out the maps for back ways. I think our cabin is going to be in a pretty good location for doing that, but I know there will be some areas that we just have to bear it.

 

[rufus jones]

If your going on Fri-Sun spend the extra cash for the Q-Bot reservation deal (if it can be used for show reservations?). Not cheap but better than wasting all your time standing in line.


I highly recommend Babes in Toyland (this is it's last year, going to be replaced) and A Smokey Mountain Christmas. We saw both last year when we went without DD and could wait in the lines without the complaining.

 

[tinatark]

Q bot does work for the shows - great seats, and no long lines.

Dinner - The Chop House - @ Tanger Five Oaks Mall - you can get call ahead seating.

It is pretty busy here right now - partly because of the lights, partly because of the outlets.

I second the Miracle Show, and Magic beyond Belief. The comedy barn is good, too. Dixie Stampede is good, but if you've been before, or to the one in Branson, Orlando or Myrtle Beach, they're all mostly the same.

 

[Squirlz]

The Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg is a can't-miss IMHO.

 

[mrsksomeday]

The Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg is a can't-miss IMHO.

I agree with this too, we had a great time there.

 

[Janet Hill]

We are going Dec 26 and staying for a week. The ticket deal they have now is buy a season pass for 2010 and you can use it now. This is what we're doing. We plan on going everyday to see on show and then ride rides. My kids love coasters.

The Miricle show is this at Dollywood or is it another show in the area.

Have to agree with Apple Barn everytime we go we make this a must do.

Anyone ever gone tubing or skiing in the area?

 

[MIGrandma]

DH and I rented a cabin from Sunset Accommodations in March 2007 for a week. We loved the area, so much to see and do. We ate in many of the restaurants already mentioned, and saw some of the shows as well.

Another restaurant we enjoyed (twice), if you like barbecue - Bennett's.

Huck Finn's was another great, fun restaurant. Rustic decor with red/white checkered tablecloths, rolls of paper towel for "napkins", etc. I had the catfish dinner (I keep a journal so this is why I "remember" from 2 years ago ) and they bring bowls of coleslaw, beans, hush puppies, pickles and onions right when you sit down. Really good, country type food.

We loved the Ripley's Old MacDonald golf course too (3 separate courses).

The Alamo Steakhouse was another restaurant we really enjoyed.

We're thinking about going back again this spring, and possibly even renting the same cabin we had before. It's a very beautiful area. We loved driving in the mountains, on the different routes (Cades Cove and Roaring Fork), walking the trails, etc. One of our best vacations ever!!

 

[horseshowmom]

Q bot does work for the shows - great seats, and no long lines.

Great! That's probably what I'll do then. DH does NOT stand in line well.

The Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg is a can't-miss IMHO.

I considered that one because I do love aquariums, but we've been to Sea World so many times that I was having trouble making a decision on whether to do that or an extra show of some sort.

We are going Dec 26 and staying for a week. The ticket deal they have now is buy a season pass for 2010 and you can use it now. This is what we're doing. We plan on going everyday to see on show and then ride rides. My kids love coasters.

I saw that deal ($79, I think), but we won't be back next year. We'll go back to Orlando during the Christmas season next year (Universal, Harry Potter, and the Grinch ) and have other plans for next summer.

Anyone ever gone tubing or skiing in the area?

My daughter was interested in this too! Somebody please chime in.

DH and I rented a cabin from Sunset Accommodations in March 2007 for a week. We loved the area, so much to see and do. We ate in many of the restaurants already mentioned, and saw some of the shows as well.

Another restaurant we enjoyed (twice), if you like barbecue - Bennett's.

Huck Finn's was another great, fun restaurant. Rustic decor with red/white checkered tablecloths, rolls of paper towel for "napkins", etc. I had the catfish dinner (I keep a journal so this is why I "remember" from 2 years ago ) and they bring bowls of coleslaw, beans, hush puppies, pickles and onions right when you sit down. Really good, country type food.

We loved the Ripley's Old MacDonald golf course too (3 separate courses).

The Alamo Steakhouse was another restaurant we really enjoyed.

We're thinking about going back again this spring, and possibly even renting the same cabin we had before. It's a very beautiful area. We loved driving in the mountains, on the different routes (Cades Cove and Roaring Fork), walking the trails, etc. One of our best vacations ever!!

Huck Finn's sounds like something DH would really like (he loves catfish).

We actually really like miniature golf, but I've got a feeling it will be too cold for that for us.

 

[laurie31]

We are going Dec 26 and staying for a week. The ticket deal they have now is buy a season pass for 2010 and you can use it now. This is what we're doing. We plan on going everyday to see on show and then ride rides. My kids love coasters.

The Miricle show is this at Dollywood or is it another show in the area.

Have to agree with Apple Barn everytime we go we make this a must do.

Anyone ever gone tubing or skiing in the area?

We're going Dec 28-Jan 4th! Maybe we'll see you at the Apple Barn! We'll eat there at least 3 times! LOL!

The Aquarium is very excellent, and very different from Sea World. If you haven't been, it's a great way to spend a cold rainly day. We've been several times and enjoy it each time. They have a cool "tunnel" where you go underneath a big aquaruim where sharks and other fish are swimming. It's really neat to be surrounded by the water.

 

[horseshowmom]

I've got another question. Will Dollywood actually open at 2 p.m., or will it open a little early? In other words, how early should we get to the park?

Also, is the place you get the Q-Bot inside the park or outside the gates? It will cost the four of us an extra $30, but I think it's going to be worth it in the long run.

 

[minniebeth]

For those of you who went to this area for the holidays, I hope you had a great time! Would love to hear more about your experiences. We are looking to rent a cabin in the PF area for Easter...has anyone ever rented or heard about the Dollywood cabins and how they are? Also, are there any good Easter activities? Easter is in early April this year, so it will still be cool.
Any suggestions? Thank you so much!

 

[horseshowmom]

For those of you who went to this area for the holidays, I hope you had a great time! Would love to hear more about your experiences. We are looking to rent a cabin in the PF area for Easter...has anyone ever rented or heard about the Dollywood cabins and how they are? Also, are there any good Easter activities? Easter is in early April this year, so it will still be cool.
Any suggestions? Thank you so much!

We had a WONDERFUL time (really one of our best trips)!

We were very pleased with the cabin we wound up renting. It was very private but also a good location for the area. They decorated it beautifully for Christmas. It had 2 bedrooms (one on each floor). If you would like the contact info feel free to PM me.

My family really enjoyed the Wahoo Zip Lines and the Aquarium in Gatlinburg. Dollywood was great but one evening wasn't nearly long enough (open from
2 p.m. - 9 p.m.). If we weren't going to Orlando next Christmas, I would be going back to Pigeon Forge again!

 

[CruiserMom]

We just got back from Pigeon Forge also, had a great time the week of Christmas. We stayed at the Wyndham Smoky Mountains resort in Sevierville, in a nice spacious 2 bedroom unit. But I told DH next time we go, I'd like to stay in a cabin this time.

We did Dollywood one night, rode around and looked at Christmas lights, spent a day in Gatlinburg, and spent Christmas Eve at the Miracle Theater (if that doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will!).

We spent a night in Asheville before going on to PF, and went to the Biltmore Estate. It was GORGEOUS with all the snow! Just incredible!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We just got home on Christmas eve from Gatlinburg and this was the very best trip that we have ever had up there. We arrived Friday night during the snow and it was BEAUTIFUL! I'll never for get it.

Some of our favorite places to eat are:
Cahlouns- PF & GB

Old Mill- PF, Just a note, they bring out way to much food. It's easy to share plates here.

Best Italian- GB

Blaines- GB

Apple Barn


Our biggest waste of money was to get into the Hollywood Wax place in Gatlinburg. It was not worth the cost to us or to the kids.

At Dollywood, I would try to go on a day that they opened earlier. It would be hard to get everything in, in that short of time. Also, all of the shows do not play everyday. I would check to see if you can see what is playing and go from there. I think most of the shows are great. We were able to see two when we were there last year and they were both fantastic. The colored popcorn is wonderful too.