Please tell me everything you know about Gatlinburg!!!!!!

[austinsmommy]

Hello!!
My husband just informed me that he would like for me to plan a quick trip to Gatlinburg next weekend!! I haven't been there in over 20 years so I have no idea where to begin!!!!!! Please share everything you know..where to stay, what to see, where to eat, what to do, and any other helpful info!!!!!! We have 3 children..ages 6, 2, and 6 months and would really love for them to have a great time!!!!!!!!!! Thanks very much!!!!!!

 

[Pop Daddy]

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thats about it

 

[browneyes]

People are rude there. Ober Gatlinburg is nice, but Gatlinburg has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Your best bet would to rent a cabin. If you're interested in Dollywood, it's about 10-15 miles from Gatlinburg.

Personally, if my SO told me he wanted to go to Gatlinburg, I'd probably shoot him.

 

[bruin]

Wow, I am surprised with browneyes response. We were married there, and go back every yr. for our anniversary. We love it and have never experienced any rudeness. There is an animal park there, outside of Pigeon Forge, that your children would probably enjoy. ( You feed the animals.) Pigeon Forge is right next to Gatlinburg. The best place to eat (IMO) is the Peddler. It is pricey though. Otherwise, Calhoun's is good and also the Applewood farmhouse restaurants. Dollywood is fun, and I believe the waterpark is supposed to be good. We have not tried the water park. If I can be of further help let me know!

 

[tinatark]

Browneyes, why don't you tell us how you really feel!

AM, Gatlinburg has a great arts and crafts district - seeing the craftsmen at work is just something you don't see everywhere. On the "main drag" you will find a variety of shops, from really nice, great items G-burg is originally known for, to t-shirt shops and time share people (they're tightly regulated, so you're not accosted). Ripley's Entertainment has a HUGE presence in Gburg, with an Aquarium, Ripley's Believe it or Not Musuem, Moving Theatre, and Davy Crockett Mini Golf. If you want a hotel, there's a Fairfield Inns and Suites at the entrance to Gburg. I would recommend staying Pigeon Forge, though, as it is more central to everything. Also, you will do fine to get a hotel once you get to town, imo. BTW, only beer and wine are sold in Pigeon Forge/Sevierville, Liquor is available in G-burg.

While the whole area is considered Gatlinburg, there are actually 3 cities - Sevierville, which is generally known for great outlet shopping, Pigeon Forge, which has tons of family attractions, including Dollywood (btw, it's Kidsfest is going on there, Veggie Tales, Xtreme sports exhibits, etc) and theatres, such as the Dixie Stampede, Louse Mandrell, and other GREAT shows. The Comedy Barn is a great, clean show.

The GSM Natl Park is the most visited park in the Nation, so it will be very busy. If you can, I would recommend coming in on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, as traffic coming into town gets bad Friday afternoon, then bad again starting about noon on Saturday. Sundays, tons of people are leaving, so if you're close enough to check out of your hotel and do some more stuff in town, you would be happier, I promise you!

I think the people here are great. Most employees are paid $7-8 an hour, many work 6 days a week. We also have foreign help at many local businesses, from Poland, other countries. These are college students here on a 90-120 day work visa. I could see their communication difficulties being construed as rudeness, even though it's not. Of course, you get the occasional "local" that wishes all the tourists would go home. Those are definitely few and far between, with most people who live here being appreciative for the town in the midst of the most beautiful National Park, and the guests it brings. Oh, and, yeah, I do live here, and do appreciate my bread and butter!!

 

[Disney_1derland]

That's right, catalog outlet in Pigeon Forge at one of the outlet malls!

Other than that we love to do the panning for rocks and the Aquarium. Love to take in the little gift shops and enjoy the scenery. It's beautiful and wonderful and perfect for a quick weekend.

Have a great time, and if you make the disney outlet please post your finds, we're headed up in a few weeks and I'd love to know what they have on hand currently!

 

[momm2four]

I second going to the Apple Barn. Their apple fritters with apple butter are to DIE for.

Walking up and down the main strip can be entertaining just by itself. Especially while eating a caramel apple available at one of the numerous candy shops.

I had forgotten that Dollywood was doing Veggie Tales. I wish we weren't starting school so soon or we might take our boys.

I hope you guys have a wonderful time.

Lori P.

 

[chilis]

We love Gatlinburg!! Yes, there are alot of tourists and some of the attractions are kind of cheesey, but we always have so much fun there. We were married at Sugarland Wedding Chapel in Gatlinburg in 1997 and we try to make at least one trip there every year. We have never encountered any rude people, although if you go at the wrong time of year (such as during January Resurrection Weekends), you can run into a bunch of teenagers!

Restaurants-We had our wedding reception at the Open Hearth Grill, which used to be located at the very end of the parkway (stoplight #10), but is now at the other end of Gatlinburg. Everyone raved about the food. We have also had VERY good meals at the Park Grill (I think that is the name)! The building looks like a giant log cabin and all of the employees are dressed like park rangers. Smokey Mountain Brewery is another favorite. The beers are all pretty much standard, but they have great pizzas and the pretzels and beer cheese dip is to die for!

As far as accommodations go, we LOVE the Bearskin Lodge. Again, it looks like a giant log cabin. They have a small pool and also a small "lazy river" which is fun also. We always prefer to stay at the very end of town (light #10) as it seems to be much quieter. Get a room that not located overlooking the Parkway and you will have a much better night's sleep! We spent out honeymoon in a cabin. It is nice, but is so removed from everything that you spend a lot of time getting everything ready for your trip to town. Parking can be a real pain in Gatlinburg, so if you can just walk from your hotel, it is a real help.

Attractions- It just depends on what your family likes. The options are really endless. Mini golf, carnival style rides, Ripley's, the Aquarium, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, etc.......We really love it all. One of the things we love most is just walking up and down the parkway and window shopping. Of course, there are many tourist-trap-type stores, but there are many little shops that carry very unique items.

Let me know if I can help you at all! I live only about 1 1/2 hours from Gatlinburg, so I spend a lot of time there!

Enjoy your mini vacation.

Lisa

 

[teachingmyown]

Gatlinburg is one of my very favorite places to go. I LOVE the mountains and even if the Smokies aren't as towering as the Rockies, they are still beautiful. What you want to do really depends on the description of the group going

Kids? Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are both filled with kid-magnet attractions like mini golf, go-karts, and Ripley's museum. Year around ice skating in Ober Gatlinburg is fun, too.

Daredevils? Try the indoor skydiving in PF or one of the Bungee Jumps on the strip, or they can slide down the mountain on a sled at Ober Gatlinburg.

Nature lovers? Oh, hike in the park!!! There are many hiking trails, varying from 1/2 hour/handicap accessible to several days/strenous.

Theme parks? (Duh!) Dollywood is grand, but do be kind and let it stand on its own laurels rather than comparing it to the ones in Orlando. There is also a new waterpark next to Dollywood. I know someone trying to sell 3 tickets if you're interested...

Restaurants? Some excellent ones. Some locals, some chains.

Shopping? PF is a shopper's mecca with, I think, 4 major (read --LARGE!---) outlet mall complexes.

Crafts? What Gatlinburg was built on. Appalachain ingenuity.

History? You must go through the one-way loop that is Cades Cove. The valley is preserved just the way it was when the park was formed. There are homesteads from each stage of it's development from the early 1800's up through about 1930 or so. Cemetaries, cabins, churches, plus more. If you luck up schedule wise you'll get to see them making sorghum. YUM!!! Watch for deer, black bears, and other wildlife.

Want to see several states at once? Walk up to the top of Clingman's Dome, the highest point in TN (2nd highest east of the Mississippi) It's a surprisingly easy walk considering it's such a high mtn.

Sweet tooth? The taffy and fudge factories in Gatlinburg will take care of that.

Like to look at fish? There is a super nice aquarium in Gatlinburg you won't want to miss.

Like to catch fish? Many mountain streams to fish for trout.

Like to eat fish? See "restaurants" above.

If your trip is long enough, there are caves to explore, white waters to raft, mountains to climb, shows to watch (Pigeon Forge is beginning to look like it's trying to challenge Branson in that venue), and many grand adventures to capture on film. One MUST DO photo is the "Welcome to Gatlinburg" sign--you have to have someone stand in front of it and get their picture. Once it's done, it becomes a family tradition that will go on for years.

BTW, I've only scratched the surface here. Now that you've got me on the subject I'll probably be thinking of things to add for days!!


tmo

 

[ttichenor]

Sounds like you've already gotten some great info. If you're not looking into a hotel/motel, trying searching for some cabins. You can get some with great views without spending much (if any) more money.

We trek to G'burg semi-regularly also. DH & I + 3 or 4 other couples take a long weekend, get a big ole' chalet and just chill at least once a year (usually late winter/early spring). Other times we go with kids who absolutely LOVE Dixie Stampede and doing the mini parks with games and rides.

Was just thinking about making a trip just to go to outlets before our trip to WDW in October.

Have fun!

 

[lovemygoofy]

One of the best places to eat is The Old Mill. It's just a big place unto itself with a creamery (sp), general store, pottery store, toy store, and sweet tooth store. It's reasonably priced with huge servings. We have to have the honey butter everytime we go.

I have stayed at several different cabin rentals and I can without a doubt reccomend Diamond Cabin Rentals. The have a website that you can look at each and every resort. What I like most about the cabins is that they are close to everything but still set apart, if that makes sense. They are also the same price through out the year no matter the season.

PM me for more info on anything that I can help with. Oh, don't forget to pick up a coupon book when you get into town. They have good deals for buy one get one half off or specials with familes.

Good luck,
Tina

 

[Shutterbug]

I liken Gatlinburg to mini mini Vegas(crowded sidewalks and bumper to bumper traffic). Although unlike Vegas they roll up the sidewalks around 10pm. Kind of made it hard to find a place for a late night dinner.

My gf and I liked the Ripleys aquarium although we felt it was
over priced(as is all things are there in Gatlinburg).

We really enjoyed the park but again we've gone in early spring or real early fall when the park is not that crowded.

 

[shep]

Originally posted by browneyes
People are rude there. Ober Gatlinburg is nice, but Gatlinburg has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Your best bet would to rent a cabin. If you're interested in Dollywood, it's about 10-15 miles from Gatlinburg.

Personally, if my SO told me he wanted to go to Gatlinburg, I'd probably shoot him.

don't listen to her...

I don't know much about Gatlinburg but I can give you tons of stuff about the Smokey Mountains...

 

[S. C.]

Not too far away is Cherekee N.C. They have the outdoor drama Unto These Hills, It is very good and well worth watching. Also about 35 miles from Cherekee is Ashville N.C. where Biltmore House is. the largest private owned home in america with 250 rooms. If you take a tour of it you see something like 50 rooms. It was built in the late 1800's and had indoor plumbing, an elevator, electricity, indoor swimming pool & a 2 lane bowling alley.

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by tinatark
Browneyes, why don't you tell us how you really feel!

I did hold back some emotion. BTW, fellow tourists are the ones that tend to be rude. Some shop owners are also, but many fellow tourists seem to leave their manners elsewhere (atleast on the last 5-6 trips I've been to Gatlinburg).

Originally posted by shep
don't listen to her...

Hey Todd.

The one thing I do like about Gatlinburg is the pecan brittle at Aunt Mahalia's.

 

[Keli]

You've already got a lot of good info about Gatlinburg so I won't really add too much but I will list our family's favoite things to do in that area:
1. Dollywood
2. Dixie Stampede
3. Cades Cove
4. Eating at Apple Barn
5. Shopping at the outlets in PF
6. Playing on the big rocks all in the river in the fairly shallow areas. This can be somewhat dangerous with little kids if there are less adults than kids but if you can get a ratio of 1:1 it is great. You can cross large expanses of water moving from rock to rock at times and our family has always had so much fun doing this although everyone comes home with a few scrapes and bruises.
7. Floating down the river on intertubes in the deeper parts.

I just noticed that you have a baby so I'm sure number seven and eight won't really be something you can do now.

 

[MelessaG]

Oh man! We were planning a trip to Gatlinburg when I "won" a free 2-night stay as a Tupperware sales incentive. Then, I took a closer look at my certificate and realized our "free" stay was at one of those time-share resorts. Great. So, we won't be using it.
I didn't mean to hijack your thread, I just think Gatlinburg sounds even better now than it did before and I wish I were going too. Enjoy your trip!

 

[teachingmyown]

Send it this way. We don't mind staying in timeshare resorts...do it all the time. The best ones in Gatlinburg, INMO, are Tree Tops and Town Square. It wouldn't happen to be for one of them, would it?

 

[sue Z]

The only thing I know about Gaitlin burg is that its about an hour and half away from where 2 of my friends live.

 

[jbthi]

One of my favorite things to do in Gatlinburg is the Sweet Fanny Adams theatre. They have two new shows every year that alternate with each other. It is a funny, silly show. Sometimes they have fractured fairy tales. It might be difficult with the baby though.

My 5 yr. old GD loved it. She asks to go back to see the belly-button dance.