Trip to Gatlinburg Area, any suggestions?

[bpesch]

My son and new daughter-in-law just invited me to go with them on a last minute trip to Gatlinburg for a few days. It's about a month away and to me, the perpetual planner, that's last minute!

We're staying at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort. I did some research and it looks like a very nice place.

Does anyone have any information about the area, attractions, restaurants, etc that they would like to share? I've been to the area before, but it's been a VERY long time ago.

 

[ceecee]

The Old Mill restaurant is great, it's just outside of Gatlinburg (Pidgeon Forge area) it is wonderful. Our other favorite was the Applebarn. As for attractions the Aquarium is nice if you like that sort of thing. Ober Gatlinburg is fun as well. We always enjoy Dollywood! Cade's Cove is a nice scenic drive.

 

[MSSANDRA]

The aquarium is great! It's large, well laid out and has an amazing penguin exhibit. LOTS of tourist type stuff on the main drag. Great home-maid fudge though. Dollywood is a fun, clean theme park and the water park is nice but tends to get VERY crowded. They has a fast pass system at Dollywood that cost to use. We did not find it worth the money to us but check it out if you will do a lot of the larger coaster rides.
Some outlets in the area and we have scored some good deals there at times.
Plan a drive through the Smokey Mountains too.
There are some good shows too. We like the Dixie Stampede

One note....even though it's "in the mountains" Gatlinburg gets very hot. Plan accordingly. The smokey mountains can be cooler but in August, you won't get too cool during any day activities.

 

[2girlsmommy]

Check out halfoffdepot.com, you have to search the Knoxville are to get the pigeon forge deals. We went horseback riding and zip lining and the deal we found on there was amazing, less then half off! We did this at five oaks adventure park. They were very nice and ver conveniently located. We also did the lumberjack feud and it was great, we did the dinner with the show and the food was good, but you could easily do it with out and save the money because, they serve you before the show if you eat there anyways. We all hiked up to Laurel falls and it was beautiful! It is in the nat'l park on the way to Cade's cove... It is 1.3 miles one way so where good shoes, but totally worth it!
Have fun!
Erica

 

[Jaco5nc]

We were there this past weekend and it was 106 degrees in Gatlinburg. My husband was there on business so the kids and I mostly stayed in the hotel pool. The Westgate is just outside of Pigeon Forge I believe and it has an awesome indoor waterpark (extra fee). There is a free trolley in both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg which will take you up and down the main strips. I agree about the Aquarium and there is also a Ski Lift that my kids love. Ober Gatlinburg is popular too. Pigeon Forge has a ton of museums and dinner shows which I have heard are all generally fun. Have a great visit!!

 

[agmmbolam426]

My Husband and I went to a restaurant called old mill and it was wonderful! We both had enough food left over to eat later. There was tons of food!!! We also liked no way joses they had a chimichanga there that was so good. We also liked the Ripley's aquarium. Gatlinburg is very commercialized so if you are not careful you can spend a lot of money real quick

 

[jacksmom]

The Pancake Pantry in downtown G'burg is awesome!

 

[koopa]

Hillbilly Golf (minature golf). Lots of shade.

Liked the National Park and the Cades Cove was nice. Some roads followed the stream and there were good places to picnic and wade in the water.

 

[disneydreamin23]

If you are going on I-40 through Crossville, TN. Take a 30 minute stop at this treehouse. It is free and 5 minutes off the interstate. It is little known but awesome! http://www.yelp.com/biz/ministers-tree-house-crossville

I love the chocolate covered strawberries at Kilwin's on the strip. It is about across the street from the Pancake Pantry I think. And the hotdogs...OMG, I almost drove to Gatlinburg (7.5 hour drive) this weekend because I was craving the hotdogs so badly. (Only didn't because of the heat) They are cooked at the Arcade on the strip and you can smell them as you walk up.

The aquarium is nice but expensive. Make sure you take ID if you are using a credit card. My mom and I just grabbed our credit cards and about $50 between us before we walked out to stroll my son down the strip and decided to go the aquarium. No go, they wouldn't take our credit card without our id, and $50 wasn't enough.

And the Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge is a family tradition for us. It is a big stadium like seating and The North and The South compete via passing stuff, or members of the audience get called down to represent. It is a good time and a good show. You need to call ahead for tickets and can request North or South. You don't have any silverware which bothers me, so bring a plastic fork and knife if it does you too. I also bring ketchup packets and the tea is instant so I'd steer clear.

And I'd make sure you have GPS (on phone or otherwise) for the mountain roads.

Have a great time!

 

[LaDonna]

I can't remember the name of it but we went to a bird aviary and really enjoyed it
Hiked laurel falls and that was awesome

 

[RumpleMom]

Dollywood is a nice, clean park with good food.




We enjoyed the "Sweet Fanny Adams" show. Family friendly and hilarious. You can utube it to see if you would like it. It's within easy walking distance of Hard Rock Gatlinburg.

 

[disney fan4]

The Pancake Pantry in downtown G'burg is awesome!

My absolute favorite place to eat! Growing up, we would eat there every morning on family vacation and leave so stuffed we didn't need lunch.
The aquarium in Gatlinburg is very nice. We also love driving Cade's Cove and enjoy walking the streets and exploring shops of downtown Gatlinburg at night when it has cooled down some. There is also a Christmas Village in Pigeon Forge that is open all year. I always like a little Christmas cheer no matter what season!

 

[TNMouseFan]

We are about an hour from there. Our favs--
Pancake Pantry is a must-get there early and get in line ( they are cash only).
Calhoun's (steak ,chicken)
The Best Italian Pizza--- it really is the best. Its in the Elks Plaza on the far end of town.

Cades Cove is a fun drive as is Newfound Gap in you want " mountain scenery". We also like the Roaring Fork Motor Trail that starts up around the Park Vista Hotel.

Gatlinburg roads(as well as the main road off interstate) are under construction right now so expect some traffic if coming in on a weekend.

Have fun!


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[tina.tina]

A storm that came through the area on Thursday night caused a lot of damage in the national park. An article I read said it looked like a tornado had come through, thousands of trees are down, and the Cades Cove area suffered the most damage.

Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort looks very nice. I researched it as an option for my upcoming trip but there was limited availability. I hope you have a great time.

My favorite thing about Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge is shopping. I like Lidl Dolly's quilts and The Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tanger Five Oaks outlets in Sevierville and looking in all the little shops up and down the streets of Gatlinburg. I think Gatlinburg is best after dark but I also love the Pancake Pantry and you have to get up early for that.

My kids are most looking forward to go carts, mini golf and Dollywood.

I believe the Westgate resort is across the parkway from the Gatlinburg welcome center. You could catch a very cheap trolley from there to downtown Gatlinburg or even Dollywood. Dollywood nights is the beginning of August when they're open 5pm-10pm for 1/2 price.

 

[abreynol]

We love Gatlinburg! We are going for a weekend in September. Lots of shopping, eating, attractions. There is a great little Italian place off main parkway, I think it is called Best Italian or something. Really good garlic knots!!! Best I've ever had. I agree with Old mill and Applebarn in PF. Plenty of car tours in GSMNP if you aren't a hiker. Smoky Mountain Brewery is very good also. Great beer sampler if you drink. Lots of mini golf and go carts. You will have a blast!

 

[AubieGirl]

My husband & I have been to G'burg many times and below is our list of favorite places to eat & things to do.

Places to Eat:
Park Grill - this restaurant is right before the entrance to Smoky Mountains National Park and it is hands down our favorite place to eat dinner!

Pancake Pantry - a must do for breakfast.

Howard's - this is a hole in the wall place up towards the park, but they have great food and a fabulous Bloody Mary.

The Mill - yummy homestyle food. The fried chicken is my fav!


Things to Do:
Ripley's Aquarium is lots of fun! We like to go at night because there aren't quite as many people.

Cades Cove is a fun day trip where you can drive through the mountains and see wildlife and historic homesteads. There are beautiful views of the mountains and we've seen bears a few times while we were there too.

Shopping Shopping Shopping (need I say more).

Have a great trip!!!

 

[piratehookspixiedust]

We love Gatlinburg. We have been several times.

Dixie Stampede is worth a trip at least once. It is a wonderful dinner show. The Old Mill restaurant is delicious and the Apple Barn is to die for. Apple Barn may be my favorite place to go while there.

 

[abreynol]

We also love Howard's. Although, we go for breakfast! It is yummy!

 

[rcraw45425]

My husband & I have been to G'burg many times and below is our list of favorite places to eat & things to do.

Places to Eat:
Park Grill - this restaurant is right before the entrance to Smoky Mountains National Park and it is hands down our favorite place to eat dinner!

Pancake Pantry - a must do for breakfast.

Howard's - this is a hole in the wall place up towards the park, but they have great food and a fabulous Bloody Mary.

The Mill - yummy homestyle food. The fried chicken is my fav!

Things to Do:
Ripley's Aquarium is lots of fun! We like to go at night because there aren't quite as many people.

Cades Cove is a fun day trip where you can drive through the mountains and see wildlife and historic homesteads. There are beautiful views of the mountains and we've seen bears a few times while we were there too.

Shopping Shopping Shopping (need I say more).

Have a great trip!!!

Park Grill and it's sister restaurant, The Peddler (on the river) are great! We also had a good buffet at the Aquarium, but that was several years back at Thanksgiving, maybe it's only on holidays. There's a Hard Rock there that's pretty good, typical Hard Rock fare. Enjoy your visit! We generally stay at Gatlinburg Falls so I have no info on Westgate, hope it's nice!

 

[bpesch]

Thank you everyone for the great ideas! I have a list of things to do some research on and appreciate everyone's help!