Recent Comments

Love the Farmhouse, worked there in '88 as a busboy. Anyone remember those days? Think the owner was David and he only hired women as waitresses, guys as busboys.. non negotiable. Beamer was somewhat new.. the owner would flip out when he walked in on gamedays.. Barbara was the primary hostess and you had to be on your best behavior. Classic times but funny memories too. Pls chime in if you remember those days.

Off topic:

Hey so I figured some former/current cadets are reading this thread...my friend's little brother is starting at VT this fall. His goal is to become a doctor in the Army or Navy. He want to become a member of the VTCC but he's worried it'll be too much of a time commitment to be pre-med and VTCC at the same time. What should I tell him?

Nashville is a bit of a stretch, about 3 hours away. Knoxville would be a better option, although you would be in the heart of Vol country.

WhiteHouseWes knows what's up. The moonshine place has four bartenders and they just pour you about 12 or so mini-shots to "sample" their moonshine for free. The thing is, on a busy day you can walk in, hit all four bartenders one after the other, and walk out pleasantly drunk after about 30 minutes of continuous free liquor. However, beware the drink they call Blue Flame. It'll get after you.

A hidden gem that not too many people know about in Gburg is the Peddler.
It's a little pricey but worth the wait. It has a HUGE salad bar and a good spot for a "fancier" dinner.

Also, you should drive up to Clingman's dome, the hike from the parking lot to the overlook is relatively steep but it is paved and has an amazing view that is definitely worth it.

Just down Weaver Pike there is the smoky mountain Alpine coaster that is simple and a whole lot of fun.

Cade's Cove is quaint, but that is about it. Don't expect to find any quality food and drink....it is all "Redneck Riviera". Drive to Nashville or Asheville if you want quality dining or libations. One thing that I would recommend is the Alpine Mountain Coaster in Pigeon Forge...that is very fun, especially at night

Not at all...if they have a nice menu and prepare it well with great service, then the customers will come in spades. The problem is most eateries around the burgs do not commit to these qualaties. 622 North in Blacksburg is one of the few that has embraced the necessary excellence to thrive.

Ehh...not that tall.

If you are into aquariums Ripley's is one of the best aquariums I've been to. I highly recommend going there.

Don't play with the bears in your backyard (although this one did seem pretty friendly).

I cannot believe how much we struggle with signing the best talent in state, they would get playing time and be close to home. I love recruits from Florida and Georgia but it'd be nice to see the best players in VA stay home, hopefully Hunter can help us gain some momentum with that.

It's no hidden gem, but Bennetts BBQ is a definite go-to. If you go to Gatlinburg and don't make it into the park you're really missing out (you wouldn't believe the people that do this). Depending on the age of the kids I would try to hike to a couple waterfalls in the park. If the kids are young I would suggest Laurel Falls. It's not far from Gatlinburg and the entire trail is paved for people with strollers. It's a very popular waterfall because of its' accessibility. The Cades Cove loop is very scenic. You drive the entire 11 mile loop and are almost guaranteed to see black bears and many, many deer. You can take a detour along Cades Cove and hike the trail to Abrams Falls. I think it's the park's largest waterfall (in volume). It's pretty much a swimming hole this time of year.

Also, there's Dollywood and all that flashy stuff.

Pages