On Sunday, the Illinois Hokie clan will be piling into the old Family Roadster for a vacation to smokey mountains. We've rented a chalet in Gatlinburg for a week. I haven't been to Gatlinburg since I was eight years old. I've done the whole Trip Advisor thing and have a decent idea of what is worthwhile and what isn't, but I'm looking for some last minute suggestions of some hidden gems in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. Things to do, places to eat, whatever tips you have, please feel free to share and thanks in advance.
EDIT: Thanks for the tips, everyone. Looks like I'm getting drunk on moonshine.
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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.
Don't play with the bears in your backyard (although this one did seem pretty friendly).
If you are into aquariums Ripley's is one of the best aquariums I've been to. I highly recommend going there.
We've got a day set aside for the aquarium. All the reviews make it sound pretty incredible.
Cades Cove is a must. Ull see bears there.
I always go for the free moonshine samples.
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.
just had the Blue Flame (128 Proof) Wednesday and I still taste it!
Gerald agrees
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
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.
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.
Is this affiliated with the Peddler that used to be in Kingsport, TN?
Or the one in Williamsburg?
If you go to Dollywood, which has come a long way over the years - added some good coasters, you have to get the cinnamon loaf from Grist Mill. After you taste it you'll want to take some home with you. They make several big batches throughout the day but you better be close as they go fast and WELL worth the wait. Trust me you won't be disappointed.
Other places to go:
- Hatfield and McCoy's Dinner Theatre (Pigeon Forge) - good food and show, this place is a must. Again, you won't be disappointed. Well worth the money for the entertainment and the soup is amazing! Buy your tickets in advance. http://www.hatfieldmccoydinnerfeud.com
- The Chop House for a good steak and beer to take a break from shopping (Pigeon Forge at Tanger Outlets)
- The Old Mill (Pigeon Forge) - good country food
- Paula Deans (Pigeon Forge) - not as pricey as everyone makes it out to be and you get plenty of good food. It's homestyle dining, similar setup as the HomePlace. The cheddar biscuits are awesome. I'd recommend the fried chicken, cheesy meatloaf or catfish for your meats. The squash casserole is the best side item.
- Ole Smoky Moonshine (Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg) - as mentioned above, you get free samples and can get a buzz if you take advantage of the samples. Caution, the Blue Flame flavor burns a tad.
- The Tail of the Dragon (pick it up on the outskirts of Pigeon Forge) if you're looking for a scenic drive. BEAUTIFUL mountain views. If you decide to drive all the way to the tail its a bit curvy, depending on what you're driving is a very fun drive. I used to drive an M3 and that was fun on the dragon.
- Mamas Farmhouse (Pigeon Forge)- for an excellent breakfast, you'll get plenty to eat. They have chocolate gravy, enough said.
- Ride the tramway from downtown Gatlinburg to Ober Gatlinburg.
- Mountain coaster - mentioned above. Neat experience.
- Whitewater rafting - there's lots of options in the area. Google rafting in the Smokies or pickup brochures in just about any restaurant.
- Smokie Mtn Knifeworks (Sevierville)
- Loco Burro Fresh Mex (Gatlinburg) - near Ole Smoky Moonshine. They have great margaritas (great to chase all of the moonshine you just taste tested), guacamole and burritos.
-The Peddler Steakhouse (Gatlinburg) - mentioned above but they have an excellent steak and an awesome salad bar, nice place. https://peddlergatlinburg.com
Those cinnamon loafs are absolutely amazing. I could and have eaten a whole one by myself. Basically crack.
It is kind of the world's largest Cracker Barrel. Pro tip: avoid any restaurant that has the name of a fruit in the title.
Not my favorite place. Hopefully some of the advice above will pay off, the weather will be nice, and you'll have a great time.
I am going to Gatlinburg later this month. I can tell you that there is a 100% chance I will get at least 3 corn dogs from Fannie Farkle over the 4 days I will be there. The corn dogs are even better after a few moonshine tastings.
The Old Mill Cafe, I think it is, in Pigeon Forge was the best food we had while we were there. Strawberry spinach salad was spot on.
Do the Titanic. Thought it was going to be cheese whiz, but it was most impressive. The artifacts are genuine, the stories are quit interesting. It talked about the pets, unusual survivors, construction. The Titanic had a gym & a Turkish bath. You get a passenger card when you start the tour and find out if it was a survivor or not at the end. There's a mock up of deck with the iceberg and the water is maintained at the temperature of the water at the sinking. You can see how long you can keep your hand in it. The end of the tour is a mock up of the excavation and a lot of technical info on the recovery. There's a kids area with the deck at various inclines.
It's worth a visit.
Go to Wonderworks, Ilinois Hokie in Pigeon Forge. It's 35,000 sq ft of fun stuff and your kids will enjoy it. It is the "upside down" house. "Remember to wear closed toe shoes".
In a completely different tip, do not speed once you get off the interstate. Lots of local patrols on the way to-from the tourist areas are more than happy to take your money.