Stuff to do in Gatlinburg, TN?

[montanafan]

Thanks, DeathBUA. I know the area you're talking about. I'll check it out when I'm there next month.

 

[KeyserSoze]

I live close by

There is plenty to do.

As stated above, Pigeon Forge: Shops/Outlets, Go-Karts, attractions galore. A lof of crap like craft stores, and stuff like that.

Gatlinburg: More stores, "Ripley's Museum", other junk like that. Haunted houses, Ober Gatlinburg (Despite being a Ski Area, there is stuff to do up there in the warm months as well.)

Personally, I don't care much for that tourist junk. There are some cool trails to walk, some real cool stuff by creeks/rivers. The "Chimney Tops" are kind of cool if you want to grab some good, and go do a picnic. Since it's up a little higher, never really gets too hot up there, which is nice.

And as stated above also, Cade's Cove is there as well.

Any specific questions that I can answer?!? And who all is going to be with you?!? (Like wife? Kids? And what ages? etc.)



KS

 

[montanafan]

Back to OREOSpeedwagon, if you stay in downtown Gatlinburg you're only about a mile from one of the main entrances to the park. The park actually goes around the town. The traffic is terrible throughout the whole area, but mostly on the weekends. I like to stay at the Microtel at traffic light #8 I think it is. That way you don't have to fight the traffic and pedestrians to get into or out of your hotel parking lot. You can also avoid the downtown traffic to go out to the malls by circling around the top of the hill that you go up at light #8. It comes out at light #4 or #5 right at the Aquarium which is right at the Mexican restaurant that DeathBUA was telling you about.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Oh man, we will DEFINITELY check out renting bikes at Cade's Cove on Saturday morning. Sounds like a good place to get some pics.

KeyserSoze: What are the "Chimney Tops"? Are they trails up towards the tops of the mountains?

I'm going to hit the sack, got to get up early and leave tomorrow, but I'll check this thread before we take off in the morning. Thanks for all the help guys

 

[montanafan]

If you want to shop for arts and crafts they have a lot of stores in downtown Gatlinburg, but like KeyserSoze said, it's mainly a lot of touristy junk. I like to go out to the Arts and Crafts Community on Glades Road about 3 miles east of downtown. There are so many shops there that it'll take you a couple of days to check them all out. Some really really nice stuff there though if you like handmade stuff.

The best place for breakfast is The Pancake Pantry if you like any and all kinds of pancakes that is. They open at 7am I believe and shortly after 7 a long line starts to form so get there early or much later in the morning. I think they stay open til 3 or 4 pm.

Depending on how much you like to spend when you're eating out there's The Park Grill, great food and service, but pricey, same goes for Lineberger's Seafood and The Peddler Restaurant. More average priced but good are - Applewood Farmhouse, Best Italian Cafe and Pizzeria, Calhoun's (try the white chili), The Cherokee Grill (some different stuff there), and Smoky Mountain Brewery and Restaurant (a nice little microbrewery).

 

[dderidex]

Originally posted by: montanafan
Edit: P.S. For wildlife pics you have to go to Cade's Cove in the early morning.

Go to Cade's Cove whenever you get a chance. Visit early, visit often!

Absolutely GORGEOUS area.

BTW, do not try to "do all the waterfalls" like my wife and I did one year. There is this one....*shudders*

Personally, I'm all about having a cabin in the woods (lots of options, there), hitting up the local artisan shops, hiking the trails, and studying the history. That's the one thing we miss BADLY about the west coast - no sense of history what-so-ever. The Appalachians, though....niiiiiiice.

And it really is worth staying in a cabin - and one with a view (and hot tub ) - the Smokey mountains are quite the thing to see in the morning.

 

[montanafan]

dderidex reminded me of one other thing. If you stay in downtown Gatlinburg, when you decide to go to Cade's Cove, go to the Sugarland Visitor's Center entrance to the Park about a mile west of downtown, past light #10 and drive through the Park to get to Cade's Cove because there are lots of trails you can stop off at to take a look around. Some of them are the waterfall trails that dderidex was talking about and like he said there is this one on the right that is a real climb. I don't think I ever want to do that one again! Anyway, there's a place to rent bikes right as you enter the Cove on your left. Hope you have fun. Tell us about it when you get back.

 

[ZOXXO]

Haven't been personally but more than one person has said Smokey Mountain Knifeworks is worth a visit even if you have little interest in knifes and tactical equipment. Supposedly for the building itself and the exhibits.

Also I once saw a TV show on the vertical wind tunnel near Gatlinburg that looked like fun.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Nothing. Head on down to Knoxville, give me a PM, I'll take you out to the bars. Gatlinburn is full of idiots and not much to do besides relax. The Strip or The Old City, that's where ya need to go.

 

[royaldank]

SacrosanctFiend - Another Knoxville-ite on the board. Good to know.

I would suggest the Knoxville Zoo if you want something to do. There's also the Smokey Mountain Deer Park right outside of Pigeon Forge that is good for an hour or two. They have kangaroos, wallabys, and a bunch of pet-able animals like reindeer, goats, mini-horses, camels, etc.

The aquarium mentioned earlier is fun. Lots and lots of putt-putt golf courses. Lots of outlet shopping in Pigeon Forge and just beyond. Dixie Stampede is pretty good but fairly exspenive at $40 or so a person for show and dinner.

There's also a flying place right outside of Pigeon Forge where you can take little airplanes up and fly them around. Called Warbirds or something like that. I haven't done it yet, but I've heard it's pretty darn cool flying around in those little planes.

 

[MrChad]

There's a Hard Rock Cafe there, I believe.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
See the Gatlin gun?

Unfortunately it is being used in Iraq right now.

 

[Rallispec]

shutgun wedding.


seriously, it's like vegas.. they've got a drive-thru chapel on every corner down there.

 

[imported_Pablo]

Go to the top of that space needle thing and chuck stuff off of it. Seriously, that's probably all there is to do. I went skiing there once...

 

[Excelsior]

Yep, bears are definitely near by.

Eat some taffy and fudge or some sh!t...and at the pancake house or whatever it is called, for breakfast. Also...go hiking. You are sure to see some wildlife, it is pretty neat. Last time I wen't I saw a deer then a young black bear.

 

[EatSpam]

Get married? There's a few dozen little chapels...

 

[Chunkee]

I live in the area.

If you like the Outdoors you will love it. It is kind of a tourist trap, but if you like other types of Red Neck fun like taffy, go carts, rides and such, then go up the road about 5 miles to Pigeon Forge

YEEEEHAW!!!

 

[Chunkee]

blio

 

[Slap]

Go for a chalet on the side of the mountain. Cades Cove is a must. The chimney tops trail is also worthwhile. It is a pretty long trail, but once at the top, the view is awesome. I think it warns you that people have died before at the top. You can also raft the nearby Piegon River. It has a few class IV's.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
We're leaving tomorrow morning and don't have a whole lot of stuff planned, anyone thats been there know anything fun to do?

I go there once a year. It's really nice. Best experience is to stay in a mountain cabin, but a hotel off the main street is OK. There's a BBQ place called Bennetts there that is a MUST EAT place. Otherwise, the main street is full of activities and tourist stores/attractions. You're right at the base of the Smokey Mountains, so you can drive up to the top and check out the sites. There's this country restaurant right at the entrance to the mountains (I want to say it's called Grandma's something....) that is AWESOME for breakfast. Gotta check that place out in the mornings ) In Gatlinburg, DO NOT drive anywhere. Walk down the street. The traffic is bumper to bumper- especially in the summer. They have parking lots/garages everywhere.

There's a Ripley's Aquarium there, various museums (TV Car Museum is fun ), Pigeon Forge is close with even more tourist stuff. My family's favorite was the Dixie Stampede. They have a few of these around the country. You get a cool meal that you have to eat with your fingers...plus a good show.

You'll have fun, we always do.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: ZOXXO
Haven't been personally but more than one person has said Smokey Mountain Knifeworks is worth a visit even if you have little interest in knifes and tactical equipment. Supposedly for the building itself and the exhibits.

Also I once saw a TV show on the vertical wind tunnel near Gatlinburg that looked like fun.

Smokey Mountain Knife shop is a cool shop. A must see if you're a man

 

[NuclearNed]

I can recommend several of the trails in the park, if hiking is something that you enjoy.

If it is, I would suggest staying the night on top of Mt. LeConte inside the park. There are really nice cabins there, and a restaurant to boot. The only way to get there is to hike about 5-6 miles, but it is along the best (in my opinion) trail in the whole park.

Most of Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville is full of touristy things to do, like others have said. Ober Gatlinburg is quite fun - it has an alpine slide (imagine a water slide with no water, and you are sitting on a big skateboard with no practical way to stop or slow down). They also have ice skating year-round, and other activities.

There are numerous dinner shows throughout town. I haven't been to any, but word of mouth says that the Dixie Stampede is the best.

If you have any other questions, let me know. I live very close to there and go very often.

 

[NuclearNed]

I almost forgot - if you drive through the park to Cherokee, NC, you can gamble at the Harrah's Casino. Its around 30-40 miles from Gatlinburg, but if you are going to drive all the way through the park, you might as well stop if that is your sort of thing.

 

[dderidex]

This thread REALLY makes me want to visit again.

On the wrong coast, though.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Well, we just got back and had a BLAST! We decided to stay at Pigeon Forge (Shuler's Inn, awesome place for pretty cheap too) and probably the coolest thing we did was bike the 11 miles around Cade's Cove. I'm kinda tired now, but I'll put up a better outline of what all we did and post some pictures tomorrow