BMs Guide to the Smokies

[BeastMan]

Food:
Hate the be the bearer of bad news but I wasn?t impressed with food in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg. For disclosure, I?m a tough customer being that I?ve worked in the industry for 20 years and I also didn?t really research real hard to find the hot culinary stars. I?m not going to go through everywhere I didn?t like but in a nutshell, everything has a mid-level chain feel, like a Chili?s or Roadhouse in terms of quality. Not shocking since we?re talking a booming tourist market. I?m not lying to you when I say the best entree I had all week was a roasted Cornish hen at the Dolly Parton Stampede Show. It was outstanding. I had a decent pizza at Gapetto?s in Wears Valley and a a decent steak at Alamo Steakhouse. Besides that, nothing worth mentioning for lunch/dinner. Now if you like breakfast, you?re in luck. There are a ton of pancake houses that serve damn good breakfast similar to that of a Cracker Barrel or better.

Location:
We stayed in Sevierville and I?d definitely do that again. 10 miles outside of Pigeon Forge and a little more than that to Gatlinburg. When we came a few miles down the mountain we were in Wears Valley that had a cpl stores and restaurants (including Gapettos). We were on top of a damn mountain and the view was incredible. I?d take that trade-off vs being in town any day. The downside was we drove a lot during the day. Our cabin was 4 stories, had a theatre, hot tob, and pool table. We had a ton of fun every night at the place once all the kids went to sleep.

Activities:
My kids are 2 and 1 so we were limited. Really look forward to returning when they?re older so we can do more hiking/exploring than touristy stuff like Ripleys, Alcatraz east, island park, etc... That crap is expensive as hell and average at best. With the free outdoor activities around, gotta take advantage of that. The guys did a half day wade trip with Fishing the Smokies guide service. Was cheap as hell and they gave us casting lessons and all the nessesary gear at no extra cost. Great value. Conditions were tough for us with the rivers and streams moving fast as hell. Didn?t catch many fish in the park but it was beautiful. It was also plan B because the Tuck River couldn?t be waded that day. All together good experience. The drive from Sevierville to Cherokee, North Carolina was incredible. The scenery was unreal and way less crowded than Cade?s Cove. Highly recommend just driving that for the picture opportunities. Also did Cade?s Cove and cant wait for my kids to be older to explore more of that area. Did the Gatlinburg Aquarium and it was much better than I expected. I pitched driving to Chattanooga for the aquarium but I?m glad we didn?t. We did a few distilleries and I found the ones in town seem more touristy and the ones further out felt more authentic. We bought all our stuff from the one in Wears Valley

If I missed something you?re interested in, ask away.

https://i.postimg.cc/Y9yQgqts/A0248-F5-D-BC35-49-BF-AC0-F-D43-A9-ACE3-B55.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/QC91qGtx/291-A4-FE8-1-EDA-470-F-94-AC-E355-A1-A1-F138.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/fLF0y2K4/6608-AA2-C-8-AFC-46-DC-86-DA-CDB89-FBB0-C2-E.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/hG2mWPQt/952-DF1-F1-E187-4418-803-B-66498-E3-ECDF1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/grbXqxQN/CACD035-E-B26-B-46-B7-B4-FF-47-F3-F91-C61-B2.jpg

[BeastMan]

https://i.postimg.cc/g2qtf5y2/300-F225-D-B5-D1-4611-BBC7-763-CC34508-F7.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/SsjZYxBn/7-D8-A2-CDA-7-C63-483-D-82-D1-D31-F20133-AC3.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/pdsGdF6N/B5621516-1481-409-D-B8-F8-D9-A39-B3-B5-E53.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/3rvBsVYQ/260-E3973-287-F-4-FEB-9-ACC-5182878-FC2-FA.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/1RkW4PJz/2-FAD1326-944-D-4137-82-C1-450319-B9-F7-BD.jpg

[BeastMan]

https://i.postimg.cc/MTkcVs41/855-F6506-C618-4-FDC-9344-FBBC8-B4925-CB.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/xTjXvNsp/82-CAAAE2-4-F8-B-49-AE-B295-CFEA126-BAC0-E.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/yYr0WTVy/F0-CD27-DE-2-B87-4-F2-E-8-A5-B-7-B90-EB0-D9-F84.jpg

[basedog]

Nice photo's. Been a while since we've gone to the Smokies. My wife and I went to Branson last year, my first trip there, I suppose it's more for adults than kids but we really enjoyed a few shows and Dogwood Canyon was pretty dang good. Btw food at Branson was really good.

[BeastMan]

Nice photo's. Been a while since we've gone to the Smokies. My wife and I went to Branson last year, my first trip there, I suppose it's more for adults than kids but we really enjoyed a few shows and Dogwood Canyon was pretty dang good. Btw food at Branson was really good.

I’m over-critical of restaurants. I admit that. Plenty of folks wouldn’t be near as critical as I am. Just how I’m wired. Next time I go I’m definetely doing more research to find some gems. All the pancake houses were good. If you like breakfast, you’ll love your options up there.

[SpeckleDawg]

Nice pics. It's been a decade since I was up that way (a group of us watched State beat TN for the SEC tourney on tv and then we heckled all the orange we saw around town).

I have to ask though, WTF is "Dream Cream"...haha

[BeastMan]

Nice pics. It's been a decade since I was up that way (a group of us watched State beat TN for the SEC tourney on tv and then we heckled all the orange we saw around town).

I have to ask though, WTF is "Dream Cream"...haha

Hillbilly Bailey’s. Coffee + coffee shine + dream cream = Hillbilly fancy breakfast drink

[basedog]

I’m over-critical of restaurants. I admit that. Plenty of folks wouldn’t be near as critical as I am. Just how I’m wired. Next time I go I’m definetely doing more research to find some gems. All the pancake houses were good. If you like breakfast, you’ll love your options up there.

Hey Beast, my wife is gluten free (organic as well), we ate at a BBQ place in Branson, can't remember the name but they had gluten-less BBQ and the place rocked with how good and service was awesome with high school kids bringing out your food and cleaning tables. The guy taking your order was so knowledgeable and fast. It blew us a way and I can tell you the food was great. Homemade bread was out of sight, just saying.

[Gutter Cobreh]

Thanks for the write-up Beast! Depressing to hear that the food/restaurants are "chain-like". I know you said you're being critical, but with what you serve up weekly at home - I was hoping you'd found a gem or two. I prefer local places and rarely eat at a sit down chain restaurant. Not sure what my options will be when we head up there later this year, but may just let the kids pick.

Also, thanks for the tips and advice regarding activities. I will add the aquarium in Chattanooga isn't half bad, but not worth a drive over - so good call there by whomever vetoed your idea.

[Howboutdemdogs]

Great! My Pops had his company move him to Maryville when he retired years ago. It became a cheap Smokie Mountain vacation for years. Every year, the kids and I went to the Smokies and stayed at “Hotel Paw Paw”. Our favorite thing was to tube the Little River. Even in August it was always ice cold. The drive through the parkway was always beautiful. Everyone should go, but be aware that there are a lot of tacky tourist traps.

[BeastMan]

Thanks for the write-up Beast! Depressing to hear that the food/restaurants are "chain-like". I know you said you're being critical, but with what you serve up weekly at home - I was hoping you'd found a gem or two. I prefer local places and rarely eat at a sit down chain restaurant. Not sure what my options will be when we head up there later this year, but may just let the kids pick.

Also, thanks for the tips and advice regarding activities. I will add the aquarium in Chattanooga isn't half bad, but not worth a drive over - so good call there by whomever vetoed your idea.

To be fair I really didn’t research it in advance. So maybe if I look around online more beforehand I could have some ideas. The positive is that we got good service everywhere. And everything seemed to be well run. The Mel’s diner was one of the cleanest restaurants I’ve been in. Even the fast food service was good. The front of the house portion of the deal up there was significantly better than what I’ve had experience with in MS.

Part of wanting to go to Chattanooga was living there as a kid. We moved when I was 7 but my earliest childhood memories are there, including the aquarium, and I’ve never been back.

[BeastMan]

Great! My Pops had his company move him to Maryville when he retired years ago. It became a cheap Smokie Mountain vacation for years. Every year, the kids and I went to the Smokies and stayed at “Hotel Paw Paw”. Our favorite thing was to tube the Little River. Even in August it was always ice cold. The drive through the parkway was always beautiful. Everyone should go, but be aware that there are a lot of tacky tourist traps.


I noticed Ruby Tuesday national office in Maryville. My dad says the RT owner has some super nice lodge outfit up there. Maryville looked like a nice place to live. Clean small city and tons to do in close proximity

[Howboutdemdogs]

You are right Beast. Maryville is a hidden jewel.

[Prediction? Pain.]

Nice trip report, Beast. Doing any kind of trip with infants or toddlers is hard. It limits the what, when, and how for pretty much every activity you can think of. Just getting there and back is a feat.

I agree totally about the food. My lone experience was similar -- every place we tried, none of which was technically a chain restaurant, was generic at best. I'm definitely doing a deep dive on food research before we go again. Our best meal was, oddly enough, a restaurant inside of Dollywood.

I also had a similar experience re: driving around. When we were up there nearly a year ago for a few days, the trip centered around Dollywood and a few short ventures into the National Park. Dollywood was better than I thought it'd be, though the ages of our kids (4 and 1.5) severely limited what all they could do. But the trips into the park, man, even just the ones in the car were outstanding. (I had a couple of very, very short hikes while my kids were napping in the hotel with my wife -- our hotel was right on the border of the park -- and they were cool, but nothing better than the ones back home around Chattanooga. I needed to go further afield for the good stuff and couldn't.)

If you didn't make it up to Clingman's Dome, you should try to the next time. Even just driving up there is awesome. And if you're game for the mile or so walk up to the top of the peak? Well, here's how the view from the top looked on our trip last year:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qILDmJwG5miJrruhvrsbam1ExS9MaU6qf0vKtZ-CgG1ulueqV7YMhEtHnV8x3bzaoXTJLv08beMNkgWK7YEhUo5uG eAsTGufLBy86NDM7NrTmjwHY_-l3VMiMRWw-V4HOT4oM9OrNlaSWbdsL9ru5EoTd9N-FhZeJrOUZclKMlXzoNXs6KGn_7TgVXi_kxCt3IOB5O7Q7TrpwA R8sNi5zNdfL6BI19fzj0oNtJ7rgWRsS46Fg-qRQ_zcErYFsimgbr0vUbUpIIcqKPyJJ6i3-N0oVNWXObx80WdDJ-Y15wrCPMghOTONek40upbuuuUGBIbwNgEPfybKZSjqXWF3UVLD eCoOqI4ykQ_z-fZveF597NLPO4NMfXyhaU91fobtB3RlMjC3LYx5vWkOaxnH72f VOhQFFW5c54iPYcX3bx1lURVShWDIN3boX4m0N_WUq03UHhf0o rBD9rjJ1VT7rmA3qXzESbgtTns1czttFckMMkV7RhGladE35IM pZRftNTPzW6q5B6Xo6_TbV6IsUsJP3Y_GsvGNtbtRh8Re99NLD b7aHmbnVKyfSlwJZfNhxKAxALCa8NO2iBLzRd5GVKL9bEK95In gCIqrMAAl09VTo9apMHaf9U05h8D5kChb5WV8I-ZidwDja-158D8SRrTyVFbKVEc2=w1920-h494-no

Even though I'm a huge fan of the Aquarium in Chattanooga, I don't think I'd come down from the Gatlinburg area solely to do that. Now if you were passing through anyway or otherwise planned a Chattanooga stop, then yeah, it's definitely one of the things downtown worth checking out.

Glad you had a good time and got a little fishing in. I'm right there with you on the "Next time, when the kids are older . . ." train. One day, man. One day.

[BrunswickDawg]

The Smokies are great - but I prefer the North Carolina side. Even honeymooned at a little 1940s motor lodge in Bryson City that operates as a B&B so we could go hiking, rafting, etc. The food there was spectacular.

Don't knock Chattanooga as a destination. If you haven't been in the past 10 years or so, it has changed tremendously. Lots of great restaurants downtown near the aquarium, some very good museums, and it is still fun to do the old school Rock City/Ruby Falls/Incline Railroad tourist thing. We made it a stop on our trek to see my wife's family in MO when the kids were about 10-12. They liked it so much, my parents took them back with my niece and nephew a couple of years later on a Chattanooga/Nashville site seeing trip. They even stayed at the Choo-Choo for the novelty of it.

[basedog]

The Smokies are great - but I prefer the North Carolina side. Even honeymooned at a little 1940s motor lodge in Bryson City that operates as a B&B so we could go hiking, rafting, etc. The food there was spectacular.

Don't knock Chattanooga as a destination. If you haven't been in the past 10 years or so, it has changed tremendously. Lots of great restaurants downtown near the aquarium, some very good museums, and it is still fun to do the old school Rock City/Ruby Falls/Incline Railroad tourist thing. We made it a stop on our trek to see my wife's family in MO when the kids were about 10-12. They liked it so much, my parents took them back with my niece and nephew a couple of years later on a Chattanooga/Nashville site seeing trip. They even stayed at the Choo-Choo for the novelty of it.

Many years ago the Choo Choo had great entertainment and the food was ok. Been several years since we ate there but it wasn't the same as in the mid to late 80's.

[BeastMan]

The Smokies are great - but I prefer the North Carolina side. Even honeymooned at a little 1940s motor lodge in Bryson City that operates as a B&B so we could go hiking, rafting, etc. The food there was spectacular.


It’s funny you say that because when we went fishing we thought the scenery on the way to NC was incredible, especially right near the border on both sides. I thought that was the best Mountain views on the trip and it wasn’t the highest peaks

[BrunswickDawg]

It’s funny you say that because when we went fishing we thought the scenery on the way to NC was incredible, especially right near the border on both sides. I thought that was the best Mountain views on the trip and it wasn’t the highest peaks

My people are originally mountain folk - owning a tavern on the French Broad River in NC in the late 1700s before moving to Georgia in the 1820s - so I thought it was just my homeland speaking to me.

[Prediction? Pain.]

My people are originally mountain folk - owning a tavern on the French Broad River in NC in the late 1700s before moving to Georgia in the 1820s - so I thought it was just my homeland speaking to me.

I was born in Chattanooga, but my people are from Adams County and Neshoba County. I think the Southern Appalachians are equal-opportunity conversationalists.

[Prediction? Pain.]

Many years ago the Choo Choo had great entertainment and the food was ok. Been several years since we ate there but it wasn't the same as in the mid to late 80's.

The Choo Choo and the area around it has been substantially renovated over the past decade or so. Nextdoor there's a pretty cool guitar museum (https://museum.songbirds.rocks/museum-exhibits/) with an on-site concert venue, across the street there's a ridiculously good chocolate shop (https://www.facebook.com/thehotchocolatier/) and a small, satellite distillery of the Chattanooga Whiskey Company (http://chattanoogawhiskey.com/), and then on the nearest side street there's a brewpub (https://terminalbrewhouse.com/), a comedy club (https://www.thecomedycatch.com/), an artisan butcher shop (http://www.mainstreetmeatschatt.com/) that doubles as an amazing restaurant, an upscale modern Italian place (http://alleiarestaurant.com/), and a phenomenal bakery (https://niedlovs.com/), among other things. It's become a pretty hopping side of the city, actually.

[Prediction? Pain.]

It?s funny you say that because when we went fishing we thought the scenery on the way to NC was incredible, especially right near the border on both sides. I thought that was the best Mountain views on the trip and it wasn?t the highest peaks


The Smokies are great - but I prefer the North Carolina side. Even honeymooned at a little 1940s motor lodge in Bryson City that operates as a B&B so we could go hiking, rafting, etc. The food there was spectacular.

Don't knock Chattanooga as a destination. If you haven't been in the past 10 years or so, it has changed tremendously. Lots of great restaurants downtown near the aquarium, some very good museums, and it is still fun to do the old school Rock City/Ruby Falls/Incline Railroad tourist thing. We made it a stop on our trek to see my wife's family in MO when the kids were about 10-12. They liked it so much, my parents took them back with my niece and nephew a couple of years later on a Chattanooga/Nashville site seeing trip. They even stayed at the Choo-Choo for the novelty of it.

Western NC, Northern GA, and Eastern TN are all worth your time. If you're willing to drive a little further, I suggest you check out Roan Mountain in June. The state park in Tennessee is a great base camp (that has a stream running through it that's stocked with trout), but the peaks themselves, which straddle the TN/NC border a little ways north of the Smoky Mountain National Park, are unreal.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/y1ACeKMoOFnWasUAevPbzFAFZsziRbg4qwov7YLMAbJ0FbOdOR COWSjCOx1Ivhdhc3B4Bmd7u8oEkNcJIP8ZAcGSVYgOVRq5dGQh k2RZ6jULYtNoOqdAP4EtZjjUNnbRUI0iqHPPd8eGXuC5B5f294 j9TuGS8bJc2CNAfuJzBYbqnJ0AkT8zCab8RZyZkJekNRhHdZ4I J6naHumimVd0yCbPapym9MW2YC0jpoZ6aXqMiuG4yCTCpIyF42 K1HcJspfn6BIsi_QBoTg90Y-slkxdE3xfUMV5rnPGf1EOqmCMHLITdPZcApGae9UVMKRH1PZtM cDJW8hEcs9MHR1yDSKSilBN0_kob8N2dD_ypdZEXp2sgNgA7Ng esUUitaUDrDZ8bgfDRiaW7ADeTFoJka-RqJhj3_LVU0crH6xw5K6pirNQ4_U8Iu0apZ33xXQvktMGfqgi0 w20lyw17nE04ep9p9UOz3w_kY0yLEZqKToY_vXBQcMCTNd4NQ8 VKzqpV8fWPXJFRqvpNiYykJZ7rw9ADdMqQAvZ83nHxBaAiNvJT y9vgPxSunXckDVI4AZWktakQbvajb7z8MfLa_pmVjrHnUAk3-pmPaq-PAiO-cK9vr-wzyP_yWwCLe2SoBNYqsqiksSd7_wATom0limgRntcU6QEHxcrY =w1920-h455-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GgCZLvk4tpJMfCQwV705U4i1hVE76WdHi1xyAioZCEdVvJjMae zWC1Utkcv5w4zx2G4ouDZZDLnm5mVtPvrnfPoaqxkFnAb8m5FK kN7GWu2p5kJ_Nizx2xbO2xkQvbTomKV4aSG7sIhiINH2wXixv_ kU2tH8QxsmKE5FmnnqS7P6bRlukUE5g4KL39lGPsCdoz2LP4IG 27D-W0izp7VFdVQ5Xlzhy1USsOPuvc7yf9XqSWsFHSUdvreDGPRFd9 1DyZ74LkP9BdB2EakXC43Hv41oRAeuN1xupC9kZz3-rL88gyIYbbyQ4ixeZiSAckb_clcK2XquBlQJKnka7MnHAbTM9B UWu_NpUnShBhJuY8QEOacICOsln4BSfvKSfLYpBAxk9LE1n9en eKK6rgr4gteWlrpVT_Elbhwp9-OwysGpxK18FHiKK6DfWGlLDXDlInIoFx5VKyU2XCqLsWNhLDJL dBTcv55E-EWBeHH02fZm0_6YBu2M3mea7NuPSM3aZGKhZXx9V5-XCzNrm8y6ss3t5HMJeZwMX5s-QG7eJRIwPJRqs6oyvTdA-bisR7hFlSA9-dLVAChLUFXyB5LMlqL73Zgk9rJlM4pTHgs-RgupdewWzE-MuUlJTbJ_AY8k1pVXnTNqav90P1EmPF-7Lm7XJYRRN5FK=w1666-h937-no

There are places on that trail where you're walking through chest-high rhododendrons in full bloom for dozens of yards in every direction. So, so cool.

[BeastMan]

That’s incredible Prediction. Stunning stuff. Somebody told me there is a mountain town in north Georgia modeled after a Swiss alps town. Ever heard of that?

[Prediction? Pain.]

That?s incredible Prediction. Stunning stuff. Somebody told me there is a mountain town in north Georgia modeled after a Swiss alps town. Ever heard of that?

That's Helen, GA. Never been that way before but have heard good things.

I've mentioned this to others here and on SPS -- hell, maybe even you -- but if you're looking for a closer mountain cabin getaway that offers similarly awesome views but a way less touristy vibe, check out the area around Blue Ridge, GA. I've been every year since 2014 for a yearly football-whisky-hiking-brisket bonanza with some friends of mine and have yet to be dissappointed. The selection of new, well-appointed, seclusive cabins is, at least in my experience, unrivaled in the region.

https://www.southerncomfortcabinrentals.com/

http://mountaintopcabinrentals.com/

https://www.escapetoblueridge.com/

[BrunswickDawg]

Alpine Helen. It's cheesy, but something different. Great trout fishing there, and it is a good base to explore north GA from.

Blue Ridge is great too. So is the Blairsville area. One of my favorite spots in north Georgia is Tallulah Gorge. That is a must hike if you are ever in the area. I was hoping to go on our annual trout trip next weekend near Amicilola Falls, but Senior year stuff for my son is in the way. Trout will still be there next year.

[Political Hack]

If you go to helen, stay at the state park close by and go whennits warm enough to swim and tube. I'm blanking on the state park right now, but it's great for kids too. Big playground with a small creek running through it connected at the foot of the lake. You can take a half mile hike around the lake and get to a beach and swim area for the kids. It's also about a 15 minute drive to Helen. Easy access to restaurants, tubing, and tourist gimmicks. There's also lots of zip lining and ropes courses around there that are pretty fun.

In Gatlinburg the only place I go eat is the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge. Breakfast, lunch or dinner is great. Think a cracker Barrell but legit. I buy a ton of jelly, cornmeal mixes, and other stuff when I go too. It's all made there on site. And the kids can go step in goose crap while feeding the ducks. Floating the Pigeon is also a good time for the family. Not your action adventure you'd want for adults, but it's a great river for the kids to get used to white water rafting.

[Political Hack]

Unicoi is the state park near Helen. One of my favorite sites to bring my two boys.

[BrunswickDawg]

Unicoi is the state park near Helen. One of my favorite sites to bring my two boys.

Yeah - Unicoi is great. Been there a number of times. If you stay more than a weekend you can use it as a base for some easy day trips out to Tallulah Gorge, Dahlonega, Cleveland (girls have see those Cabbage Patch kids), Blairsville and Brasstown Bald, Mercier Orchards, etc. The Old Sautee Store in Sautee Nacoochee is pretty interesting too.

Random MSU link - A good friend of mine is the Site Manager at Hardman Farm State Historic Site near Helen. He messaged me the other day that they were looking for sorghum to make molasses as a living history program. The local county extension agent somehow linked to MSU and our fine institution is donating an acre of sorghum to a GA historic site! Thought that was cool.

[Political Hack]

That is cool that MSU would step up like that for an alumn.

I love that whole area. I've hiked back country to the point where NC, GA, and TN meet. It's about a 10 miles hike in and you have to camp back country unless you're a stud willing to travel 15-20 miles in a day. But it's a pretty cool hike. Not for beginners. You finish following out a river and there are several sites where people have made fire rings, etc... along the River.

That and rafting the Olympic shoot on the Ocoee are my two favorite things to do up there. Cafes Cove is great for a ride through with the kids, but the hike to Abrams Falls is where it's at on that excursion. We always climb to the top of the water fal and hang out up there. Bring lunch and go swimming.