OT: Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge Recommendations

[Independent George]

The family and I are spending the next four nights in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area. My first time and the wife hasn’t been since she was a kid. Looking for recommendations, particularly on restaurants. Thanks for the help Pack.

 

[Digging dog]

Just got back right after Christmas. Haven’t been in 20 years and it is way more crowded than it was then. I would strongly recommend to book anything you decide to do ASAP. Most of the attractions fill up fast and you may not get in. We had fun at Dollywood. Downtown was fun but too damn many people for me.

 

[HomeBoyDawg]

I like Smoky Mountain Brewery (Gatlinburg) and the wife likes The Old Mill Pottery House Café (Pigeon Forge). The Park Grill (Gatlinburg) is also very good as is the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant at the Apple Barn (Pigeon Forge).

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

The apple barn complex is great. Love their main restaurant and the winery. Also have a General store and Christmas store. There's a pottery store in pigeon forge that's also very nice and a restaurant near it that was good. Not the one with the paddle wheel. The Peddler in Gatlinburg is pretty good, too. For places to stay I like to use Aunt Bugg cabin rentals.

 

[047Dog]

Old Mill is alright. As are some of the other suggestions. Food in that area is really meh.

The Local Goat in Pigeon Forge was actually good. Everything made from scratch supposedly and they had some interesting things on the menu.

Just go eat breakfast at one of the thousand pancake houses mid morning and snack the rest of the day.

 

[Independent George]

Thanks for the replies. Ended up doing the Park Grill tonight. Food was good. Better than expected. Local Goat is definitely on our list to try while here. Keep the recommendations coming. We have a 12, 9, and 5 year old with us so we will be busy.

Also surprised by how many hemp/CBD places there are in downtown Gatlinburg. Guessing that’s a recent development.

 

[047Dog]

Thanks for the replies. Ended up doing the Park Grill tonight. Food was good. Better than expected. Local Goat is definitely on our list to try while here. Keep the recommendations coming. We have a 12, 9, and 5 year old with us so we will be busy.

Also surprised by how many hemp/CBD places there are in downtown Gatlinburg. Guessing that’s a recent development.

That and I think just about every cigarette smoker in the south vacations there. We went last Memorial Day and you couldn’t tell there was a pandemic. My gf and I were some of the few mask wearers on the sidewalk in Gatlinburg. The rest were smoking it up and having a good ol time.

 

[catvet]

The Old Mill is a great place to eat breakfast or lunch/dinner. The Alamo is a great place for steak. Breakfast is really good at the Pancake Pantry or Crocketts in Gatlinburg. Local GOAT is worth a visit as well.

 

[bbqbully]

Apple Barn breakfast is a must. Apple fritters and apple butter on your table. Puckett’s was really good for dinner. We always liked Bennett’s BBQ but last time we were there the quality seemed to be down. Any of the Paula Deen restaurants are good, and there are several in PF and Gatlinburg.

 

[woozman]

Interested in this thread too. We drove up to Asheville on Sat to visit some family and then drove to Gatlinburg this afternoon and will be here all week. I cooked steaks tonight so we didn’t go to town, but I will say that the road from Cherokee over Newfound Gap was much more crowded than the last rime I was here (20-yrs).

I’ve got an 11 and 13 year old with me. We plan to do some hiking tomorrow before the rain moves in tomorrow night (rest of the week). Definitely looking for stuff for the rest of the week, though. A friend told me that kids like some place called Goats on a Roof, but I haven’t researched yet...

 

[PineGroveBully]

If it’s still open Hillbilly Golf in Gatlinburg is fun, especially with kids. Ride a tram up and play your way back down. I remember going when I was a teen in the 90s and it was always my favorite part. Last I heard it was still open.

 

[maroonmania]

I personally would recommend the Pirates Voyage dinner show. My wife and I spent the weekend in Pigeon Forge at Valentine's and that was one of the things we did. I was really impressed. Food was really good and the show was tremendous. Great set and lots of acrobatic stunts, lighting effects and simulated fighting. Even had some really cool trained animals in the show including a hilarious sea lion. I actually thought it was a much more entertaining show than the Dixie Stampede Show. Oh wait, excuse me, the Stampede Show (how stupid!).

 

[JenBielema]

That and I think just about every cigarette smoker in the south vacations there. We went last Memorial Day and you couldn’t tell there was a pandemic. My gf and I were some of the few mask wearers on the sidewalk in Gatlinburg. The rest were smoking it up and having a good ol time.

Hey baby. There wasn’t a pandemic

 

[Crazy Cotton]

I live around here. We go to the Alamo steakhouse. Food's good (I like it better than the park grill) and the owners have taken care of the staff through fires, Covid, etc. so I like to support them.
There's one in Gatlinburg and one in Pigeon Forge. I like the Gatlinburg one a little better, usually less crowded.

 

[PineGroveBully]

If some decent looking woman on the street tells you all have to do is go look at this most awesome timeshare to EARN $50, run for your life. Or if you’re like most state fans and are husky kinda try to walk fast

 

[mcdawg22]

We’re here too. We went to the park welcome center and they pointed out some easy trails to do with some waterfalls. We are planning on going to Cades Cove and the Gap Lookout. We just got in town tonight and did Hillbilly a golf, that was a really cool mini golf course. I haven’t played any of the other 75 putt putts, but this one was really cool since it included a ride up the mountain.

 

[Independent George]

We did Hillbilly Golf tonight after dinner. Thinking about Anakeesta tomorrow since it will be nice weather.

 

[basedawg]

Heading up Wednesday to Gatlinburg, haven't been in 12 years but weather is not looking good.

 

[thekimmer]

Comedy Barn

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Paula Deens restaurant is good. Smokey Mountain Knife Works if you have a teen or pre teen boy. For a dinner show, Hatfield and McCoys is great. Although in town (not a mountain cabin) Gatehouse Condos are good place to stay. Looks like tubing at Ober Gatlinburg is still open (if you have kids).

 

[stateu1]

Avoid town. Go to the park.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

We did Hillbilly Golf tonight after dinner. Thinking about Anakeesta tomorrow since it will be nice weather.

I was there at the beginning of February. Definitely worth riding the ski lift up to Anakeesta for a couple of hours. Then hit up the little honey place next to the lift on the way down and try their honey mead.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Independent George & MCDawg22,

I know my bride got Haddad to give me a shout-out on Thunder & Lightning but y'all weren't supposed follow us up here for the honeymoon!

ETA: We had grander plans than Gatlinburg but covid restrictions kept screwing those up, such as a time limit at Cooperstown.

Also, since I was unable to listen to Saturday's game I want to thank y'all for willing the walk off for us.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I yelled Hail State to one of y'all out of my car window in Gatlinburg. And holy hell, there are too many folks up here.

 

[Independent George]

Didn’t make it to Anakeesta today. Opted instead to go hike the trails up to Laurel Falls instead. Was worth the walk, very pretty scenery. Did a big breakfast at Crockett’s and it was outstanding. Currently standing in line waiting to do the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster in Pigeon Forge. Then Local Goat for dinner. May hit Anakeesta tomorrow.

Having a great time so far though the Parkway in Gatlinburg is WAY too crowded.

 

[Independent George]

For those that are in the area or will be, the Smokey Mountain Alpine Coaster is highly recommended. Spent a little over $100 for my family of five to ride twice. Well worth the money.

 

[lanceharbor7]

It's a hillbilly ********. But to each their own.

The family and I are spending the next four nights in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area. My first time and the wife hasn’t been since she was a kid. Looking for recommendations, particularly on restaurants. Thanks for the help Pack.

 

[HomeBoyDawg]

Agree--if you're uppity, you probably won't enjoy Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge.

 

[PineGroveBully]

Growing up my parents couldn’t afford Disneyland so I spent many a summer vacations and one winter up there and are some of my best memories.

 

[mcdawg22]

Didn’t make it to Anakeesta today. Opted instead to go hike the trails up to Laurel Falls instead. Was worth the walk, very pretty scenery. Did a big breakfast at Crockett’s and it was outstanding. Currently standing in line waiting to do the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster in Pigeon Forge. Then Local Goat for dinner. May hit Anakeesta tomorrow.

Having a great time so far though the Parkway in Gatlinburg is WAY too crowded.

We did Cade’s Cove Meig Falls, and Ober today. Did the sky coaster up on Ober. Holy hell, not gonna lie, I thought that thing was gonna come off the rails at some point. Gonna hit up Sawyer Pancakes and Laurel Falls tomorrow. Maybe go Newfound Gap.