Part of our story originated in Gatlinburg, so we have a lot of great memories and traditions in the Smoky Mountains. Enjoy this list as visit and be sure to get into the National Park and explore!
National Park
Smoky Mountain National Park
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
- Sugarlands Visitor Center – just past TN park entrance, great info
- Roaring Fork Motor Trail – very pretty driving loop
- Cades Cove – driving loop with tours, historic buildings, etc.
- Leconte Lodge – strenuous hike to lodge, minimum 5.5 miles one way (Alum Cave trail) (Betterton Favorite!)
Crafts Community – driving loop with a lot of local craftsmen shops, Vern Hippensteal Gallery is our favorite
https://www.gatlinburgcrafts.com
Food:
The Best Italian – Original location in Elk’s Plaza, just off the parkway. This is our absolute favorite place.
https://www.bestitalian.com
The Park Grill
https://parkgrillgatlinburg.com
Cherokee Grill
https://cherokeegrill.com
Smokey Mountain Brewery
https://smoky-mtn-brewery.com
The Pancake Pantry – there are a lot of pancake places in G’burg/Pigeon Forge and most of them are terrible. This is the original and it’s wonderful! (But it’s CASH ONLY)
http://www.pancakepantry.com
The Donut Friar – great local donut shop – Located in the Village Shopping Area
http://thevillageshops.com/2016/02/29/the-donut-friar/
Activities on the Parkway:
Gatlinburg Parking Tip – we always park at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church. There is a suggested cash donation to park all day; it’s fairly cheap and right behind the convention center where the Craftsmen’s Fair is located. Easy walking distance to almost everything.
Craftsmen’s Fair – Summer & Fall
https://craftsmenfair.com
The Village Shoppes – great little shopping area, that includes The Pancake Pantry, The Donut Friar and Smoky Mountain Candy Kitchen
http://thevillageshops.com
Anakeesta – this is relatively new, and we enjoyed it. Take the chairlift to the top.
https://www.anakeesta.com
Jonathans – fun local store on the strip
https://www.jonathansgatlinburg.com
Ober Gatlinburg – chairlift and aerial tramway have great views – skiing in the winter, ice skating, small zoo and zip lines
https://obergatlinburg.com
Pigeon Forge / Sevierville:
Pigeon Forge website
https://www.mypigeonforge.com
Dollywood
https://www.dollywood.com
We don’t really do that much in PF or Sevierville…. We just prefer Gatlinburg…. But Dollywood is great if you’ve never been, and there are several fun dinner theaters…Pirates Voyage and Dolly Parton’s Stampede are both good.
Christmas Place – Never been, but people love it
https://www.christmasplace.com
Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen – Never been there, but hear good things. Long wait…
https://pauladeensfamilykitchen.com
Five Oaks Farm Kitchen – My parents like it.
https://fiveoaksfarmkitchen.com
Applewood Farmhouse – local institution…it’s good, but not what it used to be.
https://www.applewoodfarmhouserestaurant.com
Over the Mountain and through the woods…
If you plan to drive through the park into NC, you should check out the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and a few other spots in Bryson City, NC…
Deep Creek Park (Part of the Smoky Mtn National Park) – waterfalls, picnic and tubing
Great Smoky Mountain Railway – Bryson City
https://www.gsmr.com
Pasqualinos – Bryson City
http://pasqualinosrestaurant.com/
High Test Deli (formerly the Filling Station) – Bryson City
https://www.thefillingstationdeli.com
Mountain Perks – Bryson City
https://www.mtnperks.com
Bar-B-Que Wagon – Bryson City
Darnell Farms – Bryson City (best strawberries ever – in May)
Cherokee, NC has a great history show and museum of the Cherokee people