1st time visitors

My husband and I are going to Gatlinburg/PF for our anniversary on 11/19. We are only staying 2 nights and would love to get the very most out of our time. Our big goal is to have some quiet time from the kids and just enjoy the scenery and Christmas lights. But of course we want to eat at some good places also.

For all of you Gatlinburg lovers, what is the must dos for us to enjoy. We are so excited about the trip!

1st time visitors

You will want to ride the trolley. See info below.

Wednesday, Nov 2 2005 - Gatlinburg

Hop Aboard Trolley Ride of Lights

The best way to view the more than 35 lighting displays and numerous other lights featured in Gatlinburg’s Winterfest is to hop aboard the Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights and take a leisurely ride through the city. Trolleys depart from the Gatlinburg Aquarium Welcome Center at Traffic Light No. 5 (Mass Transit Center) at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m. nightly from November through December excluding Dec. 2 and 25, then on Saturday nights during January. The Trolley Ride of Lights is a guided narrative tour that lasts approximately 45 minutes. This year tickets are only $4 and advance reservations can be made at the Aquarium Welcome Center or by calling 865/436-0535. Group reservations are also welcomed.

Among the charming displays of Gatlinburg’s Winterfest Celebration are an animated trolley, a winking welcome bear, dancing bears, toy soldiers, hot air balloons and several craftsmen at work. But that’s not all; the rest is a secret until you embark on the Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights! To add to the façade, a “Smoky Mountain Romance” theme featuring symbols of love are incorporated in lighting displays throughout February.

Gatlinburg Winterfest has been recognized as a Top Twenty Event in the South by the Southeast Tourism Society several times and twice by the American Bus Association as a Top 100 Event in North America.

To learn more about this illuminating event, call 800/568-4748 or visit the Gatlinburg website at www.gatlinburg.com

1st time visitors

You might want to try eating at the Greenbriar restaraunt. They are out of the bustle of Gatlinburg and have a nice wooded setting. Another unique Gatlinburg establishment is the Smoky Mountain Trout House, it take awhile for them to prepare your dinner but is well worth the wait!

bump

I would consider Dollywood for the lights too. It is one of the most awesome lighting displays I have ever seen! Very beautiful!

The Old Mill is wonderful food as well as the Apple barn. If you are trying to just get away and relax, don%26#39;t forget to enjoy where you are staying and each other, as a mom of 4(yikes) that is really important.

I just made our plane reservations today for Jan for GB

Can%26#39;t wait!

Thanks everybody. Keep the ideas coming!

Take a couple hours and drive into the park for a hike. Pack a fleece blanket, some hot cocoa (or whatever you prefer to warm up with) and some snacks. Have someone take a photo of you both at Newfound Gap (lots of people park their cars there to enjoy the spectacular view).

I love the Park Grill for dinner, but Cherokee Grill is very nice too. A little more upscale, mountain-themed atmosphere, moderate price, very good meals. Ask to sit by the fireplace at night.

Walk the streets of Gatlinburg together after dinner (you%26#39;ll need to ;-) The lights are beautiful and it just feels good to be outdoors. Lots of fun shops too.

Visit the Smoky Mtn. Winery where you can taste before you buy ;-) Bring back a bottle or two of regional wines, get some cheese, crackers and fruit and you%26#39;re set for a romantic night back at the cabin or hotel.

Ride the sky lift chairs (in the middle of Gatlinburg) to see the city and take photos. It%26#39;s about $10/person but if you%26#39;re first timers, well worth it. The ride is fun, the view is beautiful. By day you can see so much more, but at night the twinkling lights and Space Needle are gorgeous.

Hope this gives you some ideas. All personally tested by myself :)

Here are some of my recommendations for Gatlinburg:

Regular posters may be tired of this but hopefully it will be beneficial for someone new to Gatlinburg.

I highly recommend Bearskin on the River and Zoders. They are on opposite ends of town, but are both close enough to walk. I think Zoders ';regular'; rooms are around $100 peak season, but their nicer rooms are in the 120-160 range. We stayed in their ';Dream Villa'; which was very nice. The motels listed below are most likely a little more affordable. It just depends on the price range you want.

Go to www.gatlinburg.com and have them mail you a visitors pkt, it will have a convenient map and trolly route.

These motels are within walking distance to the Parkway and are probably less than the Bearskin %26amp; Zoders.

*The Gillette motel, up from Lite #8 is a reasonable, clean, no frills motel, short walk to the parkway. I stayed there many times.

*The Mountain House, (formally Econo Lodge) on Baskins Creek Rd at Lite #6 seems to be pretty nice, I looked at one of their rooms a few weeks ago. Walk to the parkway also. I tried to get reservations there in Oct with no luck, maybe your dates will work.

*I just came back from GB and we stayed at Johnsons Inn, in the same area as the Mountain House. My first time there,it is not fancy, but clean and VERY convenient to the Parkway

*Marshall%26#39;s Creek Side is also up Baskins Creek, $40-50 range, small rooms but very clean. They are almost always booked with regular returning guests.

*We have stayed at Carrs Northside Motel/Cottages in Cottage #8, it is up the East Parkway, so it is a good hike to main part of town but not out of the question, the walk to town is not bad but you may want to catch the trolly for the trip back (uphill). The cottage was $98, King, large jacuzzi,fireplace,full kit, very nice for the price.

*The Mountain Heritage Inn, has some nice rooms in their newer building on River Rd. I think about $99, King,jacuzzi,fireplace.

*I have stayed at a few cabins, the only one I would highly recommend is “Schonblick” at www.mtnlaurelchalets.com It is an upscale, quality, romantic cabin up Ski Mtn Rd. just a few miles to town. Nice view of the City Lights., soaking tub, hot tub, nice ceramic shower for 2, 1 br king, gas fireplace. Very nice. It was $150 nite a few years ago.

Restaurant recommendatons:

*Pancake Pantry, middle of town.... do not miss it.

*Log Cabin Pancake House on Airport Rd.... good but a distance 2nd place to the Pancake Pantry in my opinion.

*Lunch at Hofenbraus Restaurant in The Village shopping center(next to the Pancake Pantry) for the best Reuben sandwich you will ever eat.

*Lunch at the Pancake Pantry is also good.

*Lunch at Desserts and More in The Village, soup and Sandwiches, try the Almond Joy Pie.

*Lunch at the Mountain Edge Grill in Baskins Square, (across from the Pancake Pantry) try their White Chicken Chili, good hamburgers too.

*Lunch/Dinner at Fuddruckers, Pigeon Forge, Governors Crossing. Great hamburgers.

*Dinner at Calhouns on the Parkway, excellent grilled shrimp

*Dinner at Cherokee Grill next to Calhouns

*Dinner at Rocky River Grill, Pigeon Forge, Governors Crossing, also excellent grilled shrimp.

*Dinner at The Best Itialian Restaurant (thats the name) Located in Elks Plaza on the west end of the GB Parkway…Excellent. Try the Garlic Rolls.

*Dinner/Lunch at The Brass Lantern on the Parkway ,tureen of Vegetable soup and cornbread is excellent and enough for 2. Cheap dinner.

Have Fun!

lovegb:

This is EXACTLY the info I was looking for. Thanks!

BTW, we did a day trip to the area last weekend. I told my husband that we should eat at this great pancake place. Then we got there. I didn%26#39;t realize that one in three restaurants has the word ';pancake'; in their name!

I%26#39;ll try to remember ';Pancake PANTRY!';

Great info! Thanks a bunch!!

The Mountain House the previous poster mentioned is a nice motel. We stayed there a couple years ago. We got the jacuzzi suite, with king bed. The jacuzzi was nice, big enough for my 6%26#39;3'; husband to lay down in. Also had a gas fireplace. It was close enough to walk to the Village without much effort. The people there were very nice as well.

Pancake Pantry, mmmmm. My favorite. The Old Mill restaurant too, is great! There are lots of ducks and pigeons there if you want to bring crackers or something. My 3 yr old thought it was great.

Try driving Roaring Fork. It is one of the nicest drives through nature I think.

Hope you have fun!