Road Tripping Through Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg is an area I’d encourage everyone to go to at least once. A lot of people stay in and experience the typical downtown Gatlinburg offerings (which I’ll dive into later…), but there’s so much more than what’s in this area. In November, a few of my close friends and I packed up our things and took a weekend road trip to explore just that! We wanted a mix of new and old which I’ll now pass on to you! The post will include unique finds, typical Gatlinburg musts, and helpful tips!

Where to Stay

Duh… in a cabin of course! ;) No, but seriously, please don’t get a hotel. Staying in a cabin, in the mountains, is the best way to experience any part of Gatlinburg. Whether you have a cozy time with someone you love, are with family, or are with friends, it’s the way to go. There are many cabins to choose from in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but it can get overwhelming and some are overpriced. For those that want something in an area that is a bit more quaint with an incredible view, I suggest my dear friend’s cabin in Sevierville. It is about 30 minutes from Pigeon Forge and 40 from Gatlinburg. We felt like we were truly in a private space that was still close to plenty of options. There’s enough space for 6 people to sleep comfortably, has a hot tub and plenty of games in the basement, a grill, and so much more! I  loved the outside which had a waterfall, porch swings, and wrap around deck. Outside was perfect for having a peaceful moment to myself, enjoying the Smokey Mountain views. I’ve included a few pictures from one of the owners, Ashley Cox, (who happens to be an amazing photographer as well) and a link to the cabin. If you’re thinking of planning a visit, book it quickly because they are already filling up for 2020!

Cabin Link

Visit The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge

When we were told about The Old Mill, we assumed it was just a restaurant. Totally wrong! The Old Mill is basically a small block where you can eat, shop, and drink. We went on a Friday night and the area was pretty full. We ended up putting our name on the waiting list at the Old Mill restaurant while we went exploring the rest of Old Mill. We went to their whiskey distillery first then off to taste hard cider. By the time we finished, it was time to check on our reservation. We just so happened to check on our wait time right when our table was ready. They tell you you’ll hear your name called inside any of the Old Mill areas, but we didn’t hear anyone’s name called over the speakers. So as to not miss your reservation, check back about 20 minutes before their communicated wait time and don’t rely on the speakers.

Food suggestions: Order the fried chicken (of course), chicken and dumplings, and pot pie. It’s southern comfort food which they do quite well. You literally can’t go wrong with them. The portions are huge so sharing is probably best.

Special Note: The Old Mill restaurant does not serve alcohol. If you want alcohol, you will have to bring it from home or purchase it from one of their local tasting rooms.

**If you want to try a new restaurant in Pigeon Forge with selections all made from fresh ingredients, try the Local Goat. This was recommended to us, but we were unable to get a reservation. Their menu looks fantastic! There are plenty of healthy options too if that’s what you’re looking for!

Spend a full day in downtown Gatlinburg

You cannot go to Gatlinburg and not spend time downtown. And you have to do ALL of the cheesy things! The area makes you feel like you’re at a carnival for people of all ages. There are so many things to do so pace yourself!

Breakfast: We got downtown around 11am and started out at the Pancake Pantry. Our mistake was not getting there until 11, which led to a long wait, but luckily it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. For a Saturday at 11, one hour isn’t so bad. Be mindful though… If you choose the Pancake Pantry, you will be outside for almost the full wait so dress appropriately.

The pancakes here are nice and filling, which you’ll need for a busy day ahead. The only thing I don’t like about this place is they don’t take cash. I  don’t understand how a restaurant could be so busy, but still not advance to accepting cards. It makes the front entrance really crowded because people are paying, waiting to sit, and going to the ATM machine in the same, small area. Other than this gripe, it’s worth the wait.

Afternoon: We spent the afternoon enjoying free samples of wine, cider, and whiskey. They are literally located all over the main strip. You are not required to buy anything, but I do suggest being kind and tipping at each location. Just as an FYI, if you do not like sweet wine, skip the wine tastings. Every stop was sweet beyond what we could continue consuming.

As you are going through your tastings, don’t forget to take a cheesy picture (like below :) ) and eat a bit more. Can’t ever go wrong with a footlong hotdog!

Support a new business in downtown Gatlinburg 

Many of the businesses in downtown Gatlinburg have been around for a long time. They are always pretty busy and have a lot of support from tourists. We found a new restaurant called Chesapeake’s that was only open for a few months, but was already rated pretty high on Trip Advisor. I’d like to mention them because they were not that busy considering it was a Saturday night. This is mainly because they are a bit off of the main strip, but please trust me when I say it is delicious!

Most people that know me know I’ve never been a huge seafood fan, but it’s growing on me. I  purposely have tried to branch out and try different things more and more often. This was the perfect place to do just that. For my meal, I ordered the crab cakes, which as you can see by the picture below, it was almost all crab. Hugeee lump crab! The crab cake paired with the spinach and baked potato were insanely good. I also tried something else… *drumroll please* OYSTERS! Now, I’d tried oysters about 15 years ago, but they were raw and I about lost it. I’d not tried them again until this trip where I had them baked. To my surprise, I actually liked them. They were well seasoned and had a nice crunch on the top layer. I would definitely try them again. *Proud of myself* lol

So…. try something new! Not just Chesapeake’s, but maybe something you’ve been afraid of trying too… like oysters! :)

Visit the Apple Barn On Your Way In our Out of Gatlinburg

What an amazing gem this is. This is another group that has the block on lock! The apple barn has two restaurants, an ice cream shop, cider house, a full store with all things apple, and so much more. We opted to go on our way home which was the perfect way to wrap up our trip. We put our names in for breakfast at one of the restaurants, but their wait was too long so we opted for lunch at the second. While we waited, we did a cider tasting, explored all of the shops they had and picked out multiple things to buy for when we were ready to head back to the car.

Whichever restaurant you eat at, please make sure you get the apple fritters. It’s just a must when you’re at an apple barn. The rest of the food was typical southern, but the fritters were on point!

After we ate, we went back to the shops to buy all of the things we’d been eyeing. Needless to say, we went a little overboard….in the best way! We literally walked out with boxes of all things apple. When I come across one of the items I purchased, I get so excited. Think cider, jams, butter, dressing, bread…everything you can think of is here! It takes quite a few hours to get through so give yourself some time and plan ahead!

A FEW FINAL TIPS:

Be careful with…. BEARS! The first time I went to Gatlinburg, I never saw a bear. This time, we saw one right at the entrance of our cabin. It was a young bear and was so cute…until we remembered it was a bear! lol We were told to make as much noise as possible so we did. My friend yelled “Get out of here bear!!!” while we stomped our way to the door and the cab driver honked the horn over and over (sorry neighbors!) It worked. We didn’t see the bear again. Yes, they are great for pictures, but know what steps to take if you run into one.

Use a taxi service to drive you around. Angels Taxi service was a great asset to have over the weekend. The roads were fine, but when you’re driving through the mountains, it’s great to put your trust in a company that really knows them. Angels Taxi is a woman owned and operated company which made us even more comfortable. You can call them in advance and schedule an appointment with them (which I highly suggest considering there are not many Uber or Lyft drivers available). If you use them once, they will keep you as a priority over anyone else for the duration of your stay.

Hopefully this post helps you with new and traditional ideas for your next trip to Gatlinburg. Don’t be afraid to explore new things and also appreciate the old!

That’s all folks!