Sign in with Facebook"Nature, horses, pancakes, bungee jumping, oh my!" Gatlinburg by Darkeyedgirl
Gatlinburg Travel Guide: 385 reviews and 639 photos
--- it's a slice of heaven on earth. Whether you go with a group of friends and rent a chalet for a drunken weekend party, or stay with the family in a hotel on the strip near all the putt-putt, or get away with your lover to a log cabin for "indoor activities", or just escape all by your dang self with a good book & some firewood -- anywhere in Gatty or Pigeon Forge -- there's enough stuff here to keep you busy, or keep you relaxed.
We just got back from spending Spring Break down in Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge with the kids. I kind of thought maybe it'd be overcrowded... but I was wrong! Just about all the hotels had vacancies, there were hardly any waits at all for the restaurants, and even though there was some updating being done to the streets & sidewalks (long overdue updating), we didn't have to bump into people or get walked on by people bigger than us.
The 'old' Gatlinburg was more Southern-charm friendly; looks like there's more of a Northern flavor to it now. Going to a Mexican restaurant and seeing our waitress was Russian was a tad weird. And at the pancake place, the usual extremely friendly waitress was substituted by the chic who played the Wicked Witch in Oz. The food is still great and all; and well it's still "Gatlinburg", but it looks like the place has succumbed to the pressures of commercialization. People have gotten rude & stuff.
But hey, you can still get an airbrushed T-shirt, you can still eat way too many pancakes, you can still ride the Sky Lift (if you can afford it... tee hee hee) and you can still get through the Nature Trail for FREE.
For now. They do have donation boxes set up now on the Trail... I betcha in a few years, they'll have gates & charge people to drive through there. Ah well.
The pancakes were worth it.
This wasn't the highest place you can bungee from, and it was extremely safe. You're put into a crotch-to-neck harness, they video tape ya while you jump, and everyone on the strip can watch as you flop around! Great view from up there, too.
IMHO: the best part about Gatlinburg is renting a convertible (or, BYOC), and head up that mountain pass... up up and away. Take yer time, drive slow, get out a lot... hike & walk around alot. Whether you're alone, with someone you lust (or love if yer lucky), or with some hyper kids... the nature trail at the end of Airport Road is so, so, so worth it. Nature at it's finest!
- Pros:Friendly TN folk, GREAT food, fun for everyone!
- Cons:Too many T-shirt shops, kinda over-commercialized
- In a nutshell:I'd love to have a second home here. Beautiful!
Reviews (11)
for the hot-sauce obsessed, there is a...
Shopping
(1)
Okay: those who know me, know that I am hot-sauce & pepper obsessed. I put pepper on everything. Tabasco sauce is just... more travel advice
Best steaks & service in town; hands...
Restaurants
(4)
The Peddler has not only become a Gatlinburg dining tradition, it is literally built upon tradition. The building is... more travel advice
On the Gatlinburg Strip; nice waiter &...
Restaurants
(4)
We wandered in here for dinner on our first night in town. We got seated right away, our waiter was REALLY friendly and... more travel advice
Good location, nice pool area, &...
Hotels
(3)
I booked the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort because I wanted a place on Airport Road (the heart of Gatlinburg so to speak),... more travel advice
Travelogues (2)
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Written Aug 15, 2005
6 photos
Ahhhh... the Smokies
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Written Aug 16, 2005
8 photos
Ripley's Aquarium; some fishy pictures
- 1
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Darkeyedgirl
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Comments (4)
These are great suggestions, but id like to add one more. DONT make eye contat. but rather look down or away, keeping your eye on the animal also.
On Sept.5, 2007, 4 came in for breakfast 8AM. Not Busy. 15 minutes and no one waited on us-others were who came in after us. Left-Told hostess-her reply was "REALLY".Condo in Gatl. and eat there often. No More. Ramona Vickery
I was born in northern Alabama and have lived most of my life in the south. I've been all over the USA and the world....and yet I've never been to Gatlinburg. Go figure. Good tips. FWIW, you could substitute "frat boys" for bears in your warning tip.
Gatlinburg is a fun place.....more weddings per year than Vegas...