Smoky Mtns/Gatlinburg area?

Re: Smoky Mtns/Gatlinburg area?

• hoffse member

  

  February 2013 edited February 2013

  I would probably do two days in Nashville.  I don't necessarily have recs for cabin rentals, but the little town of Gaitlinburg takes about a day, and I think Pigeon Forge is actually really fun (dozens of outlet stores, great shopping, etc.).  And flame me if you want, but I freaking love Dollywood  I would take a day and go there just so you can say you did it!

  
  

  As for Nasvhille.... I lived in Nashville for 7 years and it's one of my favorite places ever.  What's your budget for hotels?  There are some really cool ones downtown (the hermitage hotel, union station, Lowe's Vanderbilt, etc.).  There are also of plenty less expensive options.  I would look for hotels that are either downtown, near the Gulch, or on west end avenue.

  
  

  While in Nashville, the main thing you should do is eat  Lot's of great southern restaurants - Monell's (all you can eat family style), Pankcake Pantry (get there early), Loveless Cafe (FI has their phone number on speed dial for the biscuits - I'm not even joking). Hot chicken is a Nashville dish that I only recommend to the adventurous - I love it, but it tends to be sold out of trailers and is ridiculously spicy.  Nashville also has some really tasty upscale places - The Mad Platter, Yellow Porch, Margot's, etc.  For cheap places - San Antonio Taco Company is delicious, so is Chuy's.  And make a point to find Las Paletas.  They only sell popsicles, and they are the best popsicles you'll ever taste.  That little store has actually started the southern popsicle movement (It's a thing, I promise).  They only take cash - but they are delicious.  For bars - my all time favorite is patterson house - it's a speakeasy - pricey but they make even their mixers from scratch.  Whiskey kitchen is also a solid choice.  There are also some fun piano bars on the strip downtown.

  
  

  As for non-food recs, I love the Cheekwood Botanical gardens, the Frist museum (never takes more than an hour but the exhibits always change and they're always good), and the country music hall of fame.  It's also worth seeing the real Hermitage - Andrew Jackson's home - and the Grand Ole Opry.  Those two are a bit more far-flung and can take a day together.  There's a ridiculous outlet mall out at the Grand Ole Opry also.  Finally, on one of the days I would grab lunch to go (Bread & Co has the best sandwiches) and take a picnic on Vanderbilt's campus.  It's right on west end, and it's a national arboretum (which means every tree native to TN is on campus somewhere).  In the summer all the magnolias bloom and the entire campus smells heavenly.  School will be out of session so there won't be crowds of students either.

  
  

  Sorry, that's a ton!  But I love love love Nashville!

  

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• hoffse member

  

  February 2013

  Oh and something you should know going into it - Gaitlinburg is incredibly kitschy.  Like it's actually really tacky.  I'm talking airbrushed t-shirts, 100 little stores that sell shot glasses and keychains, etc.  But if you are willing to lean into it, it's incredibly fun.  There is also a Pancake Pantry in Gaitlinburg itself, so I would probably go to that one instead of the one in Nashville.  Same restaurant, only two locations.  They have the best french toast I've ever tried - and that's my favorite breakfast food so I have ordered it first at every breakfast restaurant I've ever been to.  In Nashville, I would do Loveless instead.  It's out of the way but holy crap it's incredible.  The biscuit lady there beat Bobby Flay in a throwdown.  I also highly recommend their hashbrown casserole.  I've tried to recreate it so many times, and my failure is sort of epic.

  

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• Summer2011Bride member

  

  February 2013

  Thanks for all the recs! Yeah, I had heard Gatlinburg was kind of tacky but I can embrace tacky sometimes with the best of them While we would probably go into town to eat, we mainly want to do things outdoors like hike, horseback ride, take picnics, possibly Zipline if I can talk H into it, etc.
  
  I would love to spend a whole week in Nashville, but we can't do it this time. I will think about spending two nights there instead of one though. Thanks for all the food recs.

  
  
  
  
  

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• hoffse member

  

  February 2013

  Totally forgot that you wanted to do outdoorsy stuff.  In truth it's been a long time since I've been to Gaitlinburg, but there is a ton to do outdoors - tripavisor will probably give you better recs than I can on specific companies, but I can tell you it's good.  I used to go a lot when I was younger, and we definitely did the trail riding/hiking thing too.

  

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• anssett member

  

  February 2013

  If you're playful people, there used to a trampoline place where you wore velcro suits and jumped up high and stuck yourself to the velcro walls. Definitely not for people who take themselves very seriously. I LOVED it.

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• nurseangie2

  

  February 2013

  http://www.vrbo.com/291517
  
  If you still are looking, this place is wonderful and the owners are outstanding! We have stayed there before and have a week booked in October for our honeymoon.  Great mountain view, no windy roads and close to town/Pigeon Forge.

  

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