Visiting Gatlinburg, need recs

[karstic]

The wife and I will be visiting Gatlinburg from around July 15th to the 25th to participate in a teaching conference. We will be staying at the conference hoteol for the time of the conference but are looking for something for the time notat the conference.

Any recommendations?

Any must see's in the area?

 

[bigalpha]

Sorry, I can't help. I've lived in TN for 11 years now and still haven't been out to Gatlinburg but there is a place called Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies which also features special exhibits covering subjects like the Titanic, pirates and more recently the planet Mars. Oh, and Dollywood is in that area.

 

[YJ-GENRAL]

-if you have a full day, dollywood or slash country can be alot of fun.
-the ripleys aquarium is awesome, we always go there while were there.
-walking the strip in gatlinburge is always fun, shopping and what nots.
-i know it sounds lame but the hillybilly puttputt golf is always a bit of fun.
-if you enjoy hiking, the smokey mountains are awesome, got alot of small day hikes or quick trips you can enjoy. the chimneys is an awesome hike, great view from on top of the chimneys 4 mile round trip will take most of the afternoon.
-just driving around in the smokeys is always fun.
-there are several places in the park to swim in the creek or take a tube ride or hang out.
-forget what its called but its the highest point in the area, starts with a "c" i think... you can drive most of the way up there and then its like a couple hundred yards on a walking path to see 7 states...pretty cool
-there are also some historic drives and stops with cabins and stuff in gatlinburge
-ober gatlinburge has ice skating and a small black bear park, you can either drive up there or take the air tram (one of those cable boxes)
-the knife museum is awesome, (mostly a gigantic knife store with alittle museum in there) its not in gatlinburge but severville, near the interstate on hwy 41 i think? or 144 or something...big blue roofed building.

lots an lots to do.

 

[DaffyDuc]

Welcome to my neck of the woods. My mother works for westgate resorts. they own the River Terrace Resort that connects to the aquarium. Its a nice older resort. room rates are pretty reasonable and you get access to the west gate resort as well... westgate has an indoor water park along with all the other stuff you would expect. I believe you still have to pay for waterpark access since you are not an owner.... it would be worth checking into. lots of good stuff in this area to keep you busy. search for stuff to do in pigeon forge as well only 10 minutes up the road.

 

[Ghost]

How much time do you have and what kind of things are you intrested in? I am assuming you are flying in?

 

[xjtrailrider]

We spend most of our time there in the cabin and in the hot tub more specifically:greensmok We always go down in the winter months so many things are not open

I enjoy just walking the strip in the evening after a good dinner. We also always go on a ATV ride or horse back ride while we are there. For ATV's I would recommend Bluff Mountain, its a blast!

There is the aquarium as mentioned, there are the cable cars to the top of the mountain, just up the road in Sevierville there is a muscle car museum that is neat. Cherokee is close by, you have to get a picture of the sign like all XJ owners do:laugh: There is plenty of shopping, outlet malls in Pigeon Forge, little shops all along the strip and a Bass Pro Shop at Sevierville.

There is a long list of things that I just can't remember all of them. I call it Myrtle Beach without the sand and bikinis.

 

[Ghost]

There is a long list of things that I just can't remember all of them. I call it Myrtle Beach without the sand and bikinis.

Now i understand why I avoid it! :wierd: :roll: :moon: :roflmao:

 

[DaJudge]

Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

As far as the city of Gatlinburg it reminds of the Beach tourist traps in FL. Full of tee shirt shops.

If you like to hike, I highly recommend Ramsey Cascades. It is an excellent hike through beautiful forrest to a 100' waterfall.

We used to go there every summer before we moved to NM. I used to rent a cabin with a fireplace and jacuzzi. Much better than a hotel! I will try to send some links to the company I rented from when I get home.

 

[Cnickgo]

Now i understand why I avoid it! :wierd: :roll: :moon: :roflmao:

Exactly!!!

 

[shortxjdoug]

if your looking into where to eat the cherokee grill is one of the best restaurants in our company, in fact me and some friends are planning a night up there soon to eat there..

 

[karstic]

How much time do you have and what kind of things are you intrested in? I am assuming you are flying in?

Sonia will be attending the National Marine Educators Conference from the 19th to the 23rd. We plan to get there a few days earlier to see a few things. Not too much intot he tourist trap stuff, more outdoor oriented.We want to see Smokey Mountain NP. I wouldn't mind getting in some trout fishing. Hiking, geocaching, general exploring also some of the local music, foods, living history typw stuff. We'll be flying in and out of Knoxville.

 

[Cnickgo]

Renting a car? You can go up in the Smokies for a day hike on the Appalachian Trail. Clingman's Dome is an 8 mile hike from Hwy 441, or you can drive up Clingman's Dome Rd and hike .5m to the summit. It is the highest point of the AT (6,643ft), and has a 54ft observation tower.

Your best bet for fishing would be to contact a local fly shop for a 1/2 day guided tour. They will provide the gear and put you on the fish.

 

[High2by]

You def want to drive through Cade's Cove. It's beautiful plus the wildlife is abundant. Might even see some bears.

 

[Ghost]

I wouldn't mind getting in some trout fishing.

GRRRR! You said Trout...... :firedevil

Sonia will be attending the National Marine Educators Conference from the 19th to the 23rd. We plan to get there a few days earlier to see a few things. Not too much intot he tourist trap stuff, more outdoor oriented.We want to see Smokey Mountain NP. I wouldn't mind getting in some trout fishing. Hiking, geocaching, general exploring also some of the local music, foods, living history typw stuff. We'll be flying in and out of Knoxville.

That area is full of hiking stuff. IIRC there are some places to run the wild rivers too. I sure wish my jeep wasn't broken, in Mountain City, there is a 5K acre private off road park with over 100 miles of East Coast Wheeling. As for fishing, you could always road trip it to Tellico and fish the rivers we "use' to ride around. That is a good hike though. As far as Geo caching, you'd have to ask someone into that but I was always told i should look into it with my Jeeping. Chimney Rock is kool but that is in NC near our border. Oh yea if you like a scenic drive definitely check out the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is awesome.

 

[jelrod]

You def want to drive through Cade's Cove. It's beautiful plus the wildlife is abundant. Might even see some bears.

X2 on Cade's Cove.

 

[$700later]

aim for going to dolly wood on a week day if possible. the lines get crazy on the weekends.