All three places are a must for us when we go. I also highly recommend Bennett's on River Road for ribs!

 

Absolutely!! Bennet's is great.

I just hope that I can find a way to go to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area again sometime.

Next time we go, we will have to try Bennet's. The one thing I thought Gatlinburg lacked was good restaurants. Must have gone to the wrong places.

 

Usually, we fix a big breakfast, enjoying the view, and then go sight seeing. Dinner is usually my favorite, because we are again, out on the deck grilling steaks, burgers, or whatever, loving the view again.

 

We see bears frequently, usually looking for garbage cans with food. Once, when my kids were little, we were walking on one of the shorter trails (the one that ends at the waterfall). A small bear crossed our path, maybe ten feet in front of us. We stood still for awhile in case mama was following, and then went on. It definately crossed my mind "Two adults and three small kids, how in the world are we going to protect us all if mama gets upset?" I guess we would have thrown down the peanut butter and jelly lunch we packed and go for it.

Just made reservations for the Bearskin Lodge on the 28th and 29th. for me and my wife's 25th. anniversary. She loves Dixie Stampede, so I got us 2 preferred front row seats on the South Side (of course). I'm looking foward to eating their mouth-watering renowned four-course feast and cheering against those "yellow belly" yankees!

A word to the wise. Avoid Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Sep. 15, 2011 to Sep. 19, 2011 like the plague, that's the annual Grand Fall Rod Run . Unless you want to sit in a lawn chair and look at cars all weekend, that is, because you’re not going to go anywhere in that traffic. There's also the Shades of the Past Rod Run XXIX at Dollywood’s Splash Country (The event is Sep. 9, 2011 to Sep. 10, 2011) and I hear the town is in gridlock as much as the Grand Fall Rod Run.

 

Also, do NOT arrive in town between 3:00pm and 7:00pm on a Friday. Everyone else on the planet is arriving at this time it seems. Try to avoid leaving town between 10:00am and 1:00pm on Sunday, same reasons in reverse.

A word to the wise. Avoid Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Sep. 15, 2011 to Sep. 19, 2011 like the plague, that's the annual Grand Fall Rod Run . Unless you want to sit in a lawn chair and look at cars all weekend, that is, because you’re not going to go anywhere in that traffic. There's also the Shades of the Past Rod Run XXIX at Dollywood’s Splash Country (The event is Sep. 9, 2011 to Sep. 10, 2011) and I hear the town is in gridlock as much as the Grand Fall Rod Run.

 

Also, do NOT arrive in town between 3:00pm and 7:00pm on a Friday. Everyone else on the planet is arriving at this time it seems. Try to avoid leaving town between 10:00am and 1:00pm on Sunday, same reasons in reverse.

 

Excellent advice State. Been going down for MANY years and learned this the hard way many years ago. Also, I wouldn't make a trip when UT football has a home game. Place gets crowded and weekend rates jump big time. My advice if you want to go to Smokies for a visit, do a M-Th.

A word to the wise. Avoid Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Sep. 15, 2011 to Sep. 19, 2011 like the plague, that's the annual Grand Fall Rod Run . Unless you want to sit in a lawn chair and look at cars all weekend, that is, because you’re not going to go anywhere in that traffic. There's also the Shades of the Past Rod Run XXIX at Dollywood’s Splash Country (The event is Sep. 9, 2011 to Sep. 10, 2011) and I hear the town is in gridlock as much as the Grand Fall Rod Run.

 

Also, do NOT arrive in town between 3:00pm and 7:00pm on a Friday. Everyone else on the planet is arriving at this time it seems. Try to avoid leaving town between 10:00am and 1:00pm on Sunday, same reasons in reverse.

 

At one time, once you got off I40 the traffic heading into the area didn't get bad untill you just started to get near Pigeon Forge. Forget that now!! From the exit it gets bad, Sevierville used to not have anything as far as touris,t/attractions. Now all of starts before you reach Severville and only gets thicker as you go toward Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg.

RTS, we have hit that 10a-1pm time slot before and you are right, it can be terrible.Having said that, my apologies to whoever was driving that Jeep that was painted all out in U.T. Vol Orange at the Dollywood turn off in the first week of June in 1991 or 92 (somewhere in those years). As you pulled out across traffic in front of me and several others. I yelled some pretty awful things about an orange hound dog:sssh: . My a.c. wasn't working and I was aggrivated along with very hot (weather). Should you be on here and read this you will get satisfaction in the fact that I heard about it from Mrs. Rambler all week, she did not approve. :lol:

Excellent advice State. Been going down for MANY years and learned this the hard way many years ago. Also, I wouldn't make a trip when UT football has a home game. Place gets crowded and weekend rates jump big time. My advice if you want to go to Smokies for a visit, do a M-Th.

M-Th is by far the best if a person can work it out.

RTS, we have hit that 10a-1pm time slot before and you are right, it can be terrible.Having said that, my apologies to whoever was driving that Jeep that was painted all out in U.T. Vol Orange at the Dollywood turn off in the first week of June in 1991 or 92 (somewhere in those years). As you pulled out across traffic in front of me and several others. I yelled some pretty awful things about an orange hound dog:sssh: . My a.c. wasn't working and I was aggrivated along with very hot (weather). Should you be on here and read this you will get satisfaction in the fact that I heard about it from Mrs. Rambler all week, she did not approve. :lol:

:lol: Wish I could have seen that one!

A word to the wise. Avoid Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Sep. 15, 2011 to Sep. 19, 2011 like the plague, that's the annual Grand Fall Rod Run . Unless you want to sit in a lawn chair and look at cars all weekend, that is, because you’re not going to go anywhere in that traffic. There's also the Shades of the Past Rod Run XXIX at Dollywood’s Splash Country (The event is Sep. 9, 2011 to Sep. 10, 2011) and I hear the town is in gridlock as much as the Grand Fall Rod Run.

 

Also, do NOT arrive in town between 3:00pm and 7:00pm on a Friday. Everyone else on the planet is arriving at this time it seems. Try to avoid leaving town between 10:00am and 1:00pm on Sunday, same reasons in reverse.

 

I remember heading into G-burg one year with the family when I was young and we hit that traffic. Dad didn't want to run the AC for fear of overheating the car as we sat and sat. So my brother and I said we were getting out and walking and Dad said go ahead. We beat them to the hotel about 2 miles up the road with plenty to spare and sat in the AC in the hotel lobby waiting for them. :lol:

Just made reservations for the Bearskin Lodge on the 28th and 29th. for me and my wife's 25th. anniversary. She loves Dixie Stampede, so I got us 2 preferred front row seats on the South Side (of course). I'm looking foward to eating their mouth-watering renowned four-course feast and cheering against those "yellow belly" yankees!

 

I definately agree on the Dixie Stampede. Great show, fabtastic meal! Of course we sat on the South side, :clap:

One point for anyone that may be going (besides reservations/preferrred seating) is that if it is still the same the meals is served with no eating utensils, use your hands, dig in and enjoy!!

BTW Rebel, congrats on your 25h anniversary :thumb:. We just had our 25th last month.

:lol: Wish I could have seen that one!

 

:lol: At every traffic light. Mrs OR would remind me to be calm . :eyeonyou:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.........................Besides, P.E.T.A. would had put a contract out on me if that Jeep / orange hound dog would have done what I suggested.

I definately agree on the Dixie Stampede. Great show, fabtastic meal! Of course we sat on the South side, :clap:

One point for anyone that may be going (besides reservations/preferrred seating) is that if it is still the same the meals is served with no eating utensils, use your hands, dig in and enjoy!!

BTW Rebel, congrats on your 25h anniversary :thumb:. We just had our 25th last month.

 

Thanks Oldrambler, our children threw us a suprise party last night with all of our friends in attendance. Some I haven't seen in awhile. That was better than any gift that they could have gotten us.

Avoid the Cabins Of The Smoky Mountains community. They're decently priced rentals, and they're well kept, but they offer very little as far as views go, and when I went there, we had a "crowd" of 5 there and had the cops called on us for being too loud on the deck...at 10:15 at night on a Saturday...and I can assure you we weren't making that much noise.

http://www.cabinsofthesmokymountains.com/

 

We had the exact same issue. I didn't hold it against Cabins of the Smoky Mountains, though, just our neighbors.

Just got back, had a nice time, traffic wasn't too bad just don't be in a hurry and realize you are on a vacation. Fours or so from Louisville, Old Mill Inn was real good, too much food so we only ordered two meals and there was more than enough. Just enjoyed interacting with folks, (Tennesse fans) and they got on me. Gas prices were the same. Road to our cabin was an adventure. next time we are gonna stay next to the creek so we can not worry about that drive to the cabin.

 

Saw an older man and a young guy standing on a corner holding up a Bible. Saw another guy carrying a cross but the cross had wheels.

Just got back, had a nice time, traffic wasn't too bad just don't be in a hurry and realize you are on a vacation. Fours or so from Louisville, Old Mill Inn was real good, too much food so we only ordered two meals and there was more than enough. Just enjoyed interacting with folks, (Tennesse fans) and they got on me. Gas prices were the same. Road to our cabin was an adventure. next time we are gonna stay next to the creek so we can not worry about that drive to the cabin.

 

Saw an older man and a young guy standing on a corner holding up a Bible. Saw another guy carrying a cross but the cross had wheels.

 

Are you saying those are visions you had while driving the cabin road, or did you really see those people?