Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge - 2 full days

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museums

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The prison museum and titanic museum are interesting if you have any interest in that. It's geared towards entertainment.

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scenic views

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Chimneys are the default answer. Alum Cave Trail to Leconte or to Rainbow Falls. Abrams Falls or AT to Charlie's Bunion are good as well. These are all the high traffic trails.

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restaurants

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Peddler is the only one that isn't a chain and also isn't meh. Local Goat and Smoky Mtn Brewery are pub food that isn't bad.

If you want a nicer dinner, try to make a reservation for Foothills Milling Company in Maryville or if you really want to spend some money on a good meal, try to get into the Blackberry Mountain restaurant Three Sisters, the other one is for guests only. Good luck though, extremely limited reservations and that weekend has probably been booked solid for over a year.

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Peddler is the only one that isn't a chain and also isn't meh.

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Do call ahead seating with them. Call the second they open. I think it was noon or 2.

Trailhead steakhouse in Townsend was pretty good too.

Junction 35 was my favorite moonshine tasting. Blows all the others out of the water.

Drive through Cade's Cove. Go early, less traffic and more animals. Roaring fork is another good motor trail, not sure if its open in winter time.

The aquarium is really good and worth visiting




Our favorite restaurant is the greenbrier

Delauder’s BBQ is solid. BYOB


Anakeesta is relatively new. Usually a fairly long line to take the chair lift up. Try to be up there at sunset and sit at the bar for a great view



View at night taking the lift back down


You can find live music at Ole Red (Blake Shelton’s place) and Gatlinburg Brewery

The best pizza is at Smoky Mountain Brewery

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We love cool/classic restaurants,

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ZERO.

I love Gatlinburg but you have to understand fully what you are getting into. The town itself is one massive tourist trap of t-shirt shops and saltwater taffy shops. Ooodles of stuff to waste your money on.

It is then surrounded by the busiest national park, full of "nature" as you watch an RV belch out the richest burn smoke like the Exxon Valdeez.

I love it there, but I have to mentally prepare myself. Buckberry Lodge has great food if the restaurant is open after the big fire. "The Sinks" is a load of fun to walk around and stick your feet in the water (too cold this time of year to swim) and my favorite part of the park. The road to The Sinks usually has black bears in the adjacent creek.

Also consider the far side of the park in NC, it's way lower key and less touristy. Some good breweries and quiet spots.

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and scenic views (don't mind hiking to see views)

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On your way up there, check out one of the main Smoky Mountain visitor centers and they can tell you the best views, difficulty of the trail, conditions for the weekend/time frame, height of waterfalls...

Check out The Appalachian it’s a much needed restaurant and culinary team has worked at Blackberry Farm. Many chefs have left there in last 5 years but lucky for us many are staying local.

The Appalachian

Paula Dean's restaurant is very good. In nearby Pigeon Forge, I think. The Hatfield and McCoy dinner show is good too.

hi! you should stay in Ramsey resort enjoy

We had a few people moving a little slow but they usually let us by at the landings