I’ve been on a travel kick lately. I don’t know why – maybe there’s some interesting psychology in there about how fed up I am with my day job and how much of my day I spend daydreaming about getting away. Let’s not take this down that rabbit hole. It’s supposed to be an uplifting and helpful post, not a therapy session. Anyway, I recently wrote a travel guide on what my wife and I would do with only 24 hours to spend in Gatlinburg, and a first-time visitor with us.
When we got home, my wife and I were kicking around the things we usually frequent that we didn’t get to take him to. Out of that conversation, I decided I’d write this piece. Also, in establishing the parameters for this piece, I am excluding Pigeon Forge and Sevierville from the conversation. Maybe I’ll do a larger “Smoky Mountains power rankings” piece one day, but for the time being, I’m sticking to Gatlinburg only.
Power Ranking Gatlinburg Attractions
10. Elk Springs Resort – It’s a little way’s out of town up in the mountains, but it’s worth it if you’re looking for more ‘peace and quiet’ than ‘things to do’ in Gatlinburg. My wife and I have stayed there twice now and it’s beautiful. It won’t break the bank either – they have “budget-friendly” options. One time, we went up in January, after the holiday rush had died down a bit, and it felt like we had the town to ourselves. We were even snowed in one day, and got to rest up watching the snow gently fall on the mountains. Top 10 weekend of my life, for sure.
9. Gatlinburg bypass – There’s not much to it, but it’s kind of become our first stop on every trip. It’s like we have to drive up to the scenic overlook to make sure Gatlinburg’s still there before we venture on in to town. For first timers, it’s a great way to put into perspective what Gatlinburg really is.
8. Putt-Putt – Choose your course. Hillbilly Golf is a historical treasure in that town, but any of them will do. Even at 38 years old, I have to get a round of mini-golf in every time we go.
7. Kilwin’s – Yeah, there’s technically one in Franklin, but who cares about that one? Even when we’ve had the chance to go to that one, we don’t out of respect for the sanctity of preserving our Gatlinburg traditions. It’s the best ice cream shop in town. Pro-tip: if you get there right before they close (and tip the workers generously for hanging back), you can get your ice cream and take it across the street to The Village, where you can enjoy their fountain in peace after the city has gone to sleep.
6. The Park Vista – We stayed at this Doubletree affiliate once six years ago, and we haven’t stayed anywhere else since. Great bar, great restaurant, great pool, great fire pit, and breath-taking views of the mountain. It’s a reasonably-priced hotel that is centrally located. For my money, you can’t beat it. And, we came face-to-face with a black bear in the parking lot one time! Nature encounters to boot!
5. Cherokee Grill – Such a nice, clean restaurant that, unlike many of the attractions in town, doesn’t cost tourist money. It’s a reasonably-priced meal for the quality you get. We celebrated our anniversary there a few years ago, and we’ve been going ever since. It’s our “nice dinner” spot when we have the chance to get one. Their chopped sirloin steak, smothered in onions, peppers, mushrooms, and brown sauce, is out of this world. Beers on tap from Smoky Mountain Brewery certainly help their case too!
4. Anakeesta – It’s expensive, but we shell out the money every time we can just to ride that ski lift up the mountain and appreciate the views from the top. They have a great bar up there, and the gardens are simply beautiful.
3. Smoky Mountain Brewery – If I could map out my perfect trip to Gatlinburg, it’s going to start with the bypass, and then we’re going to mosey on down the mountain to Smoky Mountain Brewery to have a beer and a meal to blow off the stress of the commute and get into vacation mode. Black Bear Ale is a perfect beer. They make damn good burgers, and the wide open floor plan up on the second floor makes for the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the adjacent ridge lines.
2. The Donut Friar – Really, I could say ‘The Village’ as a whole, but let’s be real…it’s The Donut Friar. Do I feel crazy for listing a donut shop as the 2nd best thing to do in Gatlinburg? Yes. Absolutely. Do I care? No. I just had about 24 hours in Gatlinburg, and I managed to squeeze in trips to The Donut Friar TWICE. Need I say more? Eclairs, chocolate glazed, cake, coconut, cinnamon rolls, apple fritters…it’s all fantastic, and I swear it tastes unlike any donut I’ve ever had. I have two Donut Friar t-shirts that I wear all the time. I’m a bona fide lunatic fan, and I make no apologies for it. But, yes, I do also like a trip to The Village – they have a great candle shop, a store full of Irish merch, an art gallery, and several other little shops that make for a nice change of pace off the main strip in Gatlinburg.
1. Clingmans Dome – As with The Donut Friar, you could really expand this to ‘Great Smoky Mountains National Park’ as a whole. It’s funny how things change throughout the years. My appreciation of Gatlinburg evolved from centering around all of the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not stuff, arcades, candy shops, and toy stores when I was a kid to the karaoke bars, wineries, and distilleries when I was in my 20s. Now, I’m 38, and I’m just like “man, let’s drive through the park, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and stare at the trees for a little bit.” It probably says something about my stress levels, but if you can catch a good sunset at Clingmans Dome, you’ll need no further explanation. It’s the perfect place to take in the beauty of nature’s splendor. And for me, it’s the perfect place to relax.
Do you have a favorite spot in Gatlinburg? If so, let me know – I’m always looking for new things to try when we’re up there!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, third on Football & Other F Words, co-host of The Hot Read Podcast, analyst for Stacking The Inbox, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, the NFL Draft, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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