By: cotsm

Gatlinburg Convention Center – Downtown Meeting Space

The Gatlinburg Convention Center is huge, modern and fully featured. And it’s in the middle of Gatlinburg, in walking distance of countless attractions, and surrounded by the gorgeous Smoky Mountains. Abundant parking and state-of-the-art electronics make every event run smoothly. The Center has 160,000 square feet of space, with 67,000 sq. ft. exhibit space to… Read more »

Huck Finn’s Catfish in Pigeon Forge

Huck Finn's Catfish in Pigeon Forge

Huck Finn’s Catfish in Pigeon Forge is a family business serving locals and visitors alike since 1995. Fans of this freshwater fish will find a satisfying seafood and Southern-style food experience at this all-you-can-eat restaurant. The catfish is excellent, grain-fed and pond-raised in Mississippi (which means that the quality will be consistent, from the last… Read more »

Massage and Spa in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

Visitors to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge often spend a lot of time on their feet, whether strolling through the countless attractions or hiking in the national park. With long and active days, what could be better than treating yourself to a relaxing spa session? There are a number of options offering a variety of massage… Read more »

Explore the Many Shops of Dollywood

Images courtesy Dollywood

Although you visit Dollywood for the amusement park and water park attractions, you can stay plenty busy exploring all the many wonderful shops there too. So make sure to work enough time into your itinerary for shopping adventures among the following shops. Kaman’s Airbrush Shoppe Want a personalized hat, t-shirt, or even a license plate… Read more »

Smoky Mountain Trout House in Gatlinburg

Smoky Mountain Trout House in Gatlinburg

For over 45 years, Smoky Mountain Trout House has proudly served Gatlinburg seafood, steak, and pasta dishes. Their 10 different rainbow trout dishes are the star of the show for sure, although it’s also a popular place to grab a double cheeseburger. All the trout comes from local sources, taking advantage of the bounty of… Read more »

Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant & Farmhouse Grill

Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant & Farmhouse Grill

Just a few minutes up the road from Pigeon Forge, Applewood Farmhouse holds the title as the oldest restaurant in Sevierville, and you’ll feel the history as you drive up to the homey, farmhouse-style buildings. Once a working farm with Revolutionary War roots, Applewood now boasts two restaurants. The original Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant occupies the… Read more »

A Look at the Shops of Ober Gatlinburg

Images courtesy of Ober Gatlinburg

Although the activities change with the seasons at Ober Gatlinburg, you can always count on enjoying year-round shopping adventures. You can start your journey through the shops in downtown before riding the tram up to the rest on the mountain. Between both locations, you’re sure to find amazing apparel, candy, and everything in between, making… Read more »

Reagan’s House of Pancakes Breakfast Buffet in Pigeon Forge

Reagan’s in Pigeon Forge is popular for its all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, which offers a wide range of options for a reasonable price. Additional menu options for breakfast and lunch ensure that everyone in your group is happy, and the restaurant offers a very large variety of sides to make a plate to suit any taste…. Read more »

The Incredible Christmas Place – Open All Year in Pigeon Forge

The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge offers thousands of the seasonal items you want for the Christmas celebrations, AND it’s open all year round, so you can plan your last-minute things long before the season hits. Many visitors to the area make a stop at the Christmas Place, even in the heat of summer,… Read more »

Best Places For Shopping In Sevierville

You can drive into Sevierville without realizing you’ve left Pigeon Forge – that’s how close together these two neighbors are – and if you’re on a shopping expedition, you have plenty of reason to drive there. Sevierville offers a huge range of shops – get ready for an adventure. One of the first places you… Read more »

The Peddler Steakhouse in Gatlinburg: Quality With Mountain Flair

The Peddler Steakhouse in Gatlinburg: Quality With Mountain Flair

The Peddler Steakhouse bills itself as a classic steakhouse built on tradition – and in the more than 30 years since its founding, it has become a Gatlinburg favorite. Well regarded by locals and tourists alike, The Peddler offers an intimate, cozy dining experience that checks all the boxes: great service, exceedingly high quality food,… Read more »

Wild Plum Tea Room

Wild Plum Tea Room

Would you like to uncover a side of Gatlinburg that many people wouldn’t expect? The Wild Plum Tea Room, located along the Arts & Crafts Community Trail on Buckhorn Road, is an eclectic and charming tea and lunch venue. You’ll find here creative and original dishes with an emphasis on seasonal and local ingredients. Reservations… Read more »

Shopping at Lumberjack Square in Pigeon Forge

Tranquillity in the midst of Adventure - Image courtesy of Lumberjack Square

Lumberjack Square is a conveniently located refuge from the bustle of adjacent Parkway in Pigeon Forge where visitors can enjoy top-notch dining, shopping, and adventure, and with plenty of free parking. The Square offers a pleasant ambience with the feel of a town square, like walking around a downtown area. There’s even a town hall… Read more »

The Fox and Parrot Tavern: an English Pub in Gatlinburg

As a good way to take a break from the bustle of Gatlinburg, the Fox and Parrot Tavern is a great option for a tasty and relaxing meal. Serving up traditional English pub fare, with every meal made to order – and be warned that this is slow food, not at all fast – the… Read more »

The Rampant Lion Celtic Pub in Gatlinburg

With one British pub under their belts (the Fox and Parrot Tavern) Brian Papworth and his wife Dana decided to go with a more Celtic flair, opening the Rampant Lion Celtic Pub in Gatlinburg. The list of liquors has grown immensely over the years, now numbering around 200 different spirits. Focusing on a range of… Read more »

Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Ole Smoky means only one thing in Gatlinburg, and that’s Tennessee moonshine. Ole Smoky Moonshine is one of the most recognized brands in the craft spirits industry. It was the first federally recognized moonshine distillery in East Tennessee – the revenuers finally bowed to the inevitable, you might say – and it operates several distilleries… Read more »

Elks Plaza in Gatlinburg: An Oasis Off Parkway

Image courtesy Elks Plaza

Elks Plaza is a small oasis right off Parkway in Gatlinburg, and in a little world of its own. It hosts benches under shade trees, a collection of unique shops, a few onsite parking slots for shoppers – and the best restaurant in town. Easy to miss, but worth looking for, this little area hosts… Read more »

Whole Earth Grocery in Gatlinburg

Whole Earth Grocery in Gatlinburg

When visiting Gatlinburg, enjoy something extra good for your body and soul with a visit to Whole Earth Grocery. This cafe and store offers vegetarian & vegan food & products, natural foods & items. The food is delicious, with great sandwiches, wraps and other lunches. This all-natural cafe and shop is your one-stop Smoky Mountains… Read more »

Winterfest in Pigeon Forge and Winter Magic in Gatlinburg

Winterfest in Pigeon Forge and Winter Magic in Gatlinburg

Winter in the Smoky Mountains offers a dazzling display of fun and celebration for the festive holiday season. The neighboring towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville declare a four-month period of November through February to be their winter festival time, calling it Winterfest in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, and Winter Magic in Gatlinburg. Starting… Read more »

The Best Italian Café and Pizzeria: a Gatlinburg Hidden Gem

The Best Italian Café and Pizzeria: a Gatlinburg Hidden Gem

The Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria in Gatlinburg has been a favorite among locals and repeat visitors to the Smoky Mountains since it opened in 1976. Stop in for lunch or dinner at this hidden-gem restaurant to try Best Italian’s versions of Italian favorites done right, from pizza to classic dishes, with New York style…. Read more »

Fly Fishing in the Smoky Mountains

Fly Fishing in the Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a year-round paradise for fly fishing, with more than 600 miles of streams that support wild trout. You can fly fish any time of year, in this beautiful national park, with no admission fee, and there are even some spring-fed waters that stay mild through the winter. State regulations… Read more »

Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament

Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament

UPDATE 2023: The traditional Trout Tournaments have been canceled since 2022, and currently we don’t know if they’ll come back. The City of Gatlinburg now hosts a one-day event on the first Saturday in April, fishing the many Gatlinburg waters – see our guide to What’s Happening in April. Twice a year, in the spring… Read more »

Fishing in Gatlinburg – Where to Go, What to Bring

Fishing in Gatlinburg

The Smokies are known for their native brook and brown trout, and Gatlinburg and the National Park are crawling (or should we say swimming?) with over 900 miles of rivers and streams that are just waiting for you to cast your line. Before you pack up your tackle box, however, there are local and state… Read more »

Smoky Mountain Brewery in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

Smoky Mountain Brewery in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

Smoky Mountain Brewery is a popular restaurant with a conveniently situated location in both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. It has a lodge atmosphere, with a sports bar functionality (lots of TVs) and a well rounded American menu. The Brewery serves (and brews) craft beers, as well as cocktails and wine, and it’s also  open late… Read more »

Winery Square in Gatlinburg: Filled With Hidden Gems

Image courtesy Winery Square

Winery Square is a little area off of East Parkway in Gatlinburg, only slightly off the beaten track and packed with delights from several hidden gems in terms of food, drink and pure fascination. The square is anchored by Gatlinburg’s first winery, Smoky Mountain Winery, established in 1981 and still going strong, serving tastes of… Read more »

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland is a Drive-Through Light Show

Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland is a Drive-Through Light Show

We know there are literally many millions of winter lights in the Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge area, but how about a set of synchronized Christmas lights you can drive through? That’s right, it’s perfect family fun when everyone of all ages can pile in the car and motor over to Sevierville to enjoy the legendary… Read more »

Ole Red Gatlinburg: Restaurant, Bar and Live Music Good Times

Ole Red was a hit the day it opened in Gatlinburg, and has stayed that way ever since. A restaurant, bar, live music, dance floor and all around fun spot on Parkway, Ole Red offers an upbeat and lively experience. Built on country music and Southern food, this entertainment venue was created by country music… Read more »

Smoky Mountain Christmas Lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Smoky Mountain Christmas Lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area of the Smoky Mountains puts on a fabulous light show each Christmas, with many millions of lights to see, marking the time of Winterfest and Winter Magic. From driving tours through the towns to stage shows to spectacular fireworks, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get in… Read more »

Cherokee Grill: a Prime Gatlinburg Steakhouse

Cherokee Grill: a Prime Gatlinburg Steakhouse

Located in the heart of Gatlinburg, Cherokee Grill is just what you’d expect for a well-rounded American steakhouse. The menu features steak, seafood, burgers and a mouthwatering array of appetizers. Serving wine and microbrews also, the restaurant also offers a generous kid’s menu and gluten-free options – everyone in the group should be able to… Read more »

Hands-On Gatlinburg: Expert Tuition in an Arts and Crafts Weekend

Image courtesy Hands-On Gatlinburg

Hands-On Gatlinburg is an arts & crafts event that offers individual tuition by the artisans of Gatlinburg to small groups of people who want to learn a new skill or improve their existing one. Studios along the Arts & Crafts Community Trail offer more than 40 classes by registration to limited numbers of attendees…Read more »

Golf in the Smokies – Top Courses Near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Golf in the Smokies – Top Courses Near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

If you’ve never played golf in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, on the golf courses in and around the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area, you are missing out on a uniquely rich environment that ranges from flat to mountainous with all shades of topography in between. Many golfers come here to improve their game with… Read more »

The Greenbrier Restaurant: Chef-Driven Dining, Wine & Spirits

The Greenbrier Restaurant: Chef-Driven Dining, Wine & Spirits

The Greenbrier Restaurant in Gatlinburg is a chef-driven dinner house, well known for its steaks, chops and seafood. The restaurant also offers an impressive wine selection and cocktail menu. Many people enjoy the secluded feel of the restaurant’s location and the staff’s high attention to detail. The restaurant is the perfect blend of a modern… Read more »

New Year’s Eve in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

New Year's Eve in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer two great venues bringing the long-anticipated excitement of free concerts, live and DJ music, specials in local restaurants and theaters, crowds of revelers, millions of seasonal lights and massive fireworks to ring in a brand-new year at midnight. Millions of people everywhere are outdoors and… Read more »

Junction 35 Spirits: Distillery and Restaurant in Pigeon Forge

With a trip to Junction 35 Spirits, you can enjoy a unique distillery and restaurant dining experience in between all your Pigeon Forge adventures. You’ll find this venue conveniently located in the Tower Shops at Mountain Mile, making it easy to stop by as you travel around town. A stop here lets you explore this… Read more »