opinions on what to do and what to avoid? I've been to Dollywood before, not going back this trip. The main road here is like I Drive in orlando. High traffic, Tourist stuff and restaurants everywhere. It's kind of mind boggling. Good restaurants? Mountain coaster? Saw a billboard for all you can eat crab legs and seafood buffet. Any good?
Almost forgot, There is a Muscle car museum near by. Maybe I can do that while my wife goes to the outlet mall.

Thanks for any input positive or negative.

Try the Old Mill Grill it’s across the street from the Old Mill. The old mill is a tourist place. Most of the locals prefer the Old Mill Grill, way better than than the Old Mill. For seafood go to the Chesapeake in Gatlinburg. Best seafood in the area. The Comedy Barn is great family entertainment. Lots of good shows. We like the Hatfield and McCoy diner show. If you go to the Hatfield and McCoy show check out the 1952 Dodge flatbed truck they have. I built that for them five year ago. Enjoy your stay lots of tourist stuff to do and lots of traffic. I live 25 miles from Pigeon Forge.

It's been ten years, but the Ripley's Aquarium is one of the best I've visited.

I have been down in that area 3 of the last 4 years. We would take Teaster Lane that runs parallel to the main street. Theres a decent moonshine place toward the south end caled Tennessee shine I believe. I bought a bottle of caramel whiskey there and I am not much of a whiskey drinker!
My friends mom likes to hang out at the Island. Couple good restaurants in there, one is Paula Deans that is family style.
We found an Italian place on the north side of town that had the best lasagna I ever had. Johnny Carinos, its on the east side of the parkway. I am thinking there is a rib place that is about across from it that is supposed to be pretty good. I looked and it is south of Johnnys called Calhouns. I also liked Bullfish which is basically beside Johnny Carinos.
People seem to like Bennetts BBQ also but I have had hit or miss food there. Last time it was not warm and just average.

Theres all kinds of fun stuff to do. There is a pretty neat alpine coaster on 321 or Old Weirs Valley Road. I would recommend the muscle car museum. I have not been there for a few years but they had some good cars at the time. If you dont want to spend much you can always drive toward Gatlinburg and park and walk the trails or go into the natonal park. Last time we drove to Cades Cove and that was really interesting to see. It is south of Gatlinburg

WHERES that crab leg place ?

Good eating at Cowboys .... north side of Douglas Lake ....just west of Dandridge

We ate at Bullfish tonight. Fish and chips. Chips were average fish was perfect.

The crableg place has bad reviews. Buffet with crablegs is $50 per person. Way to many reviews said they wish they had gone to RedLobster

We were already planning on the Alpine Coaster(probably wait till Monday to avoid some of the crowd) It's less than 1/4 mile from the campground we are in. When we drove by after dinner there were led lights all over and a full parking lot. Looks like it would be fun after dark.

In Gatlinburg we like No Way Jose's Mexican restaurant and Crockett's Breakfast Camp for breakfast. We don't really do much tourist stuff, mostly hike a lot.

If you like wildlife and/or historical buildings, I highly recommend making the drive to Cades Cove. There is also the Roaring Fork Motor Trail in Gatlinburg. Several old cabins and very beautiful drive, just not as apt to see the wildlife like Cades Cove. Definitely take in Garret's Auto Museum. As someone said, I haven't been in several years but they did have a lot of nice cars. Wifey likes to hit the outlet mall and I prefer to cruise the back roads.


Tim

There is also the Roaring Fork Motor Trail in Gatlinburg. Several old cabins and very beautiful drive,....

This road is seasonal as I found out the hard way. I was last up there in April 2019, and this road wasn't slated to open until May (if I remember correctly). Check before you go.

Cades Cove is beautiful, but when you go makes a huge difference. First time I went in 2015, was on a weekend, and it was a rolling parking lot. The road is one way and single lane, so there's no taking an alternate route. Bumper to bumper the whole way. Fast forward a few years, tried it again in 2019, mid-week, very light traffic.

Definitely check out Garret's.

I've been to this area 3 times, and each time there was a reason why I couldn't 'explore' as much as I wanted to. Looking forward to going back when I can just wander at my own pace.

Fifty beans for lousy crab legs?

CAMP grounds ? How about a freebie boon dock spot with views to die for ?

Doc Cowboys is no more. Was closed for about 18 months then reopened under a new name last year. Reviews not so good.

We owned a Time share in Pidgon Forge for 20 years. Sold it in 2013. Main reason the area is too crowded. When we had it7 days there was enough for me. Massive traffic.

I think we had this conversation before . My tanks are too small for serious boondocking . I won't make that mistake if I ever buy another rv.

Where are these freebie places with views you speak off? Is there a Walmart in the national park?

Tank sizes ??

You probably just dump yours in the walmart parking lot. I'm not doing that

The drive to Cherokee NC from PF is beautiful, nice way to spend a day. If your there for a while a day trip to the Biltmore house is nice. One time I was there and a guy in a 55 Chevy, pro street narrowed rear end car was driving the Dragon, followed him in my Dart. Car sounded mean too.

No .. I don’t. WHY did you say that ? I thought this was a serious conversation

Temp went down in the 20's last night and the furnace wouldn't start up. I plugged in a small electric space heater and put 2 heavy blankets on the bed. I woke up in the middle of the night freezing my butt off!! The blankets and the dog where all on my wife's side of the bed . All I had was a sheet hopefully the furnace gets fixed $$ this afternoon.

Sorry Doc I thought you were questioning why tank size was relevant. Fresh tank and Gray tank barely hold 2 showers. If I am careful I can do an overnight maybe 2 nights max boondocking.

No gallon specs ? .. most of my boondocking was with my truck camper.

22 gallon fresh .... 6 gallon black .. and ZERO gray ! .. I added a 20 gallon grey STRAPPED to the spare tire ..

It was a challenge..

My Airstream MH ? ... 90 fresh ...40 black .. 60 grey !

Much more boondocking friendly

gMan ... oh .. those tank sizing give the word RELEVANT new meaning !

AND ... go to the Sevierville Wally World and see if they still have a back section of the parking lot ALMOST RESERVED FOR RVs !

In case you didn’t know .. Sam Walton was an RVer

If you head over the Mtns to Bryson City the is a train ride that pretty nice

Go to Howards restaurant get the chopped steak sandwich. Comes with mushroom gravy. Very good. Eat outside on the patio. Nice view.
Take the loop through Cades Cove. Beautiful.

mom and dad we going to go back to gatlinburg/pf/sevierville area on vacation tomorrow but a lot of gatlinburg stuff is closed. the tram to the top of the mountain is closed til may 28. there are probably a lot of things still to do between the 3 places but they like gatlinburg best. they have been there 5 or 6 time. wifes brother in law's people founded sevierville.

Twenty years ago my wife and I spent a week there in a rental cabin about 5 miles out of PF for out 25th anniversary in early May. The cabin we rented had a small stream behind it, and a hot tub on the enclosed back porch. Every day we took a ride to someplace different in the area. Even then traffic in PF was bad, but we figured a way around it. That was a very relaxing vacation. I'm pretty sure lots of stuff have changed since then, and probably not for the better.

This year we are spending a week in Kentucky, towards the end of May, 45 year anniversary! We were in the area 4 years ago and we enjoyed it, we are hoping this year will be as nice. Gene

The wife and I spend a week every year near Gatlinburg. We stopped going to Cades Cove several years ago because of the traffic. There is always some idiot who sees a deer and has to bail out of their vehicle to take photos. Leaving their vehicle sitting in the middle of the road with the doors open. The next thing you know there are fifteen people out of their cars who apparently have never seen a deer comparing photos while you wait for them to move along. Then rinse and repeat.

I agree though about its beauty, it also has a rich history. The Great Smokey Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the US.

Good points, John. Most of our trips are either in the spring or early fall. One time we were up there Roaring Fork was closed due to storm damage. And we only go to Cades Cove on weekdays. Last time up may have been early spring as there is a one-way road out of Cades Cove that takes you back to 129 (Tail of the Dragon part) that I wanted to drive. It was either seasonably closed or closed due to storm damage also. Hopefully next time up we make it down it.


Tim