I got a cabin next week near Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge. I was wondering what are some must do/see while up there. I guess some things will be shut down during the winter. I think one day, weather pending, I'm going to take 441 to Cherokee. Just to site see and blow a few $$ at the casino. Any suggestions will be great.

2/13/2015 7:28:37 PM

I was going to mention going over the mountain to Cherokee. It takes approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour to go from downtown Gatlinburg to Cherokee, but it is scenic and doesn't seem that long.

I'm not sure what type of things you are into, but driving through Cades Cove is pretty neat, weather permitting of course.
I think Clingman's Dome is closed this time of year, but that has a pretty cool observation tower at the top.

As far as things to do, downtown Gatlinburg has all of your typical tourist traps like Ripley's aquarium, novelty shops, etc... The ski lift is cool and offers great views.

My favorite breakfast place on the strip is Pancake Pantry. It is AWESOME. It was cash only last time I was there but they have an ATM inside.

2/13/2015 10:57:46 PM

Yeah that stretch to Cherokee runs through the Great Smoky Mtn National Forest, usually pretty but in winter sort of bland except for the pulloff outlooks. Clingmans Dome is open year-round for AT hikers but the road is indeed closed until March , they also usually close it whenever heavy snow or ice shuts down that access road. During winter the city of Cherokee itself is pretty rundown and closed up other than the casino. Check the events schedule, you might see something or someone planned decently entertaining those nights you were planning to visit. During the warmer months trout fishing and rafting/tubing would have been an option.

2/14/2015 9:01:27 AM

Myrtle Beach in the mountains

2/14/2015 9:22:35 AM

Thanks for everything . It was kind of a last min thing. I'm was planning on leaving on Monday . Now I don't know about the roads. I was going to take 40 into Tennessee .

2/14/2015 5:29:33 PM

Quote :

"Myrtle Beach in the mountains"

lol

2/14/2015 5:59:49 PM

It is definitely myrtle beach in the mountains. Ober has cool sled slopes. Drive through the smokey ds, take a hike. If you're going this weekend the snow will probably shut everything down

2/14/2015 6:53:24 PM

the only good thing about this place is Berkshire's Custard Inc

2/14/2015 9:45:47 PM

Chimney Tops is easily one of the best day hikes in NC. It's off 441 in GSMNP. It's like a 2 mile walk and then you can scramble to the top of two different "peaks" that are right next to each other and get a pretty close to a 360 panorama of the cataloochee valley (I think I have that valley right). This time of year you will be totally alone up there, but I'm not sure on trailhead road closures, so def check on that.

2/14/2015 10:02:17 PM

Quote :

"Myrtle Beach in the mountains"

Believe it or not, I actually came into this thread to say exactly this

2/14/2015 10:27:28 PM

We went for the first time this past summer. There's a cool driving trail that you drive along at like 5-10 mph that is really nice. We actually saw a black bear cub that made our whole trip! I think the aquarium is awesome and up there with Atlanta's as my favorite. You can drink moonshine legally if you are into that. But the crowds and hawkers in the summer were annoying and totally Myrtle Beach-ey. Although it's a summer thing, I really enjoyed Unto the Hills in Cherokee. And the drive is gorgeous.

2/15/2015 2:53:27 PM

2/16/2015 11:00:43 AM

I once won a hatchet throwing contest at Dollywood

2/16/2015 5:57:40 PM

Anyone ever been to Dollywood's Splash Country?

It says it opened in 2001, and now I kinda have to go.

But I'm gonna hold off until they finish construction on Dollywood's DreamMore Resort:

http://dreammoreresort.com/default.htm

Summer 2015...TWW should consider this trip...EXCLUSIVE PARK PRIVILEGES, Y'ALL!

2/17/2015 10:59:39 AM

Well, I guess I will find out some other time. But I said fuck it and book a house in kill devil hills. It even has a hot tub. Ain't even mad about it.

2/17/2015 4:47:16 PM