Looking into going to Gatlinburg for my honeymoon in October. What is there to get into while there? I’d love to pack a fishing pole and catch some trout, but also wouldn’t mind a day trip or just hitting some good places for chow in town or close.
Need info about Tenessee
- Thread starter TheBigCountry
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Wheels though Time motorcycle Museum in North Carolina, just over the border. Maggie Valley, NC. Amazing place. Totally worth the visit.
One of the finest museums of its type (transportation, technology and history) in the world.
There are also some Civil War battlefield sites in the area. Be a good test of the new bride... Civil War and Motorcycles.... or malls and shoes...
Cheers,
Sirhr
One of the finest museums of its type (transportation, technology and history) in the world.
There are also some Civil War battlefield sites in the area. Be a good test of the new bride... Civil War and Motorcycles.... or malls and shoes...
Cheers,
Sirhr
The peddler in gatlinburg is pretty good and so is the apple(something) up above pidgon forge. Don't know about the fishing there. South of gatlinburg in nc is either fed or state land.
Forgot to add, take that ride south and if you're lucky, you might get to see some hippy trash try to pet a bear.
She’s getting the “love cottage” or whatever it is so I think going to see the sites and Motorcycles is a fair trade
Oh, the other place is to go over to Asheville and go to the Vanderbilt house. Great food in Asheville, a world class sporting clays course. Winery at the Vanderbilt estate. The tour of the house is mind-blowing. Women love it.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Cheers,
Sirhr
^^^ And I'll add that I love touring the Vanderbilt house. So much manliness in building that place and the decor is just.... Robber Baron meets Ludwig-the-Mad! Smoking rooms, trophy rooms, rooms from castles. And the underground part of the tour into the kitchens and heating plant, etc... You will love it.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Cheers,
Sirhr
That’s the one. My wife and daughter toured it when we were over there, and they loved it.
Too bad you’re not going during the Summer. Rafting on the Ocoee River is awesome.
Ulterior motives are included as well...I’m missing being in the mountains and I’m hoping taking her to Tenessee may convince her we should consider moving outta FL
Better keep her away from Asheville then. That place is hippy hell. I used to live not too far from there. Between there and Boone, it's either shitty hippie or nothing. I left because the nothing was starving me. If you're looking to move to the area, E TN and N GA has better laws, less gov.
I stopped going to Gatlinburg and we started doing Ashville. Way smaller, nobody barking at you to look at their condo in exchange for tickets. 1:30th the traffic when the leaves are changing. Like 30 microbrewers, Hiking is also great.
Don't get me wrong, I really like Gatlinburg, but it's the new Myrtl Beach. The hiking is great if you hike. For food, my go-to is The Park. If you go there and you don't have diabetes, get the brownie!
Tail of the Dragon, Bluegrass and Cherrekowa(sp?) are all close if you ride. If you timed it right, Oak Ridge Sportman Assc. has monthly 1k matches. Not sure the Mrs. would appreciate that but it's like shooting over a good course.
Don't get me wrong, I really like Gatlinburg, but it's the new Myrtl Beach. The hiking is great if you hike. For food, my go-to is The Park. If you go there and you don't have diabetes, get the brownie!
Tail of the Dragon, Bluegrass and Cherrekowa(sp?) are all close if you ride. If you timed it right, Oak Ridge Sportman Assc. has monthly 1k matches. Not sure the Mrs. would appreciate that but it's like shooting over a good course.
Plus one on the "Wheels of Time"
Hell, they will even fire up those old harleys.
R
Floyd garrets muscle car museum is nice and about the most complete for those obscure cars like Hemi Dart, Daytona Torino, etc. As far as fishing, you have the pigeon river that runs through. Champion paper has been allegedly dumping all their waste in there for decades. Had a friend that got massive ear infections from swimming in it..... I would only catch a release. In the National Park, you will likely have to hike a bit to find a spot. I lived 45 minutes away '85-'13. When I left, you could keep more rainbow than brown (dont recall sizes) and all brooks were thrown back and protected.
Skip Ole Smokey Moonshine....... its not. 3 doctors pooled money and made a tourist trap, a very successful one at that.
As mentioned above, The Peddler one of the best steaks in East Tennessee hands down.
Cherokee, NC- tourist trap
If you and yours enjoy hiking, there is a short 2 mile flat hike to the old CCC camp that built most of the park in '30s. Its across from Park HQ. Ruins are still there, narrow guage track, heck we used to find CCC embossed china in the trash pit.
If you ride, rent a bike and ride tail of the dragon. US 129. Something like 318 curves in 11 miles.
Skip Ole Smokey Moonshine....... its not. 3 doctors pooled money and made a tourist trap, a very successful one at that.
As mentioned above, The Peddler one of the best steaks in East Tennessee hands down.
Cherokee, NC- tourist trap
If you and yours enjoy hiking, there is a short 2 mile flat hike to the old CCC camp that built most of the park in '30s. Its across from Park HQ. Ruins are still there, narrow guage track, heck we used to find CCC embossed china in the trash pit.
If you ride, rent a bike and ride tail of the dragon. US 129. Something like 318 curves in 11 miles.
The Apple Barn has pretty good food, but the best IMO, is the Old Mill. Old southern style cooking you can't stop eating until you can barely stand up from your chair.
Sugerland Moonshine Still in Gatlinburg... Take the tour and the Testing. (Do not drive after the testing for 2 hours)
Buy 4 Jars of Appalachian Apple Pie and 2 jars of Peach
Buy 4 Jars of Appalachian Apple Pie and 2 jars of Peach
I lived in Knoxville for about eight years and did Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg pretty much every time I came back stateside. Truth #1 from above is traffic is horrible, but that's what you get for hitting the Smokies in prime leaf season. It's not unbearable, but it's pretty bad as there's only a couple thoroughfares to travel, so best bet is get out early to see the sights and chill in the cabin for the evenings. There's a metric fuck-ton of restaurants, avoid the ones that have the most advertising. Dinner and a show is fun, but don't expect too much from the dinner side of things, I can easily out cook the meals on the grill, but that's not really what you're there for. Good places to eat come and go, ask the older locals working the smaller shops where they recommend, they'll be more than happy to tell you the good places that aren't tourist traps.
There's a ton of tourist museums, I'm not too big on those as they kill you in ticket prices and the flashy stuff really isn't my style. Research what you want to see, search beforehand for ticket discounts online, don't pay face value at the counter or the fees from resellers in the area.
You can pick out some trout from the rivers there, even right in downtown Gatlinburg is decent fishing for browns, I'm pretty sure it's all artificial lure/fly only. I never personally fished them, but have watched more than a few 16"+ fish get pulled out of there while in town. Check the state DNR website for latest on that, especially on fishing inside city limits as they're very restrictive on that.
Climbing Clingman's Dome is fun and easily accessed, and also avoids the Type-II diabetic scooter crowd that flocks to Dollywood. Great view up there, especially in leaf season. South half of GSMNP past the Dome visitor center is much lower traffic and far better views in my opinion, the highway to Cherokee is one of my favorite drives. At the park entrance on the south side, a herd of elk resides there and typically graze in the field, super easy to get great pics of them. There's plentiful pullouts to stop and soak in nature, and even more trails if you are feeling up to that. I would put that all on the "must do" list if nature is your goal.
Supply wise, the ABC store is in Gatlinburg, Sevier County where Pigeon Forge is dry for bottle sales, only beer and wine. Walmart is a stretch north from the tourist area, a real good stretch that time of year, so have your supplies before getting there if you can. TN has about an average 10% sales tax (county dependent) since there's no income tax there, so plan for that when out shopping.
Otherwise, have a good camera, plan for wet and chilly weather, and I hope you and your lady have an awesome time. I escaped SW FL in 2006, finally going to escape the eastern half of the country all together for Wyoming in two weeks, good luck talking your lady into leaving hurricane alley. I don't miss Florida a single bit.
There's a ton of tourist museums, I'm not too big on those as they kill you in ticket prices and the flashy stuff really isn't my style. Research what you want to see, search beforehand for ticket discounts online, don't pay face value at the counter or the fees from resellers in the area.
You can pick out some trout from the rivers there, even right in downtown Gatlinburg is decent fishing for browns, I'm pretty sure it's all artificial lure/fly only. I never personally fished them, but have watched more than a few 16"+ fish get pulled out of there while in town. Check the state DNR website for latest on that, especially on fishing inside city limits as they're very restrictive on that.
Climbing Clingman's Dome is fun and easily accessed, and also avoids the Type-II diabetic scooter crowd that flocks to Dollywood. Great view up there, especially in leaf season. South half of GSMNP past the Dome visitor center is much lower traffic and far better views in my opinion, the highway to Cherokee is one of my favorite drives. At the park entrance on the south side, a herd of elk resides there and typically graze in the field, super easy to get great pics of them. There's plentiful pullouts to stop and soak in nature, and even more trails if you are feeling up to that. I would put that all on the "must do" list if nature is your goal.
Supply wise, the ABC store is in Gatlinburg, Sevier County where Pigeon Forge is dry for bottle sales, only beer and wine. Walmart is a stretch north from the tourist area, a real good stretch that time of year, so have your supplies before getting there if you can. TN has about an average 10% sales tax (county dependent) since there's no income tax there, so plan for that when out shopping.
Otherwise, have a good camera, plan for wet and chilly weather, and I hope you and your lady have an awesome time. I escaped SW FL in 2006, finally going to escape the eastern half of the country all together for Wyoming in two weeks, good luck talking your lady into leaving hurricane alley. I don't miss Florida a single bit.
sunsets @ charlies bunion; jump off; rocky top; gregory's bald; mt camire tower; max patch if you dont mind walking.
Thanks for all that Sir.
Slowly been working my way outta here...I started down in Hialeah and have been slowly inching up and out. Florida has some perks, but I grew up farming and playing in the woods and mountains and I’m missing it. If I can convince the Soon-To-Be to get out but stay somewhat close, and we both can find stable jobs, I wouldn’t think twice.
Thanks for all the suggestions and info everyone. I’ve been passing word to The Warden and sounds like we’re gonna have a good time of it.
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