Day 56: A smokin' trip!

Our road trip to Gatlinburg was so much fun. We left Memphis around 3pm and arrived there at about 10pm. The car was loaded up with two coolers of sandwiches, munchies and drinks, not to mention brochures, maps, books, CDs and a journal. Everything for a perfect road trip!

To get to the town, we drove through Sevierville then Pigeon Forge. Thank goodness D didn't get a hotel in either of those places. They are such tourist spots with tons of things to do, see, buy and eat. But with zero atmosphere. The main town centre of Gatlinburg is just 5 miles after that, through some winding roads around a mountain. And what a difference!

Gatlinburg is a small town of about 4000 people but welcomes a couple of million visitors every year. We stayed at the Ramada Inn which was in the middle of everything but set away from the noise of main street. At midnight, we joined the crowds for the first 4th of July parade. We didn't get to bed till nearly 3am! The next day, on the 4th, was a massive firework display that lasted nearly 30 minutes.

This was a relaxing holiday for all. We'd wake up at around 10, troop out at about 1030am for a late breakfast. On the 4th, we drove back to Pigeon Forge to Mill Creek for a huge concert/party at an open field there. We pigged out on homemade ice cream, fresh fruit slushies, roasted corn-on-the-cob and a gi-normous smoked turkey leg. Oh...Gatlinburg has restaurants serving delicious southern cooking. But don't go looking for Chinese or Mexican there; head for Pigeon Forge instead.

We spent the next few days driving through the Smokies (we saw black bears up close!!), wandering around town (I bought 2 handmade quilts), went to a civil war battle reenactment (4 cannons are awfully loud!) and going on a ghost tour (that is a whole post on itself with some pretty interesting pictures). D is now planning our next trip - Hot Spring, Arkansas!

Where to eat at Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge:
1. Flapjacks Pancake Cabin @ Gatlinburg - Awesome pecan pancakes in a log-cabin style restaurant. Raved about in Southern Living and the fluffiest yet!
2. Pancake Pantry @ Gatlinburg- For it's historical appeal (it's 47 years old!) and HUGE pancake menu. Go early for breakfast to beat the long lines. Huge portions.
3. Applebarn Farmhouse Restaurant @ Pigeon Forge - Not to be confused with Applebarn Grill nearby. Farmhouse is the original. Great southern home-cooking in a quaint house. Bring a huge appetite. We left with doggie bags!
4. The Old Mill Creamery @ Pigeon Forge - Out of this world homemade ice-cream! A single serving is HUGE.
5. Jared's Grill at The Ship @ Gatlinburg - An English pub in the Smokies. Fantastic selection of beers and ciders not to mention pub food. Try their Cottage Pie and Fish & Chips - worthy of anything you'll find in the UK.