Springtime In The Smokies

The highlight of this weekend getaway for us was to simply relax. My brother and his wife joined us at the last moment and we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. They played chauffeur and drove us all over the Smoky Mountains.

Saturday morning we drove from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove to "bear watch". Needless to say we didn’t see any bears, but it was fun looking for them! Next, we stopped at Laurel Falls and hiked the 2.6 mile path. By this time it was 3:30 p.m. and we drove up to the Chimneys picnic area. There we found an open pit area for cooking and my sister-in-law produced a small charcoal grill, steaks, baked potatoes, Texas toast and even squeeze butter from the car trunk!!! We really enjoyed grilling over an open fire and relaxing by the mountain stream. A drive through Roaring Fork near dusk completed this day.

Sunday morning we drove from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, N.C. with two trips out to Clingman’s Dome. A heavy blanket of fog surrounded the area and we hoped it would disappear, but it was just too thick!! On Monday, we drove the Roaring Fork motor nature trail again before coming home.

Quick Tips:

Motel/hotel rooms are almost half price during the week at most establishments. Weekend rates soar to almost or more for the same standard hotel room.

Traffic on the weekends is horrible!! Unless you know a shortcut around Pigeon Forge, you will spend hours stuck in traffic!!!

There are so many activities in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area that everyone in your party can find something to occupy themselves.

Several of the shows require reservations, so if planning on attending one, be sure to phone or stop by in advance.

Last, but not least.... take the bank with you!! Almost every activity costs money and it could become expensive!!

Best Way To Get Around:

A car is definitely needed if you plan to stay in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg and drive up into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can stop and spend as much time at each pull off as desired without feeling rushed.

Pigeon Forge has trolleys that run throughout Pigeon Forge for 25 cents per ride per person. The trolleys run on 20 minute intervals daily from 8:30 a.m. to midnight, April - October, 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. November - December. Just look for the bear at the more than 100 locations throughout the city. Fun Time Trolley tokens (purchase at the Pigeon Forge Welcome Center or the Fun Time Trolley office) or exact change are accepted.

The Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg Trolley load at Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge and go to the Gatlinburg Welcome Center on Hwy. 441. There you can transfer onto the Gatlinburg trolleys, which are color-coded by route. Look for the more than 100 locations located throughout the city. Prices vary depending upon where you want to go.

When you enter the parking lot of the Bearskin Lodge On The River, one is instantly reminded of the Great Lodges of the Old West. The warmth and charm outside created by the goldish-brown siding, dark green roof, stone chimney and the huge stained logs quickly invites you inside to spend a night or two enjoying the wonderful amenities such as an inroom jacuzzi, fireplace and a balcony overlooking the river.

Our room was large and spacious with one queen bed. The textured, cream colored wallpaper was accented with a southwestern design border in hunter green and rust colors. The furniture was rustic and I fell in love with the lampshades as they had outdoor scenes of mountains, trees & bears that were highlighted when turned on. Our room had an indoor jacuzzi and a fireplace in the corner. Since the weather was warm, we were unable to enjoy the fireplace; however we did find a few spare minutes to relax in the jacuzzi 2 out of 3 nights! The french doors opened onto a balcony overlooking the river, which had two chairs and a small table. We opened the doors and listened to the sound of the water rushing over the rocks at night. What a soothing and relaxing sound to fall asleep to!!!

Upon entering into the room, a large vanity area was immediately to the left. This area contained a small refrigerator, 4-cup coffee maker with complimentary condiments, iron and ironing board. A hair dryer WAS NOT furnished. The bathroom was adjacent and had a tub/shower combination with a safety handrail. I used this every time, as the tub seemed to slant towards the center from each side and was slightly slippery!

A continental breakfast was provided from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. each morning on the 3rd floor. The selection was fabulous! You could choose from several varieties of pastries, such as Krispy Kreme donuts and mini honey buns. There were four or five different types of muffins, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit consisting of apples, oranges and bananas; as well as hard-boiled eggs on Easter Sunday! Also available were packages of instant oatmeal & grits, pop tarts, and a variety of cereals. A toaster was provided for toasting bread or bagels and a microwave also was available. Drinks included fresh coffee, milk, orange juice and apple juice.

Bearskin Lodge On The River has a small outdoor lazy river with floating tubes and an outdoor 3-5 foot pool. Both are located in front of the hotel. Parking is provided in front and covered parking is available in back.

We were celebrating a belated anniversary and wanted a special place close to the park so we wouldn''t have to deal with the traffic normally associated with Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. We found a gem in the Bearskin Lodge!

For information on Bearskin Lodge, click here: Bearskin Lodge

Pancake Pantry, located near the sixth traffic light in downtown Gatlinburg, is a family tradition. It became Tennessee’s first pancake house in 1960 and has something to suit everyone’s taste buds, and all at a reasonable price.

The Pancake Pantry serves breakfast from 7am until 3pm each day, November through May. June through October finds it open for business from 7am until 4pm. Lunch is served starting at 11:30am.

Breakfast is the absolute BEST! With twenty-four varieties of pancakes, you can only imagine the indecision one would have. Not to mention the French toast, waffles, or the seven varieties of omelets! Of course, they have the old breakfast standbys of eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, golden hash browns, and a southern favorite, grits, which are only served until noon. Pancake Pantry offers a low cholesterol breakfast as well for those who are health conscious.

We arrived at 11:30am on Monday morning for breakfast. My husband quickly decided on the French toast, but with those twenty-four varieties of pancakes to choose from. . .well, needless to say, it took me a little while to select the perfect one! Finally I decided on the orange walnut pancakes. We were not disappointed when the waitress arrived with our breakfast! The French toast had four full slices, split into halves, sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar. A large side of whipped butter and a container of their own special cinnamon cream syrup completed his favorite breakfast entrée! My orange walnut pancakes were equally as good. Five huge pancakes on a plate, topped with black walnuts, powdered sugar, and a large side of whipped butter! Included with this selection was its own special zesty, orange syrup with small mandarin orange pieces. Breakfast selections range in price from $4 to $8 each.

Lunch selections are also a favorite with five different types of burgers to choose from. Eight sandwiches, such as the German Ambassador or the Southern Grill Chicken, tempt you as well. Factor in the Grilled Chicken Salad or their fresh, homemade soups and you will quickly understand why this restaurant is a favorite! All lunch entrees are between $5.75 and $7.55. A box lunch is available for taking up into the Great Smoky Mountains to enjoy by a mountain stream.

If eating breakfast at the Pancake Pantry is on your day’s agenda, plan on being there early. As a child, I remember the long lines winding down the streets of Gatlinburg as people waited patiently in line for their turn to enjoy a wonderful meal.

Texas Roadhouse is located on the main strip in downtown Gatlinburg near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance.

Texas Roadhouse is a "meat & potatoes" kind of restaurant with specialties in hearty steaks, killer ribs and Texas size combos! To keep you occupied while waiting in line, buckets of peanuts are available for munching. And unlike some restaurants where it is normal(???) to throw the peanut shells on the floor, Texas Roadhouse provides a small empty bucket for the shells.

Texas Roadhouse has something for everyone! Choose from their many appetizers, including buffalo wings, tater skins, cactus blossom or a combo appetizer platter. They also have a variety of salads if you are looking for something on the "lighter" side. However, if you are really hungry, one can select from their many selections of beef, pasta, seafood, pork or chicken. Kids (under 12) meals consists of chicken strips, cheeseburgers, hot dogs or macaroni & cheese served with french fries.

My brother and sister-in-law accompanied us on this weekend getaway trip and they recommended this restaurant, as they had eaten there twice before. We went on Easter Sunday, mid-afternoon and were quickly seated. The waiter took our orders and within minutes we had our drinks, with salads quickly following. Both of them ordered 12 oz. ribeyes ($15.99) with baked potatoes, while my husband had the full slab of barbecued ribs with fries($16.99). I opted for the 8 oz. grilled bbq chicken breast with a baked potato ($10.99). A basket of rolls completed our meal. Their ribeye steaks were absolutely delicious and my husband''s ribs were so tender that they just pulled off of the bone. My chicken breast was good, although I didn''t really care for their particular bbq sauce. (I should have gotten the ribeye)!

The food was good, however the waiter could certainly have taken a course in friendliness. He did a good job of serving but he must have had a really bad Saturday night!! My sister-in-law said of all the times they had eaten there, this was their worst experience as the service wasn''t the best!! But, everyone can have a bad day, so we just enjoyed the food and each others'' company!!

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is another favorite of visitors to Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. Within minutes of downtown Gatlinburg, you will have the opportunity to stop and enjoy the total silence that encompasses this forest. The sounds of swiftly flowing water or an occasional bird chirping will be the only things you will hear. Along with enjoying nature’s silence, you will have the chance to see well-preserved log cabins, gristmills and other historic buildings.

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a narrow, but paved, one way road. It twists and turns for a total of six miles where you will pass the beginning of several trail heads. One of the favorites is Grotto Falls, which is an easy 1.3 mile hike. This motor nature trail has some wonderful parking areas where you can capture an unparalleled view of the mountains.

We were content just driving through the Nature Trail with our windows down, not breaking the posted 10 mph speed limit. We enjoyed the cool, moist air and listening to the mountain streams, while gazing through a forest of giant hemlock trees. We also were looking for wildlife, but did not see any animals; not even a squirrel.

One of my favorite places was "The Place of a Thousand Drips". It is a place that has huge boulders covered with rich, dark green colored moss with dozens of tiny waterfalls carving a path down between the rocks. The air was cool and the scenery was brilliant! We stopped at several of the small pullouts and found some wonderful photo opportunities to capture the emerging spring season.

Roaring Fork is located just a few short minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Gatlinburg. Turn at Gatlinburg’s number 8 traffic light and follow Historic Nature Trail to the Cherokee Orchard entrance. Stop at the entrance and pick up an auto tour book for $.50 or a $1. This book corresponds to the numbered markers along the way. Buses, trailers and motor homes are not permitted.

This is another one of nature’s best. Take a couple of hours, enjoy the drive and engulf yourself in the cool, mountain air!

Laurel Falls is probably the most popular trail to walk or hike within the Great Smoky Mountains. It is 2.6 miles round trip, has a paved path and inclines at a slow, steady rate. Even if you are not in the best of shape, this hike can be made if you take your time and pace yourself. Stop along the way, take in the beautiful sights and catch your breath! (You can always use the excuse that you just can''t pass up the perfect photo opportunity)! This trail also tolerates strollers well since it is paved.

As you walk along the trail, you will pass through a pine-oak forest with thickets of mountain laurel and rhododendron ready to burst into bloom. Both bloom around the first to mid May. Once you reach the waterfall, you will cross a bridge that provides a perfect view of the upper falls. You will also enjoy the cool, refreshing mist that falls upon your skin. The trail continues up the mountain once you have crossed over the bridge, however we stopped at the falls. There is another waterfall below the bridge which you can get a closer view of by climbing down on to the huge rocks. Since the area in front of the waterfall is small, don''t be surprised if you can''t get an unobstructed photo of the falls.

Plan on taking this hike either in early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat and crowds. The parking lot fills up fast and the area on both sides of the road also has vehicles parked for a half mile or so. If just driving by, you will want to use extreme caution in this area. We took this small hike mid afternoon in April and I could only imagine how hot I would have been if it were July or August. Be sure to take a bottle of water to quench the thirst and cool you down.

Laurel Falls is located about 3.5 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center on Little River Road (towards Cades Cove).

Cades Cove is one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks most visited areas. Located 27 miles from the Sugarland’s Visitor Center (toward Townsend), one will enjoy the sights of nature as you make the drive. An early April visit will find the redbuds and dogwoods in bloom, while a late April/early May visit will find the mountain laurel and rhododendrons blooming. All are simply beautiful, sprinkled amongst the emerging new green foliage!

Cades Cove is a relatively flat valley surrounded by mountains and has a variety of wildlife including deer, wild turkeys, skunks, rabbits, and chipmunks. The river otter was reintroduced in the 1980s and a small herd of elk has also been reintroduced back into the cove, with approximately 56 living there today. Black bears can also be found in the mountains bordering Cades Cove, although some have been spotted in the valley.

The best way to experience the cove is via the 11 mile, one way motor route along the Cades Cove Loop Road. The road begins at the Orientation Shelter where a park ranger will gladly answer your questions. Pick up a Cades Cove tour map for $1 and start off on your adventure! Roadside markers correspond to the tour guide information. The road is extremely narrow, and in some places makeshift pullouts have been made. Since fewer people visit in the spring, one can drive at a "crawling speed" and not worry about holding up traffic. During the summer and autumn months, traffic becomes extremely heavy and can become backed up.

As you travel this 11 mile loop, you will pass by cabins, churches, and barns where early to mid-19th century families toiled together to build a community. Also you will pass by cemeteries where these same families and neighbors are now buried. The Cable Mill Historic Area and Visitor Center is located about halfway through the loop, and here you can tour a working grist mill (mid-April to October), see a blacksmith shop, cantilever barn, sorghum mill, and other buildings.

Several trails originate in the cove and range from two and a half to 13 miles in length (one way). The most popular trails are Abrams Falls Trail (five miles roundtrip) and the Cades Cove Nature Trail (one mile round trip).

We drove the Cades Cove loop on Saturday morning and during our 11-mile trip, we spotted 14 deer and two wild turkeys (no bears)! We took another leisurely drive on Sunday afternoon/evening (6pm) through the cove and the difference in wildlife was unbelievable! We counted a total of 84 deer and six wild turkeys (still no bears)!

Cades Cove is open from sunrise-sunset, starting in early spring. Check the National Parks web site at Great Smoky Mtns. for openings/closings due to weather/construction. Every Wednesday and Saturday morning, from May 7th - September 24th, Cades Cove is reserved for bicyclists and walkers only between sunrise and 10am. Allow a minimum of three to four hours to drive and enjoy this natural park.