Anyone been to Gatlinburg?

My DW and I are talking about going to Gatlinburg this summer for a week of so.

I have two questions: What camprgrounds would you recommend, and what attractions, stores, etc. are definite must sees while there?

Thanks,

TC

somebody on here mentioned something about some nice campgrounds around that area.

If your going you better book it now, Its a very busy place in the summer.

As for attractions.

Pidgeon Forge, where most of the action is in that area.

Stampede dinner show : indoor dinner theater / rodeo
Dolly Wood : if you like amusement parks / roller coasters etc....
Caving in a couple of different places around there , guided tours.
Got to do a Helicopter ride over the mountains.
My favorite is all the GoKart tracks,,,,,

As for Gatlinburg down town.
Shopping, RipLeys believe it or not, hard rock cafe, go up on the mountain and theres Ice skating , snow skiing seasonal, or you can ride the gondola thing up to the top of the mountain.

Theres always something going on around those two towns,
If you go over the Big Mountain back toward Cherokee, Go to Clingmans Dome, Awesome View. If you like to Hike, Chimney tops is a good straight up hill trail. and on the other side of the road you can hike up Mt. Laconte. Theres a hike in Lodge up there on top. Then at cherokee my favorite is the Indian Casino " Harah's " .
Its a fun casino that usually has a big name show on the weekends.

For a scenic ride, hit the blue ridge parkway. Its just before you get to cherokee.

We were considering Twin Creek Resort. Sure looks nice from their advertisement! I noticed they have shuttle service to town.
Not so much interested in Dollywood or any amusement park. Going more for low key, i.e., shopping, scenery, etc. Maybe Gatlinburg has evolved over the years. My folks visited the area with friends about 20 yrs back and said it was quiet and beautiful; kind of like being in a different country. Course, maybe they used to say that about Branson at one time too. I was told that during peak tourist season, it can take upwards of an hr to drive from one end of Branson to the other. Is Gatlinburg all touristy like that?

TC

It can get that way, with traffic sometimes. especially in pidgeon forge hwy back to Gatlin.

the road back from cherokee can get that way also if a bear walks out within site of the road, people just totally freak out and have to stop and look.

Gatlinburg is still nice though. I wouldn't let that make you shy away. You may get there and not much going on. Thats when its really nice to me. If you went right after school starts back you'd be in it just right. Or wait til the leaves start to turn.

Look also at the Maggie Valley area. Its just minutes from gatlinburg, cherokee, and pidgeon forge, Theres a few nice campgrounds over that way also. and its right off I-40. Ashville,Nc is also nice. If you go to Gatlinburg and you have time. You've got to go over to ashville to the Biltmore House http://www.biltmore.com/. look it up on the internet if you've never heard of it. Now thats one awesome place, if you like big gardens, old mansions , it looks like a castle to me.... But its jaw dropping pretty.

All great ideas. And greatly appreciated.

TC

Take in Smokey Mountains Caves Cove area 11 mile loop and lots of deer and black bear at times. I stayed in Townsend just south Piegon Forge. You can also do some trout fishing in that area.

There are several nice Campgrounds around Gatlinburg. One our favorite is on the Pigeon river actually in Townsend. About 15 minutes away from Pigeon Forge. Cades Cove Campground or Elkmont.. Both take reservations and have roughly 200 sites.