Desired a Disney Cruise - Instead DH Tennessee Family Reunion -PTR About This Page:

[Alaskan Mom]

Originally Posted by Katara81

My best advice would be to go very early, and try to tour Cades Cove. There is a way to cut across to the other side about halfway through, and even if you take that shortcut out, you'll still be able to view a couple of the old cabins and the churches. I especially like the Primitive Baptist Church and it's cemetary. Here's a map - you would be turning left on Hyatt Lane to take the shortcut out. If you start the tour and you get there early enough that it's not too crowded, you could possibly do the whole loop in one morning, but there's a good chance it will be very crowded by 10am or so. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cades Cove Tour

For Gatlinburg, we usually just walk the Strip and window shop. The area of shops called The Village is especially nice. Mellow Mushroom Pizza, Cherokee Grill, and The Pancake Pantry have great food. G-burg has lots of hokey tourist traps, which we aren't into so I can't make any recommendations, but there's plenty to choose from if that's your type of thing. If y'all drink alcohol, there's a new moonshine distillery there too that's getting rave reviews, and they often have live music in the courtyard in the evenings. I dont drink, but the thought of Apple Pie moonshine intrigues me....

FYI about parking: it's hard to find at any time during the busy seasons, and if you end up going to G-burg at night, be aware that the private lots in town will jack their prices up (last time we used one of those lots, it was $5 for 5 hours in the morning, but $15 for the evening when we came back later for dinner! ). So, best place to park is in the parking garage behind Ripley's Aquarium - $1.25 per hour, max charge of $6 per car, and there's a Trolley stop right down the hill.

Thank you for all the info. That is very helpful.

[Alaskan Mom]

Originally Posted by GoofEme

I was going to say, there are trollys to take you ro most attractiona in PF even from most campgrounds, and a route to gatlinburg too. The campground should have info on the trolly service.

I discovered the trolly myself online, which will probably be the transportation I will use if no one will loan me a car. Thanks for the info.