My wife's family goes to Gatlinburg WAY too much. SO when we were married, guess what? The things that make it bearable (No pun) are: 1) Breakfast at the Burning Bush restaurant. I would go if this was the only thing to do. It is wonderful. 2) The Park. I actually know a woman in her early 30s who has been to Gatlinburg over 50 times who HAS NEVER entered the park. The Park is where to escape the people. Some of the harder hikes, etc are very remote and secluded. DO NOT go to Cades Cove. It is where all the people who think they're getting back yo nature are going. <BR> <BR>Something thats fun but not typical....Go to the Happy Hiker shop behind Burning Bush and look at the pictures of people that have come through this year hiking the Appalacian Trail. <BR> <BR>Other notable restaurants are...Calhouns a TN chain but REALLY good...Linderburgers Seafood is good. Drive back to Pigeon Forge and eat at the Apple Barn. And there's alittle Italian rest/pizza place back in a shopping center in front of the Ober Chairlift that has the BEST garlic rolls in the WORLD. DO NOT go to Bennetts BBQ, Everyone I've ever known that has gone there has thrown up continu=ously the next day. <BR> <BR>Stay at the Gilette or Jack Huff's motor lodge. Both very clean and cheap, but have'nt been updated since approx 1956. A new hotel Bearskin Lodge looks cool but I have not satyed there.

I love Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Park. Do agree with avoiding Bennett's BBQ. Four years ago, my brothers and I took our parents to dinner there for a special occasion. There were twelve of us in all, and before we ordered, we specifically asked the waitress if a gratuity would be automotically added since we were a party of 12. We would be fine if it was, we just wanted to know. She said that she didn't believe in that practice, and she would not do that --adding an automatic gratuity to large groups. When we got the bill, we were overcharged by more than $100., plus she handwrote in an automatic gratuity. And,the computer entry showed we were charged for 20 pork sandwiches, when only one pork sandwich was ordered. The waitress had gone "off shift." We immediately noticed the mistakes when we got the bill and still it took my brothers over 30 minutes to straighten the bill out with the asst. manager. We felt the waitress had intentionally lied and tried to pad the bill. To appease us, the asst. manager gave us complimnetary coupons for breakfast the next day.

The Peddler is a wonderful restaurant and does take call ahead seating. I believe that you can start calling there at 4:00pm but you might want to make sure of the time. They are very busy so call ahead is a must. They have a nice salad bar and are known for the fact that they cut your steaks to order at your table. Ask for a table by their back windows. We were just there in April. We enjoyed Gatlinburg. We like to stop in different places and enjoy their differences.

we've taken two trips to the smokies, the last was the end of april and first of May this year. first trip we stayed in a cabin up a long dirt road, beautiful scenery and this time we stayed in p.f. at Creekstone Inn right on the river with a balconey with grat rates. Gatlinburg is touristy but the mts. and scenery make up for it! We ate at a great Barbq place in Gat.and they have alot of neat places to stroll and look in shops.Also went to top of the tower. We love the area.

Tjanks to all of you who've replied to my inquiry; you've been most helpful! <BR>We have reservations at the Best Western Twin Islands (opinions?) and also would like to know about the breakfast buffet at the Burning Bush: <BR>what foods on the bar and the cost. <BR>There are two main reasons we've decided to stay right in town, and they are 10 and 12 years old! Thanks again. <BR>