The Smokies in October
 

We are looking forward to spending a week in
Gatlinburg, Oct. 16-23 and would appreciate any
information and suggestions of places to see and
places to eat that are moderate to inexpensive.
Several days will be in Great Smoky National Park. We are not adventuresome drivers, but want to see as much as possible with our main interest in photography. I understand Newfound Gap is a pretty scary ride. We would like to ride to Cherokee, though, and I think from the map we have to
take this road. Are there any local tour companies that drive people around?

My husband and I spent our October honeymoon in Gatlinburg (years ago) and have been to Gatlinburg many times before and since that time. It is VERY crowded in October, and when you're going up the mountain from Gatlinburg you will probably be in a lot of traffic at first. It will be faster to walk around Gatlinburg than to drive around town. Be sure to go to the Pancake Pantry for breakfast. Cades Cove is a really pretty area and fun to drive. We like to stop at the picnic area just a few miles up the mountain (as you're leaving Gatlinburg) and walk/play in the creek and have a picnic on some of the huge boulders in the creek

Your timing may well be at peak leaf season. The fall colors draw crowds, big ones on the weekends.

Newfound Gap a scary ride? I would like to know who told you that tale.
The road is winding, like most mountain roads. Scary? Bunk.

Whoever said that needs to drive the Furka Pass in Switzerland. Then we might nor hear any more from them; they will be scared to death.

We went to Gatlinburg this weekend and did the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. It was wonderful. Everyone (4 of us) commented that it must be beautiful in the fall of the year.
As far as for dining, Gatlinburg does not have the best of the best. To me, most restaurants are overpriced for what you get. Saturday night we went to The Greenbrier, a Gatlinburg tradition, and were NOT impressed. Just mediocre. Our favorite food is the lunch buffet (very small) at the Log Cabin Pancake house in Pigeon Forge.

I also have never heard that Newfound Gap is a scary ride. I can't think of any place where the road is on the edge of a mountain (like others I've been on). It is absolutely beautiful in the fall in the Smokey Mountains. Unfortunately that is why there are so many people there at that time of the year. Where are you staying? That would determine where you want to eat--like noted above, you don't want to be driving any more than you have to. What price range do you consider moderate? There are many, many restaurants.

Have you checked out:
http://www.gatlinburg.com/ -- they will send you a free vacation guide.

We end up on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail every time we go--and Cades Cove is a very popular place--it is closed to cars on certain days which won't be a problem for you if you are there for a week.

There was a thread if you didn't see it called Trip to Great Smoky Mountains NP that has quite a bit of information on things to see.

Once you get in the Park--there are no charges for anything--in fact you don't have to pay a fee to get into the Park like some other National Parks. If you take the bypass road from the Park to Pigeon Forge, there are some overlooks looking down on Gatlinburg where you can get some great pictures of the town nestled in the mountains. We have climbed up Clingman's Dome many times (it is a beautiful view on a clear day--but we have never been there on a clear day where you can get a good picture from there).

Surprisingly, the aquarium in Gatlinburg is very well done and worth the price of admission. All of the exhibits are clean, well-presented, and full of interesting creatures. The "shark tank", which you walk through (there is a tunnel you walk through, you are surrounded by water above you and on both sides!) is impressive, and I really enjoyed the stingray petting pool also (they do have their stingers removed so they can't hurt you).

Stop at the visitor's center, they will give you a discount coupon (at least they did when we were there.)

We were in Gatlinburg a few months back and enjoyed a family of restaurants owned by the same company. I can only recall the name of two, but they are all in the same general vicinity and are all more or less about as 'upscale' as one can get in Gatlinburg. One of their restaurants is called the Cherokee Grill and another is referred to as the Brewery and is situated in the little shopping market behind the Cherokee. Both have a great marinated steak that my wife says is one of the best she's had. All three of their places have good (but not gourmet)food and are very nicely decorated and clean.

We also ate at No Way Jose, a Mexican restaurant near the Aquarium. We also found this to be pretty good and better than anticipated.

I must say that upon entering Gatlinburg it's not hard to come to the conclusion that all the food that's available must come out of a deep fryer, but we were pleasantly surprised with how upscale they have taken tackiness in this little tourist town...

Cades Cove is very crowded year round and bumper to bumper during fall color season. The loop road is closed Wed and Sat until 10am. According to their website this ends on Sept 22 but you might want to check that it is not extended. The Roaring Fork Nature Trail which can be picked up in Gatlinburg goes through great hardwoods and the lower sections the road parallels the Roaring Fork with its moss covered rocks. Also good area for bears. The Foothills Parkway near Look Rock is a great spot for sunrise. The Catalooche area on the east side of the park has a number of elk which were reintroduced several years ago. Can pick up the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside of Cherokee before you get to the visitor center.

Photodog,
Glad to hear from you again. You responded to a thread of mine last year when we were heading to Nashville. At that time, you mentioned the Photosphere in Knoxville. We are photographers, as I suspect you are. Is that worth visiting? We were unable to do so last year because of distance. This time, we will be flying into Knoxville, I think. Any other photo suggestions? Your information was very helpful. Any way, I can communicate with you directly. I contacted a Camera Club in your area and heard from the president, but no one responded. We belong to a similar club on Cape Cod, MA, where we live.
Anything else you can offer would be so
appreciated. Thank you!

The area has hundreds of "chalets" (cabins) in the area for rent. If you go to the Gatlinburg web site, they will connect you to companies who rent them.

I highly recommend it. Some are on mountain tops with fabulous views. To me, it really added to the Smokies experience.

I believe you are referring to the Sunsphere which is near downtown Knoxville. The 266' tower was built for the '82 World's Fair and is covered with bronze colored glass panels which reflect the surrounding buildings. Haven't visited the site in years.
You might want to take the Foothills Parkway on the way to the Smokies. Can be picked up off US 321 between Maryville and Townsend. Great spot for sunrise especially if have some fog in the valleys. There is a lookout tower at Look Rock and a nearby campground if you are into that.
The Cades Cove loop will be bumper to bumper that time of year. Gate opens at sunrise. Would be there then. Deer usually in the fields, dew covered spiderwebs all over the place. For a unusual view of the cove take the Rich Mt. Rd which is a right turn off the Cades Cove Rd just past the Methodist Church. This one way road out of the park takes you to a high point where can see the church you just past in the valley surrounded by the mountains. The viewpoint is growing up and view depends on how clear it is. The gravel road you are on will eventually take you to US23l (turn right) outside of Townsend. If you stay on the main Cades Cove loop road there is a road off to right just past Cable Mill area which will take you down a gravel road to the Henry Whitehead Place. Have seen lots of turkey and several black bears in the area. The Cades Cove picnic area is popular with the bear as well.
In Gatlinburg turn at traffic light 8 and start the 11 mile loop road of Cherokee Orchard. The Roaring Fork Auto Tour runs off this. Great for fall color, trails to waterfall and old houses. Check out http://sherpaguides.com/north_caroli...nat_trail.html.
You can reach me at [email protected]. Hope this helps.

What a wonderful time to go to the mtns! Be sure & make a reservation at the "Burning Bush" restaurant for breakfast. It's on the main drag, the last restaurant before you get to the entrance to the park. The Cherokee Grille is good, also The Old Mill, in Pigeon Forge. The Aquarium is one of the best!! Have a good trip.

Thanks to all the responders, thus far, especially Photodog. I will be in touch. Everyone has been very helpful. We are very excited about our October adventure. Hope to get some great competitive photos.

massteacher, tell us about your trip

We had a wonderful trip, although the traffic
in and around Gatlinburg was a nightmare. It took us 2 and 1/2 hours to get there from the Knoxville airport. Because of this, we stayed away from downtown G., although we did have one pleasant morning there. The majority of our time was spent in GSMNP. We were disappointed in the colors, but the area is beautiful. We especially enjoyed the Greenbrier area of the park with its river scenes and rapids.
The Cades Cove drive was interesting with the old cabins and churches. There was traffic, as predicted by the tour guides, but it kept moving. The only great color we saw was at the vistas on the Foothills Parkway. As a contrast to our wilderness explorations, we spent a day in Dollywood--tacky, but fun.
Of most interest were the craftspeople creating in the old-fashioned manner. We saw the movie about Dolly Parton's life, and the show featuring her brother, Randy. That was fabulous! Top notch entertainment.!

The food was not a highlight; in fact, that was true of the entire trip with the exception of one wonderful meal at the Alamo on Route 321. I forgot to mention the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. We saw one small black bear, but that was all the wildlife. The Smokies is a beautiful place, and we would love to return in the spring to photograph the wildflowers.

Thanks for the trip report--loved reading it. We went in the Spring (early May) once and the spring flowers were beautiful (each year is different probably depending on the weather). It is less crowded and you get a completely different view of the park. Just wondered if you went to Cherokee and thought the Newfound Gap was a scary ride as you had heard.

Thanks for kind note, MAJ! We never made the Newfound Gap-Cherokee trip, having heard mixed reports. I guess we are not particularly adventurous when it comes to driving in the mountains. In the past, we had some pretty hairy experiences. I wish we had gone, though, as I am interested in native American culture. Someday, we will
return in the spring to view all the flowers and to get that different perspective that you mentioned of the mountains.

Mark, do not be scared of the mountains road. They don't bite. Just take your time when you come back. May is a great time for wildflowers but you need to include Blue Ridge Parkway too.

Massteacher, we were there the week before you and drove newfound gap road up to Chimney tops picnic area and the road was absolutely no problem to drive (The gatlinburg bypass was more treacherous). By the way our picnic at chimney tops was fantastic, my 5 year old had the best time climbing on the rocks in the river. We also hiked to Laurel Falls which was no problem for our daughter. We did Dollywood as well and have to agree about the Randy Parton show, it was very good and we had front row center seats. We went to Gatlinburg one day and could not get out of there fast enough. All in all if you avoid Gatlinburg it is a very enjoyable vacation.