Gatlinburg Family Fun Drive!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,773
Likes: 9
From: Holly Springs, NC
Gatlinburg Family Fun Drive!
Greetings Dragoneers! 
I plan to lead a "Family Fun Drive" to Gatlinburg on Thursday May 1st - the plan would be to make this a most-of-the-day thing, leaving early morning (by 9AM) and returning by evening. It's about a 2 hour drive each way. The trip basically loops down the Dragon and around the west side of Great Smoky Mountains NP, then through the park and Cherokee on the way back.
Here's the route (or something close)
There's tons of family-friendly stuff to do there:
http://www.attractions-gatlinburg.com/
The Ripley's Aquarium is fantastic - we've been a couple of times and will probably go again this time - it ranks up there with the best aquariums we've been to around the country. We'll probably also do the Guinness World Records museum and/or the Ripley's museum.
We'll get to Gatlinburg in time for lunch - then everyone has 4-5 hours hours to do their own thing - and leave around 4PM for return to Fontana - folks can choose to either stop for dinner in Cherokee on the way back, or eat when you get back to Fontana.
Monte Carlo night starts at 7PM - should be back in time for that unless you stop for a long dinner in Cherokee.
While my primary reason for doing this is to have a fun day for my kids - and other folks with kids - those without kids who want to enjoy Gatlinburg are welcome as well. Since I'll have my family in the car, and my wife is NOT a Dragon Lover, the pace of this drive will be more subdued than some of my other drives you may have heard about...
My reason for doing this on Thursday is to avoid conflicts for folks who may want to participate in, or at least visit, the MINI car show on Friday afternoon, and to avoid driving on those roads on Saturday.
Sign up on the MOTD event planner!
I plan to lead a "Family Fun Drive" to Gatlinburg on Thursday May 1st - the plan would be to make this a most-of-the-day thing, leaving early morning (by 9AM) and returning by evening. It's about a 2 hour drive each way. The trip basically loops down the Dragon and around the west side of Great Smoky Mountains NP, then through the park and Cherokee on the way back.
Here's the route (or something close)
There's tons of family-friendly stuff to do there:
http://www.attractions-gatlinburg.com/
The Ripley's Aquarium is fantastic - we've been a couple of times and will probably go again this time - it ranks up there with the best aquariums we've been to around the country. We'll probably also do the Guinness World Records museum and/or the Ripley's museum.
We'll get to Gatlinburg in time for lunch - then everyone has 4-5 hours hours to do their own thing - and leave around 4PM for return to Fontana - folks can choose to either stop for dinner in Cherokee on the way back, or eat when you get back to Fontana.
Monte Carlo night starts at 7PM - should be back in time for that unless you stop for a long dinner in Cherokee.
While my primary reason for doing this is to have a fun day for my kids - and other folks with kids - those without kids who want to enjoy Gatlinburg are welcome as well. Since I'll have my family in the car, and my wife is NOT a Dragon Lover, the pace of this drive will be more subdued than some of my other drives you may have heard about...
My reason for doing this on Thursday is to avoid conflicts for folks who may want to participate in, or at least visit, the MINI car show on Friday afternoon, and to avoid driving on those roads on Saturday.
Sign up on the MOTD event planner!
Last edited by BlimeyCabrio; Apr 6, 2008 at 06:46 PM.
5th Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
I have a suggestion about lunch for anyone doing the Gatlinburg drive. You should really check out the Fox and Parrot!!!
http://www.foxandparrot.com/ - Great British pub in the Art's and Craft loop.
Call ahead to check their hours. I took my local club on a short Gatlinburg excursion the Dragon before last. We got there in between lunch and dinner. We caught them between shifts so our food took a little longer. Also, beware if you have trouble with stairs - they are the only way to get up to the pub.
There is another pub that has recently opened in Gatlinburg - Ship. The Fox and Parrot has a much more authentic menu than the Ship. The Ship's menu is pretty much bar food.
If Thursday looks pretty open, we may be game for the drive!! I am craving some Scotch eggs!!!
http://www.foxandparrot.com/ - Great British pub in the Art's and Craft loop.
Call ahead to check their hours. I took my local club on a short Gatlinburg excursion the Dragon before last. We got there in between lunch and dinner. We caught them between shifts so our food took a little longer. Also, beware if you have trouble with stairs - they are the only way to get up to the pub.
There is another pub that has recently opened in Gatlinburg - Ship. The Fox and Parrot has a much more authentic menu than the Ship. The Ship's menu is pretty much bar food.
If Thursday looks pretty open, we may be game for the drive!! I am craving some Scotch eggs!!!
Last edited by vargasgal; Feb 13, 2008 at 08:54 AM. Reason: because anyone is not spelled anyonw
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: JAX, FL
While there, check out the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. http://www.gatlinburg.com/top10funth...ture-trail.asp
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: McDade,Texas
Trending Topics
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,773
Likes: 9
From: Holly Springs, NC
Update: For dinner on Thursday, we're going to stop in Bryson City, NC - lots more choices than Cherokee, as well as alcohol... the drive packet will include a list of restaurants and a map, each car can do their own thing on their own schedule and follow the directions back to Fontana (another 45 minutes away). If you're interested in reviewing dining options beforehand, go to:
http://www.greatsmokies.com/dining.asp
Note the address on each restaurant - not all are in Bryson City.
http://www.greatsmokies.com/dining.asp
Note the address on each restaurant - not all are in Bryson City.
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