Hiking the Smoky Mountains

Some tips for a great hike in the Smoky Mountains.

With fall foliage about to reach peak color in the Smokies, it’s about time you tied up those hiking boots one last time this year and hit the trail. Don’t ya think?

Hiking the Smoky Mountains is one of the best reasons to visit Sevierville, TN. Just look up from any spot, and you will see picturesque views of the Great Smoky Mountains enveloping you. Downtown Sevierville itself is just a few short miles away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, home to more than 800 miles of hiking trails, and plenty of opportunities for you and your family to get closer with nature.

A quick hiking tip: Pick up a hiking guide for the Great Smoky Mountains when you enter town at the Sevierville Visitor Center located at 3099 Winfield Dunn Parkway (1.5 miles from I-40 Exit 407). Best of all, all purchases at this gift shop, which is operated by Great Smoky Mountains Association, benefit the national park.

Most Popular Hiking Trails
Abrams Falls – 5 miles; 340′ climb; moderate: a relatively flat trail leading to the 20′ falls
Arch Rock  – 2.5 miles; 400′ climb; easy; trail leads to an erosion-created tunnel
Chimney Tops – 4 miles; 1,335′ climb; strenuous; winds through a virgin forest to the Chimney Top pinnacles
Hen Wallow Falls – 4 miles; 520′ climb; moderate; good, short day hike to 95′ falls
Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail – 3,000′ loop, paved trail with educational exhibits and communications media Continue reading “Hiking the Smoky Mountains”

October Leaf Report

How are the fall colors progressing one week into October in Sevierville?

To say that fall color has emerged in Great Smoky Mountains National Park would be putting it lightly.  As early reports go, high elevations show warm golds and yellows amongst species like the American beech, yellow birch, mountain ash, pin cherry and mountain maple.

At lower points, trees are still predominantly green but several species are showing hints of color including dogwoods, black walnuts, sumac, and Virginia creeper, Among these, you’ll see yellows and burgundy reds against their green counterparts. The way color is looking so far, peak season looks like it could last anywhere from 7 weeks or more as color moves down the mountainsides from the highest elevations.

The Smokies’ majestic fall beauty usually reaches peak color at middle and lower elevations between mid-October and early November most years. Trees such as sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, and red maple are showing out during this time. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park actually goes more in depth with their comprehensive look at fall color here: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fallcolor.htm

As noted, by October the Smoky Mountain high country is littered with trees that are now showing bright fall colors such as the yellows of the American beech and yellow birch and various reds on trees such as the mountain ash, pin cherry and mountain maple. By now, a few early color changing species such as sourwood and sumac are showing bright red versions in the lower elevations, but can be few and far between. Notice that a few dogwoods and maples are also beginning to turn from green to yellow in some areas as well.

Primarily, the American beech, yellow birch, and yellow buckeye and different shades of reds on mountain ash, pin and black cherry and mountain maple are the predominant color species you’ll see right now.

As for fall wildflowers, fall favorites like the mountain gentian, black cohosh, and goldenrod are very colorful and can be found throughout the park and some blueberry and blackberry shrubs are also in color, as well as the Virginia creeper plant.

The Great Smoky Mountains range in elevation from 875 to 6,643 feet in the Park, and with differing moisture conditions and habitats, many different species of trees will still produce significant color as the Park moves into its peak autumn season. Catch some of the best color in the higher elevations on trails such as the Sugarland Mountain Trail and the Appalachian Trail, accessed at Clingmans Dome or Newfound Gap. Also, roads leading into the high country, including Newfound Gap Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Foothills Parkway West and East, and Rich Mountain Road out of Cades Cove, are some of the best routes for seeing fall color in the Smokies.

Check out color on the Purchase Knob Live Webcam at http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm.  Viewers can see color at 5,000 feet from this webcam.

A few suggested hikes for those wanting to get closer to nature while viewing the fall colors: Maddron Bald, Lower Mount Cammerer, Brushy Mountain and Trillium Gap Trails.All of these are high elevation trails so pack accordingly. This time of year, the weather can change at a moments notice. Hiking boots, a backpack, rain jacket, and a change of clothes should be the minimum if you are planning on spending a day in the park.

Sevierville Wineries

Come hike the Rocky Top Wine Trail and try some of the best wine Sevierville and the Smokies have to offer.

For wine aficionados and just plain ole wine lovers, Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains area is becoming a wine enthusiasts haven of sorts with the number of specialty wineries that have opened in the area. Sevierville is home to two of these wineries with a third lying just down the road in Pigeon Forge. They make up what locals call the Rocky Top Wine Trail.

The first and newest, Hillside Winery (229 Collier Drive)  in Sevierville, specializes in bubbly, Italian-style wines ranging from dry to sweet. A number of Hillside’s wines are made from grapes and various other locally grown fruits. The Hillside Spumante has become a favorite among many visitors.  Of the Italian-style offerings, Hillside specializes in Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, as well as a number of other wine varieties. Guests can not only come and tour the facility, Hillside offers a tasting room so that you’re sure to pick the wine you enjoy the most before making your purchase.

Just a short jaunt down the parkway is the Apple Barn Winery at 220 Apple Valley Rd. Their wine is made in small batch form, thus giving customers a most unique product with each bottle. The Apple Barn Winery loves it when visitors come by and sample their wines. They also feature a gift shop full of unique items as well as wine accessories. The Apple Barn Winery especially encourages visitors to stop when their Port or seasonal wines are available. These are the carefully crafted small batch wines that only appear on certain special occasions. The Apple Barn tasting room is always open, just have the staff advise you on what special wines are available.

Of course, we couldn’t leave out Pigeon Forge’s Mountain Valley Winery. Since 1991, Mountain Valley (2174 Parkway) has specialized in French and German style wines. Located near the Titanic Museum, the Mountain Valley Winery in Pigeon Forge is Tennessee’s largest winery. Come sample any of their award-winning wine, take a tour and learn how they make they wine. Mountain Valley Winery makes their wine from locally grown grapes. Want to see some grapes being crushed before the wine gets bottled? Visit Mountain Valley anytime from September to October and take in the process firsthand. Visitors will also find a great gift shop Mountain Valley Winery where you can find Tennessee Farm Products. Come take home some of the best the Volunteer state has to offer.

Next time you’re in Sevierville, before you hike the Smokies, hike the Rocky Top Wine Trail and see what all the fuss is about. You definitely won’t go home thirsty, but you might leave with a better appreciation for local Smoky Mountain wine.

 

Clint’s BBQ & Country Cookin’

Clint’s BBQ & Country Cookin’ is home to some of the finest barbeque in the Smokies. They also feature live bluegrass at night while you eat.

Barbeque and karaoke, they go together like, well…. I guess they go together like most anything they serve at Clint’s BBQ & Country Cookin’ in Sevierville. Most nights you’ll find someone on stage singin’ and pickin’ bluegrass at Clint’s, but while singing and a bit of dancing always draw in a crowd, it’s the southern cookin’ that brings people back.

Clint’s starts out each week wit their daily lunch specials (served with two sides) – Monday, it’s catfish and chicken & dumplins, Tuesday it’s hamburger steak or smoked ham, Wednesday it’s chicken & dumplins or smoked turkey, Thursday it’s chicken fried chicken or pork loin, Friday it’s meatloaf or hamburger steak, Saturday it’s country fried steak or chicken fried chicken, and Sunday its roast beef, chicken & dumplins, or meatloaf. Now, if that doesn’t get your mouth watering, we can’t help you.

Looking at the menu, Clint’s also has a number of lunch sandwiches which are sure to please those of us who don’t have all the time in the world every day for lunch. The catfish sandwich is mighty good as are the philly steak, french dip roast beef, pork loin, and grilled reuben sandwiches. There are also a few burgers to choose from, Clint’s delicious patty melt, and Clint’s grilled jumbo hot dog – another favorite.

Dinner entrees feature all the barbeque pork and chicken you can handle along side a list of sides from french fries to fried okra to taters & onions. Catfish, chicken in a couple varieties, and shrimp can also be found on the dinner menu, and the prime rib you’re really hungry is a weekend favorite around here. It’s served up to your specifications, or just the way you like it. Want to mix it up? Try the BBQ sample platter – ribs, chicken, pork, turkey, whatever you like, but just three.

At Clint’s, deserts are made daily so you don’t have to worry if they’ve been sitting on the counter-top or in someone’s freezer for a while. You’ll spot or smell cobblers, pies, cookies, pastries, and cakes once you walk in the door. You won’t stop thinking about those deserts till you order one, so there’s no need to even say you don’t need it. Everyone needs a little desert sometime and they’re all oh, so good.

You can even get everything you need for your tailgate or next big party/event at Clint’s. They offer tailgate sizes of pulled pork and chicken, sliced turkey and ham, and half and whole racks of ribs, as well as sides of slaw, potato salad, and baked beans. Don’t go anywhere else if you’re planning a party, or for that matter don’t go any place else if you’re hungry. Go to Clint’s BBQ & Country Cookin’ in Sevierville and eat your hungers away.

CLINT’S BBQ and Country Cooking
2334 Newport Highway
Sevierville, TN 37876
865-453-5150

Sevierville’s Harvest Festival & Halloween Happenings

The annual Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is just one of a handful of events happening in October as Sevierville celebrates fall and the oncoming Halloween holiday.

October in the Smokies means a crisp, clean breeze, leaves beginning to change color, and the arts & crafts community really begins to come alive. Fall in the Smokies is a time of year like no other. If you have never experienced the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area during spring or summer, then you don’t know what you’re missing! Get to Sevierville before October 31 and before the colors disappear for another year!

The Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is a county-wide celebration that includes Sevierville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge. The event lasts through Halloween on October 31. It’s  a celebration of all things autumn and numerous local businesses in the Smokies participate. Throughout Sevier County you will find an assortment of “fall displays” with scarecrows, stacks of hay, pumpkins, cornstalks, and all sorts of other fall decorations aligning the streets, in business windows and around every corner.

In Sevierville, you will experience traditional Appalachian music along with gospel and bluegrass. Artisans with the local arts and crafts community share their wares and promote their talents which include; basket weaving, candle making, jewelry, quilting, pottery, doll making, leather, stained glass, scrimshaw, fine photography, various art works, and more. This isn’t a month long “made in (insert foreign country here)” tourist trap either… this is genuine, mountain-made, good ‘ole folks crafts and artwork! Here, you’re able to meet and talk to the artists face-to-face as they demonstrate their craft before your own eyes. Numerous visitors come back to the same shops every year to add to their collection of jewelry, pottery, art, etc. Nothing this unique and personal can be found anywhere else. It’s a Smoky Mountain tradition.

If you’re going to be in town closer to Halloween, head on up to BassPro in Kodak for their It’s The Great Pumpkin Halloween Event. From October 19-31, you’ll get a chance to shop for the latest in outdoor equipment while the family enjoys a number of Halloween festivities including: Continue reading “Sevierville’s Harvest Festival & Halloween Happenings”

Tony Gore’s BBQ

Tony Gore has been making delicious BBQ at his restaurant in Sevierville since 2006 and he’s still going strong.

Tony Gore is a dual threat. His voice got him started and he’s pretty well-know gospel singer, but it’s his barbeque that has made him famous…. At least around here. Gore opened his Sevierville BBQ joint in 2006 and he’s been cookin’ up some of the finest pork in the Smokies ever since.

The restaurant has drawn rave reviews from many including such national publications as Southern Living as a place to stop in the Smoky Mountains. Gore’s specialty are the recipes maintained through classic southern cooking, primarily BBQ.

Gore’s barbecue is notably supple, mild, and sweet with just a hint of good ole smoky smell that gets diners right in the nose the minute they pull into the parking lot. And don’t let anyone tell you not to put any sauce on that pork! Gore’s sauce is the tangy, spicy, sweet goodness that just sets off a pig and makes mouths water in delight. To put it simply, the meat is good, but the sauce makes it even better. Pour it on and don’t listen to anyone.

Stopping by for dinner? Don’t worry about leaving Tony’s place hungry, the portions are absolutely enormous, and oh so good. The sides don’t slouch either, though you might when you leave. Just remember to loosen up that belt a bit. Tony Gore’s Smoky Mountain BBG & Grill has a saying and it’s plastered everywhere: “Never Trust a Thin Cook.” When you look at your plate, thin never made it to the kitchen.

Still, if you’re looking to save a bit of money, or cut down on your portion size, you do have some options. Try brisket and pork on the restaurant’s three mini burgers, in which you can mix and match pork and brisket. This will cut down on trying heaping helpings of both and save you a bit of cash at the same time.

When it comes to southern cooking and the art of Barbeque, Tony Gore is a name to remember in Sevierville. It’s the perfect stop just before you enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to fill up on some tasty BBQ pork and brisket.

The Sevierville Golf Club

The Sevierville Golf Club is one of the newest in the area. Featuring two 18-hole championship links courses set against the backdrop of the Smokies.

Looking for a good tee time in the Smoky Mountains? Forget about Knoxville and all its congested courses. Travel on down to Sevierville and play at one of the newest courses in East Tennessee. Set right up against the backdrop of the majestic Great Smoky Mountains, The Sevierville Golf Club is a 5-star course complete with the services, amenities, and presentation of a high-quality private club on a daily fee basis.

Did we course? Make that two courses. The Sevierville Golf Club is two 18-hole championship courses: The Highlands – a par 70 that winds around lush rolling hills and fresh water mountain ponds, and The River – a par 72 that plays to the twists and turns of the Little Pigeon River.

You’ll also find a state-of-the-art pro shop at the Sevierville Golf Club, an expansive driving range with grass tees, perfectly manicured putting green, as well as a chipping green to help even further fine tune your game.

Following a day on links, whether you decide to play both courses or just one, sit back and relax in the new clubhouse with your beverage of choice or enjoy a delicious meal prepared by our talented Chef Aaron Ward. We can also customize food and beverage presentations for your group, regardless of the size. At the Sevierville Golf Club, they really are there to serve you and make sure your day is a memorable one, no matter what you shoot.

You won’t find amenities like these at any other gold club in the area. The Sevierville Golf Club believes that its their people that make them the “Best In The Smokies!”. General Manager and Head PGA Professional Mark Wallace heads up a people-first staff, and are there to make sure your round goes as smoothly as the greens.

Below are links to Course Maps and the Club Score Card:

The Highlands Course Map
The River Course Map
The Sevierville Golf Club Score Card

Rates

18 Hole Rates: $59 (50% off juniors ages 15 yrs and under.)
Twilight After 4 pm Rates: $29 (50% off juniors ages 15 yrs and under.)
Senior Rates: $49 (Seniors 60 yrs and over)

Afternoon promotions:
After 12 pm $49 (50% off juniors of 15 yrs and under
After 12 pm $44 (Seniors 60 yrs and over)

Note: Rates include cart fee.

The Sevierville Golf Club

1444 Old Knoxville Highway
Sevierville, TN  37876
Local: (865) 429-4223 or Toll Free: (888) 710-1388

Best Sevierville Cabin Rentals

Here are our picks for the best Sevierville cabin rental companies.

The majestic view from a Sugar Maple Cabin.

A trip to the Smoky Mountains can take quite a bit of planning when you take int he time of year, where you’re staying, and how many people are coming along with you. One of those points – the place you decide to stay, can be taken care of by one of the many companies that provide cabin rentals in the Smokies. We’ve come up with out own list of top Sevierville cabin rentals you might want to look into, as they have years of experience in planning Smoky Mountain vacations for small to large groups.

Smoky Mountain cabin rental management companies serve just a portion of the 5-10 million people that come to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. Still, you’re talking about thousands of people who choose to stay overnight in Sevierville and the Smoky Mountain towns of Gatlinburg, Townsend, and Pigeon Forge in a luxury log cabin rental. Most of these cabin rental properties sit atop majestic Smoky Mountain ridges with unparalleled views and come quipped with everything a guest might need, plus a lot more. From theater rooms with pool tables and top-of-the-line video gaming systems to hot tubs perched upon decks overlooking a wondrous fall valley, these Pigeon Forge cabins have it all and offer customer service second to none in the area.

Here is our list of the Best Sevierville cabin rentals, and an overview of each:

  1. Sugar Maple Cabins – When you hear someone talk about a recent stay in a Sugar Maple Cabin, the words “beautiful”, “great views”, “countless amenities”, and “memorable trip” usually come up in conversation. These Pigeon Forge cabins are located throughout town in a variety of resorts and locales. Sugar Maple also offers a number of secluded cabins, pet-friendly cabins, and large group rentals.
  2. Majestic Mountain Vacations – Like Sugar Maple, Majestic’s cabin properties are spread out all across Pigeon Forge and Sevier County. And with amenities that stretch the gamut of entertainment at most, what sets these apart are the number of wooded-area rentals. You’ll find cabins that back up to a mountain stream and some that situated away from other rentals so as to preserve your getaway’s peace and tranquility.
  3. Legacy Mountain Resort – Another Pigeon Forge resort located atop one of the area’s most scenic ridges. The views from Legacy Mountain Resort are jaw-dropping to say the least. Each cabins features its share of amenities and a view to match.

Top 10 Sevierville Restaurants

Top 10 Sevierville Restaurants from the Rib Shack off Pittman Center Road to Applewood Farmhouse off the Parkway, Sevierville’s great for eating.

With all the fantastic restaurants in the Smoky Mountain region, sometimes picking one can be as easy as shaking them all up in a jar and seeing which one falls out. Sevierville is no exception. While there are a number of great choices, our pick for No. 1 is also our pick for the best BBQ in the entire area as well. But this is not an end all list, there are numerous restaurants that open every year in the area so if you think we might have missed one, drop us a line.

Sevierville’s top restaurants stretch all the way into the county with great food being found no matter where you find yourself in town. Anyways, enough meandering about geography, let’s get on with the eats.

Our list of the Top 10 Restaurants in Sevierville:

  1. The Rib Shack – Located off of Pittman Center Road in Sevier County, this wooden shack serves up the BEST barbeque brisket in the area. You want to eat somewhere that you’ll tell stories about and have you seeking out the next time you’re in Sevierville, well the Rib Shack is the place. They also feature Barbeque chicken and pork, but the brisket is edibly inspiring.
  2. Bistro 109 – This fine dining establishment located in the heart of downtown Sevierville features a number of locally grown and organic dishes as well as a beautiful wine bar with numerous selections to choose from. Stop by for lunch and order a sandwich or lunch portion with sweet potato fries or experience one of their revolving specials.
  3. Applewood Farmhouse – Start off each meal with an apple fritter and pick from a menu consisting of country favorites. Fritters as well as an Apple Julep and apple butter are served with each meal. Her, you’ll feel like you’re sitting at your grandmother’s table again with all the old country smells and tastes you enjoyed as a child.
  4. Tony Gore’s BBQ – Another great barbeque place that has been featured in numerous publications as one of the best in the Smokies and Tennessee. Come for lunch and try their BBQ pork sandwich or chicken. You can’t go wrong with barbeque at Tony Gore’s, just bring your appetite.
  5. Gondolier – This Italian eatery features some of best southern European delights including gyros, numerous pasta dishes, calzones, and pizzas. Each is served with fresh baked bread sticks and marinara sauce. If it’s Italian you’re craving, stop by Gondolier for a bite. Continue reading “Top 10 Sevierville Restaurants”

Winterfest in 3D

Get your special 3D glasses and enjoy Sevierville’s Winterfest in an all new way – in 3D!

How about seeing Winterfest in Sevierville in 3D? Seeing millions of Christmas lights and snowflakes like they’re coming right at you. That’s something that will get the kids excited and looking forward to November in Sevierville.

Not only is the 3D Winterfest experience a great way to get in the holiday spirit, it’s great fun! Before coming to Winterfest in Sevierville, stop by the Sevierville Visitor Center on Hwy 66 (1.5 miles from I-40 Exit 407). It’s there that you can purchase a pair of Winterfest in 3D glasses while supplies last for only $1. The glasses shift each point of light into a snowflake, and when you think of all the Christmas lights that went into making Sevierville Winterfest, that’s a lot of snowflakes.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium – one of busiest events of the season, is the perfect place to put the 3D glasses to the test. This one-mile drive through LED light experience is made up solely of Christmas lights. This year, Shadrack’s features even more opportunities for the kids. Get out of the car and enjoy an on-site petting zoo, camel as well as pony rides, a chance to get your photo taken with Santa Claus himself and a Christmas tree lot (after Thanksgiving) if you haven’t already picked out that perfect tree for your home.

Winterfest brings more people to Sevierville every year. And not only for the lights, but to do some Christmas shopping at the Tanger Outlet, take in one of the many area shows and visit their favorite attractions. The Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Mall will not only be decorated in its holiday best, sales and deals aplenty will flow through its nearly 150 name brand stores that include everything from Polo Ralph Lauren to Starbucks.

This year, Winterfest in Sevierville can also be brought home with you…. And we’re not talking about the 3D glasses. Stores like Country Christmas and Christmas Done Bright will sell Winterfest-style lighting displays and other custom displays. Come to Sevierville for Winterfest! It’s something you have to see – literally, to believe!