Ski Southeast Messageboard

^^^^ accurate synopsis. Make sure to take time to go see the World's Largest As Seen on TV Store.

Nah that's pigeon forge. Galtinburg is much classier. :p



Remember there are benefits though; as in really cheap hotel rooms come winter time. Also a good place to stage for Nascar events and college football (I'd imagine a lot of people stay there and go see UT play. As a kid we always stayed there and watched WCU play).



It does have it's tackier downside but thats the money they're after: the same folks that take vacations and visit bass pro shops as their vacation.



If you hike it's also a great staging point for lots of good hiking in the Great Smoky Mountain national park.

@swamphox 291683 wrote:Nah that's pigeon forge. Galtinburg is much classier. :p



Exactly, if you want to experience the seventh level of Hell go to Pigeon Forge on a Rod Run weekend and pretend the A/C on your car doesn't work. Be sure to take all weapons out of your vehicle beforehand, you would surely either take someone else's or your own life if you have that option.



Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are areas to be bypassed to find the jewels of the Smokies.

All us locals aren't bad folks. We avoid Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg during the warm months like the plague. That area has had all the local charm drained out of it by developers. We go to the mountains threw Townsend.

@MikeO 291695 wrote:All us locals aren't bad folks. We avoid Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg during the warm months like the plague. That area has had all the local charm drained out of it by developers. We go to the mountains threw Townsend.



You saying that reminds me of my honeymoon in 2k5 (I was broke as a joke). We stopped by the donut friar on a monday morning and the lady that ran the place had signed a long term lease good for a number of years but stated that the shops on the main drag were paying up to 8k a month in rent and thats why there's a rotating string of failed businesses along the main drag. The property owners dont care as long as theyre occupied.



There used to be a lot more local craft oriented shops in town but I think most of them moved up 321 towards pittman center and cosby.



There arent many places that I have a genuine interest in visiting though, I remember a really cool comic book shop over by the haunted house. I remember a place that made socks (people would stare at it for hours) and I remember going to the original Ripley's before it burnt.



Now when I go I'll probably try and hit gatlinburlier for some flavored chew. I used to mail order that stuff in high school. My friends and I would send them money orders for a hundred bucks or more sometimes. their flavored dips were good too but theyve quit making them since the company that shredded the product went out of business.



The pepper palace has some awesome stuff in there. The candied jalapenos and their wing sauce are both really good.



Mountain Music was a pretty good music store back in the day but as I havnt purchased music since 1999 I can't speak for it these days.



The aforementioned places are all in "Mountain Mall"



It's kind of hard to find good places to eat.



My family goes to the apple barn every Sunday after we attend church together and the food is both expensive and kind of crummy. Imagine cracker barrell....now imagine cracker barrell pre-making and freezing their salads and when they serve it to you it still has a frozen chunk of ice in the middle.



Peddler is good but pricy as all get out.



There's an old 50's style diner in Sevierville that's worth the price and then some.



So i Guess what i'm getting at: Where's some decent spots to eat at? I still hit up G'burg once or twice a year.

Ugggh. Thanks for reminding me that I have to go there at the end of October for the Crescent Ski Council's Fall Conference.

And +1 on PF on Rod Run weekend. Been there, done that. Never again.

@SKISC 291703 wrote:And +1 on PF on Rod Run weekend. Been there, done that. Never again.



Yup did that too by accident...Thought RR was the weekend after we went. 7th level hell indeed.