The iconic Gatlinburg Space Needle is a 407-foot observation tower located in Gatlinburg that overlooks downtown and the Great Smoky Mountains. Its glass elevators take you to an observation deck that provides a 360° view of the surrounding area. The Space Needle is a Gatlinburg landmark that was finished in 1969 and opened to the…
Calhoun’s bills itself as “the taste of Tennessee,” and they may just be right about that. Sure, there are other places around the country that can lay claim to good barbecue – Texas, Kansas City, etc. – but Tennessee is really where the barbecue is made – especially pork barbecue. Within the boundaries of Tennessee,…
If you’re over the age of 30, you probably remember visiting a CD or record store and spending hours looking for music, checking out t-shirts or posters, and just enjoying the vibe. It wasn’t just about finding a physical piece of music to listen to – it was about just being in that place, surrounded…
For this week’s Gatlinburg restaurant review, we visited Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que, an outstanding barbecue joint that serves hickory and mesquite-smoked meats in generous portions. The restaurant also has a breakfast buffet and is situated in the same building as Big Daddy’s Pizzeria. When you walk into the building, turn right for pizza or left for…
The editorial staff of the Historic Gatlinburg Inn recently had a chance to sit down at the Park Grill (located at 1110 Parkway, very near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park). Here is our official restaurant review. Click any of the images for a larger view. The restaurant has great curb appeal….
A recent article from Forbes.com listed what they considered to be the best hotels in Gatlinburg. The Historic Gatlinburg Inn made the list! Here is what Forbes had to say about us: This historic hotel has been hosting visitors to Gatlinburg since 1937, and still maintains old-fashioned Southern hospitality, like its front porch full of…
Best Italian restaurant has been a staple in the Gatlinburg dining scene for years, and it is no wonder. It has three big things going for it: Fantastic location, situated right on the main strip at 710 Parkway (which is, of course, a very easy walk from the Historic Gatlinburg Inn). Super friendly service. Fantastic…
I recently had dinner at Smoky Mountain Brewery & Restaurant in Gatlinburg and thought it was worth a restaurant review in our little blog here. Located at 1004 Parkway, Smoky Mountain Brewery & Restaurant is an easy walk from the Historic Gatlinburg Inn. You will, however, have to cross the street. It is situated a…
A new attraction has opened up right down the street from the Historic Gatlinburg Inn, and if you grew up in the 80’s (like the author of this review) then you are going to LOVE this place! It’s called the Red Rocket Retro Arcade. This place is exactly what you would expect from its name:…
Recently I had lunch at Ole Red, a restaurant and live music venue in Gatlinburg owned by country music superstar Blake Shelton. The place has a tremendous atmosphere, and it looks like Blake’s designers did a fantastic job blending high end with red neck (ala, a vintage International Harvester tractor suspended upside down from the…
