Gatlinburg is a truly wonderful city filled with adventures for the entire family! ❤️
Bonus: it’s just a quick drive from Hidden Mountain Resort! ✅
Family Fun in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Some of the coolest tourist destinations in the South are just minutes from our campus! 🚢 ⛰
Book a cabin, and come see the weird, wild wonders waiting to be explored in Pigeon Forge for yourself! 🙃
Gearing Up For Hiking Season in the Smoky Mountains
Spring has arrived, and we couldn’t be happier about it. With the warmer weather officially making its way back to the Smokies, hiking season is here to stay!
These wonderful mountains are home to what seems like more hiking trails and walking paths than people, but to fully (and often safely) enjoy them, you’ll need the right gear. In today’s blog, we want to give a quick rundown of shops in the area that can equip you to scale new heights! Let’s get climbing!
Bass Pro Shops
If you are an outdoorsy person living in the South, Bass Pro Shops is a household name. This rustic mega-store is packed with all the hardware you need to hunt, fish, and, in today’s case, hike. Whether it’s boots, spikes, or tents, Bass Pro Shops has you covered!
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Needing a guide for your next hiking adventure? The fine folks at Nantahala are just a call away. Nantahala not only has the know-how to make your next journey a success, but their retail side can help you stock up on essential gear as well! Don’t take to the trails before visiting with these awesome people!
Uncle Lem’s Outfitters
East Tennessee-based Uncle Lem’s is the perfect place to get your essential hiking clothing! From Chacos to Patagonia, this local favorite is stocked and calling your name!
J Hardy Outfitters at Tanger Outlets
One of the newest spots on our list, J Hardy Outfitters is a convenient, one-stop-shop for the outdoor enthusiast! With a wide selection of items spanning everything from firepits to campfire coffee mugs, J Hardy is teeming with the gear you need to enjoy hiking and beyond in the Smokies this spring! (Plus: it’s just a stone’s throw from the Hidden Mountain campus)
REI at Mountain Mile
Last but not least is REI at Mountain Mile! This new location gives visitors to the area easy access to a plethora of outdoor gear! REI is known as a leader in the industry and needs to be on the itinerary of any enthusiast coming to the Smoky Mountains!
We hope you have enjoyed this quick look at some of the awesome outdoor-focused stores in the area. All of these shops are a quick drive from the Hidden Mountain campus, and each would help make your hiking adventure easier, safer, and more fun!
If the thought of hiking the Smokies stirs your heart, but you just aren’t sure about taking off into the wilderness alone, check out our friends at Smoky Mountain Guides and let these trusted local guides show you around these beautiful mountains!
We know you’re going to love your time in the Smokies, and Hidden Mountain Resort will make a wonderful basecamp for your next hiking adventure!
Give us a call or explore further on our website today!
865-453-9850 HiddenMountain.com
Winter Activities in the Smoky Mountains
Winter in the Smokies is a magical time, and we want to share some of the absolute best ways to spend the season while here! Without further ado, let’s get going!
Ober Gatlinburg
Ober Gatlinburg is a staple of the Smokies and it should definitely (in our opinion) make it into your trip itinerary! With skiing, indoor ice skating, a rock-climbing wall, bumper cars, and an aerial tramway offering incredible views, Ober Gatlinburg has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this winter paradise while visiting the Smoky Mountains this year!
Pigeon Forge Snow
Does an indoor park featuring real snow and a hillside of tubing lanes sound like fun? If so, Pigeon Forge Snow is for you. This family-friendly adventure is the perfect way to enjoy the fun of snow tubing without braving the chilly outdoors. With temperatures in the ’60s-’70s, tons of tubing fun, and no cost for parents to watch, Pigeon Forge Snow is a comfortable, exciting, and affordable winter treat!
Rowdy Bear Mountain Adventure Park
For the adrenaline junkie in your life, we have the ideal winter destination. Between its two locations (downtown Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge), Rowdy Bear offers guests a myriad of adventurous activities including an air coaster that lets riders glide at treetop level, a 500-foot long tubing hill that hits speeds up to 35 mph, and North America’s first laser gun hanging coaster. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Hiking in the park
Last but not least is the natural beauty of winter hikes in the Smokies. Whether you take the gorgeous drive over to Cades Cove and it’s many trails, or spend your time trekking the Hidden Mountain campus, the Smokies are filled with hiking opportunities for the entire family.
We sincerely hope you get to experience some of these incredible seasonal activities while staying in the Smoky Mountains this year. And, if you are still looking for a place to spend your winter getaway, give us a call or book online today!
865-453-9850
Family-style Restaurants to Visit in the Smoky Mountains
Any good southern, family vacation includes comfort food and lots of it. We may be partial, but to us, the communities surrounding Hidden Mountain Resort offer some of the tastiest, country-cooked dishes you can find! So today, we are going to share a few local dining options we think your tastebuds will love! Grab a napkin, and let’s dig in!
Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant
The first mouthwatering stop on our journey is Sevierville’s oldest eatery, the Applewood Farmhouse. This gorgeous restaurant is located less than one mile from Hidden Mountain and offers a wide selection of tasty, down-home southern favorites. Opened in 1986, Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and its sister location Applewood Farmhouse Grill serve pancakes, omelets, chicken and dumplings, and smiles to over 1 million guests each year. We don’t think you’ll regret joining that number!
If the dishes of a famous chef served straight to your plate sound tempting, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen is a must! Named for the world-renowned, southern cook, Paula Deen’s offers a truly unique, country dining experience. Every item on the menu comes straight from Paula’s cookbooks, and the food is enjoyed by passing dishes around the table in a setting reminiscent of family dinners of old. If you are looking to reconnect through good food and laughter, make sure to put Paula Deen’s on the itinerary.
Carrying on the hospitality of the late Dr. John and Blanche Ogle, Five Oaks provides a warm, southern meal to any and all weary travelers that step inside. In this spirit, Five Oaks offers large, open dining rooms so visitors can enjoy a deeply communal meal experience. On top of incredible, in-house southern cooking, Five Oaks partners with Goodnight Brothers Country Ham to deliver salty, delectable country ham straight to your home. Even after you leave, you can still enjoy a little piece of Five Oaks wherever you are. Trust us, you will want to!
Our final stop is The Old Mill. Originally opened as the Cornflour Restaurant in 1993, The Old Mill is a staple of Pigeon Forge. This sprawling restaurant serves everything from delectable pecan pie to savory fried chicken and is a southern cooking aficionado’s dream. In addition to delicious food, The Old Mill features a general store, The Farmhouse Kitchen stocked with recipes and mixes needed to create many of their signature dishes, Pigeon River Pottery, and Sassafras jewelry, apparel, and accessories. There is truly something for everyone at The Old Mill!
We are so happy you chose to stay with us and sincerely hope these recommendations lead to many good meals with those you love. If you are still planning your mountain getaway, we would love to see you at Hidden Mountain Resort. Give us a call or book online today!
865-453-9850
Coffee Shops to Visit in the Smokies
In our opinion, every day should start with a delicious cup of coffee. Luckily, there are plenty of wonderful options where the magical liquid can be found near Hidden Mountain Resort, and today we are going to look at the ones we love the most! Cream and sugar? Let’s get started!
This European, cottage style coffee shop sits tucked among the 30 storefronts of the Village in Gatlinburg. The coffee here is roasted in-house, and you can even buy freshly roasted, single-serve coffee pods to brew once back home! With a wide variety of flavored coffee and tea options, this quaint shop is a “must-stop” while walking the famous Gatlinburg strip.
Does a limited selection of boldly flavored coffees and espresso drinks pique your interest? If so, Coffee Armory is for you! Serving varieties of Black Rifle Coffee, the veteran-owned Coffee Armory is built for the hardcore, full-flavor coffee lover. Strong, delicious cups of joe crafted by and for American patriots!
Honeybee is new to Sevierville but a fixture in the East Tennessee coffee world and for good reason. The team at Honeybee sources their own beans, and roasts them to exacting standards, in-house. Featuring a dedicated crew and delicious coffee for passionate bean connoisseurs. Their lavender honey latte is already a local favorite.
We hope this blog helps you find the perfect cup of coffee during your stay at Hidden Mountain Resort! For those who haven’t booked with us yet, we are just a call away!
865-453-9850
