3 Reasons Why I Stay Away From Certain Tourist Spots in Gatlinburg
Just because I now live in Gatlinburg doesn’t mean I want to visit every attraction or restaurant here. There’s a restaurant on every corner that most people look forward to visiting, but there are places we never visited when we were tourists that we still have no intention of seeking out. Comfort, familiarity, and friendliness are the main reasons that keep us going to the same establishments over and over again. Living here, you hear more things and find out stuff you normally would be oblivious to as a tourist. And that is primarily what gives us a continued avoidance of certain places in Gatlinburg. You won’t find any hot takes or juicy information in this post, but you will discover the things that generally keep us away from the tourist hot spots.
1. Perpetually Busy
I don’t mind getting in on the vibe of Gatlinburg every now and then, but I have less tolerance of it than before. There are obviously spots in town we avoid because it seems like they are always busy, and since we’re not on vacation anymore, I have fewer minutes of my day to waste waiting in line.
2. Time
Yep, this is a continuation of the first one. Living in Gatlinburg doesn’t give me the privilege of doing the things normal tourists do. When I’m on vacation, I’m on…yes, vacation. This means I’m not working; here, I am. We aren’t retired; we still have to work, and all of us still hold down full-time jobs. So, as a result, we time our visits to places around the busy times, which also means avoiding at all costs the places that are always busy.
3. Overpriced Food and Drinks
I know what some of you are thinking: everything is expensive in Gatlinburg. Well, a little bit yes, but mostly no. The sales tax here is 10%, so yes, that’s a killer, but locals do get a break with some places in town offering fantastic discounts. The prices for entrees at our favorite restaurants are no different here than what they were—and still are—in Ohio, where the cost of living is 11% below the national average. Throw in the fact Tennessee has no state income tax, I’d say it balances out pretty well.
Besides, how many locals really want to pay $6 for a pint of domestic draft when they can get locally brewed beer for the same price or lower during Happy Hour ($2.50 for a Helles). Shout out to the two breweries in town doing an amazing job giving customers a better product at better prices. This also includes the food. Do I want to pay almost $20 for a burger in 2024? Nope, not happening. There are a handful of local places offering a tasty burger for under $15. And no, I don’t feel the need to try the ones that are asking an Andrew Jackson for theirs. Find the local places for better food at a reasonable cost.
Again, I’m not knocking any locals who do visit certain tourist-luring places. This is my opinion, and I refuse to single out any of the businesses I feel are catering to the people most willing to empty out their wallets with vacation cash. If you want to pay extravagant prices on food you enjoy, that’s fine. If you get enjoyment from it, that’s all that should matter. This is just a warning for those who want to watch what they’re spending and want good quality food and drinks at quality prices—like ourselves.
Thank you for reading and subscribing to my humble publication! I am always extremely appreciative of every one of you, and I hope you found this and all of my articles helpful, informative, and maybe a little entertaining. I have more exciting content coming, so stay tuned!