Six Mistakes We've Made Before and During Our Gatlinburg Visits

To say we’ve never made a mistake in all of our visits to Gatlinburg would be extremely disingenuous. To err is human, and despite all the advice I’ve given, we’ve done some things we wish we hadn’t. Isn’t that part of the decision-making process when you plan a trip anywhere you’ve been before? You learn from your mistakes so that you don’t make them again. Sometimes it’s easy; sometimes it’s a little more complicated. Here are some of the mistakes we’ve made so that maybe you don’t have to!

We Bought Trolley Tickets We Didn’t Use

Really this isn’t a big deal. The good thing is you don’t have to make this mistake at all since the Gatlinburg Trolley is now free throughout town. Prior to our first visit in 2011, we stopped at the Welcome Center and bought $2 tickets for an all-day pass. Well, for whatever reason, we never made a point to ride it on our first time. I guess we were so smitten with walking everywhere, we didn’t seek it out. We did take advantage of it in the years to come, so while it wasn’t a big mistake, it was still money wasted (more on my my penny-pinching ways later).

Not Bringing Pain and Sick Medication From Home

This should be a no-brainer, but chalk it up as something not to be forgotten again. Yes, there is a Walgreens in Gatlinburg, but it would’ve been so much easier having it on hand, especially since it’s always on hand when you need it at home. Just because you’re in Gatlinburg doesn’t mean you are numb to common ailments at home. Being in the Smoky Mountains does wonders for a lot of things you’re coping with, but there are certain things that can’t be ignored. This is a big item on your “bring with you” list you shouldn’t leave off.

We Stayed in a Cottage Downtown

I’m not going to name the hotel with the cottage, but we still have enjoyed most of our stays at this particular place in the past. On this occasion, we decided to go off the board and stay in a special cottage on their grounds. We felt lucky when it was available, but when we walked inside, it was understood. It wasn’t terrible; it just wasn’t too private. Sure, it’s in a great location, but we were additionally disappointed with how dark and creepy it made us feel. Again, it’s something we won’t do again, despite the fact it didn’t put a total damper on our Gatlinburg experience.

Taking a Hike with Treacherous Water Crossings

Upper Meigs Falls has 4 water crossings…we stopped in the middle of the third. I thought my wife had messed up her knee when she slipped on a rock in the middle of the stream, and it scared the living daylights out of me. We had already cautiously trekked through the first two, so the next one was met with much trepidation. Needless to say, our hike was done after the most frightening experience I’ve ever had in the Smoky Mountains, which I know is nothing compared to others, but it registers for me.

Staying in Pigeon Forge During Hell Week

Definitely not a good idea if you’re going to spend most of your time in Gatlinburg, but let me explain: The prices for accommodations anywhere in town were astronomical, and a bit ridiculous for marginal hotels, especially. That should be expected, but I still found a hotel in Pigeon Forge for under $100 a night in 2019 for the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

Never again, though. The hotel - which I won’t name - was a little on the sketchy side, and traffic, as also expected, meant it took us an hour to get back in the evening. Not so great. My wife wasn’t thrilled, but surprisingly, I took it all in stride. As a driver moving at best at a crawl, I could enjoy the beautiful Christmas decorations on full display. So it wasn’t such a bad thing, after all, but something we won’t be doing again.

Not Donating in the National Park When We Easily Could Have

Being a tightwad is a blessing and a curse. This is one time when I feel shameful for hesitating and not donating. You can find the boxes at the Visitors Centers and trailheads in the Smokies. I think anyone who loves the beauty of the park and wants to keep it that way should give whatever they can. I don’t care if a quarter is all you have in your pocket. I believe a contribution goes a long way. Put your politics and skepticism aside while you’re here and do the right thing, because I believe it is.

These are our mistakes we’ve remedied and never plan to do again. Do you have a list of regrets and errors you’ve learned from? Would love to hear your stories too! Don’t forget to subscribe in order to enjoy all my Gatlinburg writings in the future!