A Local Offers Tips for Creating the Perfect Smoky Mountain Picnic
While I appreciate the value of a good walk through the woods or a scenic drive through Cades Cove or along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, my favorite thing to do in the mountains is a good family picnic. When I was kid, my stepfather’s family would come down from Indiana and we’d plan small family get-togethers or larger family reunions in the mountains, preferably next to a picnic spot with a nice mountain stream suitable for wading or even tubing.
Many of my fondest mountain memories involve family picnics in one of what I call the big three picnic areas on the Tennessee side of the Smokies.
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Where To Go
The answer to this question depends entirely upon your definition of the word picnic. I’m a big tent guy. To me, a picnic just boils down to sharing a family meal outdoors in the relative wild. Maybe there’s a grill, and you’re cooking out or barbecuing. To others, a picnic is a very specific thing. It involves a basket – Yogi Bear style – and bringing prepared food.
Either way, on the Tennessee side of the mountain, three main picnic areas are competing to be the best. Cades Cove is right outside the entrance to the cove. Metcalf Bottoms is located between Little River Gorge Road and Wears Valley – I prefer the Wears Valley “back” entrance. But if you’re coming from Gatlinburg, that’s the long way around. The third in this picnic triumvirate is the Chimneys Picnic Area, located off of Newfound Gap Road. It’s large with plenty of sites. The Chimneys is probably my favorite picnic area in the National Park, but as of this writing, it is one of several closed for either construction improvements or budgetary reasons. In the absence of the Chimneys, Gatlinburg visitors should consider the Greenbrier Picnic area as a suitable replacement.
Now, all of the above-mentioned places are designated picnic areas. They have parking – remember to purchase your parking tag online before you go – as well as accessible bathrooms and barbecue grills ready for you to add charcoal.
The downside to these spots is that they are pretty popular. So, there’s always a bit of a roll of the dice whether you’ll find a spot. I’ve never been shut out, but it’s been close. When we’ve had larger family gatherings, someone is designated to get there early and secure a couple of good spots.
But you don’t have to picnic in the designated spots. Nothing is preventing you from finding a pretty spot in the Cove, laying down a blanket and enjoying a meal. The downside? You feel a little on display if you pick a spot close to the road. Like the bear, deer and turkeys, cars will slow to get a good gander at the picnickers. It can feel awkward. Also, at the Cove, the restrooms are few and far between. It can be an issue. There are lots of places in the park where you can picnic. Just make sure, wherever you do, to properly dispose of trash – which is, again, easier at designated picnic areas.
Where To Get Supplies at the Store
One advantage of being a local is that we usually just get our stuff from our local stores. There’s a Food City in Gatlinburg. You can find a Publix and a Kroger in Pigeon Forge, not far from the entrance to Wears Valley, a perfect stopping point on the way to the Valley or Cades Cove. I recognize the value in going to the grocery store and buying stuff to grill or make sandwiches. However, one of the advantages of life in the Smokies is that many of the restaurants have the perfect fixings for a great Smoky Mountain picnic ready to go with only a few minutes’ notice.
Where To Get Supplies at Restaurants
One option – maybe the best option – is Calhoun’s, which has some of the best barbecue in the mountains. Their family backs feature pulled pork, brisket, or ribs and each comes with sides, buns, plates, and napkins. It’s everything you need for a fantastic Smoky Mountain picnic. Even better, dad doesn’t have to mess with the charcoal and spend his time cooking while everyone else is relaxing or playing in the stream.
Another option is individual steamed hoagies from Parton’s Deli, which is right at the entrance to the strip in Gatlinburg. A local institution since 1974, Parton’s offers fantastic deli sandwiches and you might even see the famous Gatlinburg BMW to boot.
The excellent sandwich shop Tennessee Jed’s has a robust EZ Catering menu. The weekend BBQ package includes five pounds of pulled pork, a quart of mac and cheese, a quart of beans, a quart of slaw, plus buns and BBQ sauce. It feeds 8 to 10 people, but you’d better bring plasticware and plates. The catering menu also offers meatloaf, ribs, wings, chicken salad and even a whole gator, but you need to contact them in advance.
In Pigeon Forge, Puckett’s has dinner for four that you can order online and pick up ready to go. You get a choice of two meats, two sides and a half-gallon beverage. Plates and cups are extra.
What About Dessert?
My idea of a perfect mountain picnic dessert is a ripe watermelon dropped safely in the cold mountain stream until it’s ready to be consumed. It’s the best dessert there is, to my mind. However, this comes with a couple of caveats. First, you got to make sure you pick an eddy where it won’t float downstream. Secondly, you have to be close enough to protect it from other visitors who may not be aware that watermelons are not a naturally occurring phenomenon in mountain streams. Last couple of times, we’ve had kids – even teens – mess with our melon, bust it up or even take it. Philistines.
If you want a more reliable dessert option, consider stopping at one of the two Waffle De Lys on the Gatlinburg strip for waffles and ice cream or head to Pigeon Forge to Moonshine Mountain Cookies and Ice Cream for a delectable dessert.
Do you have a favorite picnic spot in the Smokies? If so, let us know in the comments! Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains soon? Make sure to check out our coupons page before your trip!