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How We Celebrated Our 7th Anniversary in Gatlinburg

Good finds. Helpful advice. Real recommendations.

For our 7th wedding anniversary, Dale and I decided we didn’t need a long vacation. We just wanted to get away, spend some time together, and have a little fun.

So after I got off work Saturday evening, we headed toward Gatlinburg.

And somehow, in one short getaway, we managed to fit in a quiet little motel, a walk through downtown Gatlinburg, an amazing breakfast, a Slingshot ride through the mountains, pizza with a view, and pirate mini golf.

Here’s what we did—and what we’d recommend if you’re planning your own Gatlinburg getaway.

Where We Stayed: Marshall Creek Rest Motel

I found Marshall Creek Rest Motel while looking for somewhere simple, clean, and close to downtown Gatlinburg.

And I’m so glad I did.

This isn't a big fancy hotel. It has more of an old-fashioned, cabin-style feel, which was actually part of what I loved about it.

Our room was very clean, the shower was great, and it was surprisingly quiet.

There are also two outdoor sitting areas along the creek. It’s the kind of place where you can sit outside, listen to the water, and forget for a little while that you're right near one of Tennessee's busiest tourist towns.

For us, it was exactly what we needed for our anniversary.

Would we stay again? Absolutely.

An Evening Walk Through The Village

After getting settled, we spent some time around downtown Gatlinburg and walked through The Village Shops.

If you've never been, The Village feels like a tiny European village tucked right into downtown Gatlinburg.

And with the fall decorations out, it was beautiful.

You don't necessarily have to go there to spend money, either. We enjoyed simply walking around, looking at everything, and spending time together.

Sometimes those simple parts of a trip end up being some of the best.

Sunday Morning at Pancake Pantry

The next morning, we went to Pancake Pantry for breakfast.

This place has been part of Gatlinburg for generations, and I had wanted to try it.

Dale went with pancakes, eggs, and sausage.

I had a waffle with strawberries.

It was a fun way to start the day before the part of our anniversary trip that Dale knew absolutely nothing about...

My Surprise for Dale

I had one big surprise planned.

A Slingshot rental.

And I didn't tell him where we were going.

We headed toward Townsend, picked up the Slingshot, and spent the next few hours driving through the mountains.

Dale was STUNNED. 😂

This ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire trip.

There’s something completely different about seeing the mountains when you're riding through them in an open-air vehicle.

If you're planning a Gatlinburg or Smoky Mountains getaway and want to add something a little different, this is definitely an experience I'd consider doing again.

A Little Place We Found Along the Way

After riding around for a few hours, we were hungry.

We stopped at Sloppy Hog Burger Joint in Wears Valley.

And this is exactly the kind of place I love finding.

We had chicken bacon ranch pizza and sat outside with a beautiful mountain view.

It wasn't something I had planned months ahead or something we had to dress up for.

It was simply a fun little stop that became part of the memory.

Those are often my favorite recommendations—the places you discover while you're out enjoying the day.

We Finished With Pirate Mini Golf

Before heading home, we squeezed in one more adventure: pirate mini golf in Pigeon Forge.

We played both the indoor and outdoor courses, and there was even a pirate walking around interacting with everyone.

And I have to mention this part...

I got a hole-in-one.

Dale?

It took him five shots. 😂

I'm just leaving that information right here.

It was silly, competitive, and a perfect way to finish our anniversary getaway.

What I Loved Most About This Trip

Looking back, I don't think my favorite part was any one place.

It was getting away together.

We spend so much of everyday life working, looking at our phones, handling responsibilities, and thinking about what needs to happen next.

For one little getaway, we got out of our normal routine.

We drove through the mountains.

We laughed.

We ate good food.

We tried something we'd never done before.

And we made another memory together.

If you're thinking about planning a Gatlinburg getaway, you don't necessarily need a week-long itinerary packed with every attraction in town.

Pick a few things that sound fun, leave yourself some room to explore, and enjoy the person you're going with.

That's what made this trip special for us.

Happy 7th anniversary to us. ❤️

— Anita

Planning Your Own Smoky Mountains Getaway?

After planning our anniversary trip, I realized how easy it is to have hotel information in one place, restaurant ideas somewhere else, screenshots of things you want to do on your phone... and then try to remember all of it when you actually get there. 😂

So I created the Smoky Mountains Getaway Planner to put everything in one place.

This 15-page printable planner helps you organize:

Your trip at a glance

Things you really want to do

Your daily itinerary

Places you want to eat and explore

A rainy-day backup plan

Packing and road-trip essentials

Reservations and important information

Your getaway budget

Your favorite memories

Ideas for your next trip

I also included some of our personal recommendations from this anniversary getaway, including places we stayed, ate, explored, and had fun.

Whether you're planning an anniversary, a weekend away, a family trip, or just a few days in the mountains, you can use the planner to make the trip your own.

Smoky Mountains Getaway Planner — $5.99

Plan it. Explore it. Remember it. ❤️

Get the Smoky Mountains Getaway Planner

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