The Wandering Disciple

Tucked just beyond the hustle of the Parkway in Gatlinburg sits a humble roadside diner that has quietly earned a big reputation— Little House of Pancakes . Known by locals and returning visitors alike, this unassuming spot has become a go-to breakfast stop for those seeking comfort food done right. Step inside and you’ll quickly realize this isn’t a flashy, tourist-driven breakfast chain. The décor leans classic—simple tables, wood-paneled walls, and a no-frills atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time. But that’s part of the appeal. It’s warm, welcoming, and focused on what matters most: the food. There’s something refreshing about a place that doesn’t try too hard. No gimmicks—just the smell of fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, and pancakes hitting the griddle. Let’s get straight to it—the pancakes are the star of the show. Made from scratch and served hot off the griddle, they’re thick, fluffy, and generously portioned. Many visitors claim they’re among the best they’ve eve...

Nestled along the Parkway at the gateway to Gatlinburg , Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini Golf invites visitors to trade the hustle of downtown for a lighthearted journey into the wild frontier. Inspired by the legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett , this attraction blends family-friendly competition with a whimsical, backwoods charm that feels right at home in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains . From the moment you step onto the course, you’re transported to a rustic world of log cabins, bubbling creeks, and woodland critters. The attraction features two distinct 18-hole courses , offering 36 holes of entertainment designed for all ages and skill levels. Each course tells its own story—one a bit more challenging, the other perfect for beginners—making it easy for families, couples, or groups to enjoy at their own pace. As you move from hole to hole, you’ll encounter: Animated bears, raccoons, and chipmunks Flowing water features and working mill wheels Playful obstacles, ramps, and c...

Tucked gently between the bustling charm of Gatlinburg and the gateway of the Sugarlands Visitor Center lies one of the most peaceful walks in the Smokies—the Gatlinburg Trail. Following the soothing flow of the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River, this path offers something rare: a chance to step away from noise and into stillness without ever venturing too far. The Gatlinburg Trail stretches approximately 1.9 miles one way (about 4 miles roundtrip), connecting the edge of town to the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park . It’s widely considered an easy, mostly flat hike with minimal elevation gain, making it accessible for families, casual walkers, and those simply seeking a quiet moment in nature. Unlike many mountain trails that demand endurance, this path invites you to slow down. The gentle terrain winds through a cove hardwood forest, often within earshot—and sight—of the river as it tumbles over rocks and bends through the valley. One of the defining features of th...

Tucked just behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains, the short hike to Cataract Falls via the Fighting Creek Nature Trail offers a quiet invitation to slow down and reconnect—with both creation and Creator. This isn’t a strenuous trek or a test of endurance. At roughly 0.7 miles roundtrip with minimal elevation gain, it’s more of a peaceful walk than a hike. But sometimes, the most meaningful journeys aren’t the hardest—they’re the ones where we finally have space to listen. The trail begins gently, winding through a lush forest filled with towering hardwoods and the soft murmur of Fighting Creek flowing nearby. Sunlight filters through the canopy, illuminating patches of moss and wild growth, reminding you of the quiet beauty that thrives when left untouched. As you follow the path, crossing small footbridges and weaving alongside the water, it feels less like you’re heading somewhere—and more like you’re being led. There’s a simplicity here that speaks deepl...

There’s something about a mountain morning in Gatlinburg that just makes breakfast taste better and Mountain Breakfast absolutely delivered. Nestled in the heart of this charming mountain town, the restaurant offers a warm and inviting atmosphere that immediately sets the tone for a relaxing start to the day. Whether you're gearing up for a hike in the Smoky Mountains or simply enjoying a leisurely vacation morning, this spot feels like the perfect place to ease into the day. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with friendly smiles and prompt service, which made us feel right at home. The menu offered a variety of classic breakfast favorites with a few standout specialties, making it easy to find something for everyone. After a bit of deliberation, we decided to try the ham and cheese omelet and the chicken and waffles; two dishes that ended up exceeding our expectations. The ham and cheese omelet was everything you want to start your day; hot, fluffy, and packed with flavo...

Every city has a dark side and learning about the haunts is one of our favorite things to do while traveling. Take to the streets of downtown Gatlinburg to learn about the misery, heartbreak and death that plagued the city leading to tons of paranormal activity in this tourist town. The Ghost & Haunt of Gatlinburg will show you the sites and tell you the stories that will live you spine tingling and have you looking over your shoulder and around the corners.  (Photo: June 5, 2018)

Hop aboard the Chondola and take a ride to the summit of Anakeesta, Gatlinburg's treetop adventure. Opened in 2018, Anakeesta is one of the regions newest attractions and is located high above the town. Your journey to Anakeesta begins in the heart of the Gatlinburg as you board the chondola for a 600 foot lift up to the summit of Gatlinburg's highest point. Once you arrive at the top, there is plenty of excitement awaiting from a 16 bridge treetop trail, a challenging zip line course, a 360 degree observation tower and much more. (Photo: June 5, 2018)

When traffic along the Cades Cove loop comes to a complete stop you can be pretty sure a bear has been spotted.  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home over 1,500 black bears and Cades Cove is a great place to see them.  The park is one of the largest protected habitats for the bears and they are plentiful in the park with an average of 2 bears per square mile of the park.  Just remember if you encounter a black bear on your trip through the mountains, be sure to keep a safe distance between you and the bear while enjoying the moment of catching one of these amazing animals in the wild. (Photo: June 4, 2018)

An evening mist begins to form along the Cliff Branch in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The Cliff Branch runs right though the heart of Gatlinburg creating that iconic mountain stream view we have all come to know from East Tennessee. The Cliff Branch begins up the mountain and flows south though the town before joining with the Buckberry Branch and Holy Branch south of town. There are many cool places to sit and listen to the stream flow like along this hiking trail at the Gatlinburg Trail. (Photo: June 3, 2018)

The scarred mountainside and shells of burnt out dwellings dot the usually lush Smoky Mountains months after the Chimney Tops fire. The fire started in November 2016 and burnt almost 18,000 acres before fire crews got it under control. The complex of fires destroyed 2,460 buildings and killed 14 people. It was one of the largest natural disasters in the history of Tennessee and the deadliest wildfire in the eastern US since 1947. This photo is from the Gatlinburg bypass taken about six months post fire and shows some of the burnt out treelines and a structure that was lost during the fire. (Photo: June 14, 2017)

A pair of sand tiger sharks patrol the depths of the Shark Lagoon at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in downtown Gatlinburg. Shark Lagoon is the centerpiece of the aquarium featuring over 8,500 animals from 75 different species. Some of the more popular residents of Shark Lagoon are the Sand Tiger Sharks, Green Sea Turtle, Sawfish and much more. There are three ways to view these aquatic animals; an over head view from the second level, an underwater journey through the 340 foot tunnel or a glass bottom boat adventure. (Photo: June 9. 2016)

The comfortable living room of a villa at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort provides a home away from home for our family's vacation to the Smokies. With a living room, dining room, kitchen, multiple bedrooms and a porch overlooking the woods, it provides a great way for a family to getaway into the mountains with the comforts of home. A hybrid between a hotel room and a cabin, it is a great option if you want the feel of a resort with the comforts of home. (Photo: June 7, 2016)

The west prong of the Little Pigeon River slowly flows along the Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Little Pigeon River flows almost 30 miles from its source deep in the Smoky Mountains to it meets the French Broad River near Sevierville. The river features 3 prongs and the west prong is the more popular as it flows along popular hiking trails in the park as well as the towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. (Photo: June 8, 2016)

Gatlinburg, Tennessee:   Good morning from our final full day of the 2018 Summer Road Trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.  Unlike yesterday's busy day, today is much more laid back with nothing scheduled.  So I kicked around the idea of going to Dollywood but the mountains are calling my name and after our luck of finding bear the other day, I figured I try to find more bear and maybe the other popular park resident, the elk.  So instead of hitting the commercial attractions, we elected to head back into the natural ones instead. But before we hit the trails, it was time to refuel the energy tanks.  Today for breakfast, we headed about 20 minutes out of town to a little local restaurant called Trish's Mountain Diner.  It was well worth the drive.  This restaurant located in a rustic cabin had the most hospitable staff since we arrived in town and the food was amazing.  I really hate it that we found it on the last day of the trip because I ce...

Gatlinburg, Tennessee:  Good morning from the Great Smoky Mountains.  Its time for another day of adventures in the mountains of East Tennessee.  Today was we take a turn from exploring the mountains to exploring some of the attractions that the region has to offer.  Today we are scheduled to visit Anakeesta in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg and then head outside the city for some tubing on the Little Pigeon River.  After dinner and once the sun set over the mountains and the streets became clouded in darkness, it was time to explore the haunted side of Gatlinburg. The morning kicked off with breakfast at Crockett's Breakfast Camp.  This was a favorite we found during our 2016 trip to Gatlinburg.  The restaurant is themed to look like a pioneer camp, even the menu comes in a pioneer newspaper.   The have a bunch of delicious choices on the menu and it was really hard to narrow it down to one choice.  So I ordered the postmaster s...

Gatlinburg, Tennessee:  A new day brings new adventures in the mountains of East Tennessee and today's adventures was to go find bears.  Three trips to the mountains and three times I have come back empty handed at seeing bears.  It's always such a let down to see pictures and hear stories from friends who have seen the bears but yet to have see them yourself.  It was a priority of this trip to see bears. We skipped breakfast this morning to hit the trails early.  Today's bear hunting adventure took us to the popular Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  This popular valley in a remote section of the park is one of the best places to see bears.  The drive to Cades Cove is rather long but very enjoyable as you pass through the mountains and some water features that take your mind off the road an onto nature. Once we reached Cades Cove the wildlife viewing had begun immediately.  We were greeted by a few wild turkeys a...

Gatlinburg, Tennessee: A beautiful mountain sunrise gave way to the first full day in the mountains as we prepared for a Sunday fun day of exploration of the mountains.  My second home is in the mountains while my first home was back in the Sunshine State.  Today's adventures called for an exciting day of exploring the Newfound Gap Road, the main road through the park and a great place to start an auto tour of the Great Smoky Mountains. The road is filled with sweeping vistas of the Smokies and is a great way to get a glimpse into the park and all it has to offer.  The road is the main gateway to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and is filled with trails and panoramic views.  We have passed through it several times but never took the time to truly explore it. But before hitting the road, I took a walk around the hotel while the family woke up and got ready.  I took a walk around the hotel grounds and then to the nearby creek that flows in front of t...