GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE, USA -- For some reason, Gatlinburg, Tennessee has more pancake houses than any place I've ever seen. You can't go more than a block or so without coming across one, which is handy when you need a hearty, inexpensive family friendly breakfast.

This is a town built on family tourism, so you'll find lots of places that cater to good down home type cooking at reasonable prices. My favorite was the Applewood Farm House restaurant. A small regional chain, the quality and special touches here almost remind me of those offered by the now defunct (and much missed) Bill Knapps restaurants in the midwest.

Upon being seated at this country style restaurant you're welcomed a plate of fresh hot apple fritters accompanied by a cinnamon and spice laced apple butter and an ice cold apple julep -- a non-alcoholic mixture of apple, orange, pineapple and lemon juices. The portions are plentiful and the food is good, so if you're craving down home style southern comfort food, this is the place. Try the Southern Fried Chicken or the Chicken and Dumplings.

The kids will delight in watching the numerous finches flitting from branch to branch in their large cages and aviaries scattered throughout the restaurant's dining rooms, entrance hall and waiting areas. And if by chance you do have to wait to get a table, it's OK, there are comfortable rocking chairs on the front porch that will let you relax and watch the world go by as you anticipate your meal.

Above average fare as well as creative cocktails can be found at three Gatlinburg restaurants in close proximity to one another: The Cherokee Grill, specializing in steaks, gourmet burgers, rotisserie chicken and other American fare, Calhoun's, known for great ribs and barbecue, and the Smoky Mountain Brewery and Restaurant. In addition to wood fired pizzas and calzones, ribs and other pub grub, the latter also offers an impressive selection of great micro-brewed beers.

True connoisseurs will want to order one of theSmoky Mountain Brewery's samplers, which gives you small pilsner glasses of a variety of suds. Brewer Marty Velas firmly believes in staying as local as possible with your beer. "Unlike wine, beer is best when it's freshest," Marty explains.

Educated at UC Davis in California, Velas now produces over 1500 barrels of brew for the Tennessee restaurant, while he and his family enjoy a slower pace and more relaxed lifestyle in the Smoky Mountains. Velas is so enthusiastic about his job, he's happy to give guests who care enough to request it, a tour of the restaurant's brewing facility while explaining the entire process of what it takes to make his fabulous micro-brewed beers. Would-be brew masters take note.

A great place to enjoy a steak, catfish or mountain trout dinner, as well as a cocktail or two or a glass of wine or beer, is Howard's Restaurant, a Gatlinburg tradition since1946. Howard's is a hangout for the local citizens of Gatlinburg, as much as it is a friendly place for tourists to get a decent meal. The fare is good, albeit predictable, the prices reasonable and the servers and local regulars friendly. Beware of Howard's decadent, very garlicky garlic rolls -- they are addictively good, making it way too easy to indulge in way too many of the oil and garlic soaked rolls. It doesn't help that the attentive servers here tend to keep the baskets coming. The atmosphere at Howard's, especially outside on the charming stone paved creekside patio, makes you forget you're in Tennessee. The setting almost seems international, as if at a café in Mexico or in some small European hamlet with a running brook providing an auditory and visual backdrop to a neighborhood meeting place where strangers are just friends you haven't met yet.

As international as the setting may seem, the cuisine at Howard's will definitely appeal to Americans - hearty steaks and southern catfish and trout are some of the specialties. And if by chance the outdoor setting, made extra magical at night by twinkling lights in the trees and the sound of the running river bordering the restaurant's outdoor patio, makes you temporarily forget where you are, you'll remember just as soon as you hone in on the southern accents of diners at nearby tables or walk outside the front door into the often garish tourist cavalcade that is downtown Gatlinburg.

On the opposite end of town, diners must cross a small bridge over the same creek to get from the parking lot to the dining room of the Alamo Steakhouse. Diners will find traditional steakhouse fare here, accented with some creative side dishes like wine sautéed mixed mushrooms and asparagus with a very good hollandaise sauce. If you're not low carbing, top off your meal with one of the Alamo Steakhouse's monster sized desserts. We especially enjoyed the mixed berry cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream - a rustic country favorite done well here.

For the most part, Gatlinburg is filled with casual and friendly restaurants, filled with hearty American fare, prepared well. For a more upscale, gourmet experience head for the hills outside of downtown and The Lodge at Buckberry Creek. Not coincidentally, this is also the area's most sophisticated upscale lodging. Owner Buddy McLean has spared no expense in constructing and decorating the Adirondack style lodge in the mountains of Tennessee, even going so far as to import authentic Adirondack bark-on timber for the lodge's construction.

It may not be authentic to the area, but the upstate New York décor and architecture fits perfectly well in this southern mountain setting. All the rooms here are mini-apartments, complete with full kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and luxurious baths complete with extra large whirlpool tubs. The views from this rustic yet elegant mountainside retreat are unparalleled, as are the inn's services and amenities. It all comes with a hefty price tag, at least by Gatlinburg standards, but still reasonable by "big city standards," especially for a resort of this caliber.

(Note: While some people love the décor of the Inn at Buckberry Creek, some will not. Vegans and those who are creeped out by taxidermied animals, pass on this one, as these pieces do adorn the walls and rooms of the inn's common rooms and even some of the guest rooms. If it makes you feel any better, interior designer Jeannie Johnson assures me that most of the pieces are vintage, gained on numerous antique east coast and Adirondacks shopping trips she made while designing and decorating the inn's interiors. The others are stuffed animals that were either roadkill or found deceased by the Friends of the Smokies. The taxidermy sales help support this worthwhile nonprofit organization.)

The food here matches the inn's aesthetic, at least in mood. It's an elegant gourmet take on otherwise rustic southern comfort food. The menu is filled with dishes we only think we're familiar with, until we taste executive chef Toby Willis's inventive nouvelle take on the traditional southern cuisine he grew up with. In order to take advantage of fresh local produce, Willis, formerly of Chattanooga's foremost hotel, The Chattanoogan, changes the menu at the inn at least twice a week - from first bites to salads to entrées to desserts.

Generally speaking, Gatlinburg is a casual, family friendly town, with restaurants to match. If you want fine dining with an impressive wine list, the Inn at Buckberry Creek is really the only place to go. The dining room is small, so reservations are suggested, but know that you don't have to stay at the in to dine here.

If, by chance you're looking for an ultra unique locale for a small to mid sized party, the inn has one of the most unusual and breathtaking, not to mention remote, party sites ever. Remote isn't quite accurate, the site is really only a 5 minute (or less) ride away - but what a ride. Guests, as well as staff and provisions, must travel down a steep bumpy dirt road in an authentic Pinzgauer truck (a German made vehicle originally constructed for the Swiss Army). After the short ride, the Pinzgauer deposits passengers at a magical outdoor setting - not unlike something you'd imagine in A Midsummer Night's Dream. A babbling creek sends crystal clear water dancing over river rocks and forming pools perfect for afternoon fishing. The creek snakes past a beautiful wooden deck and covered outdoor pavilion, complete with fireplace, outdoor kitchen and dining tables for guests. With catering provided by Chef Willis and his able crew, you'd be hard pressed to find a more eccentric or impressive party location anywhere.

Recipes from Gatlinburg Restaurants

Take a taste of Gatlinburg home with you and prepare these terrific recipes:

• The Lodge at Buckberry Creek Peanut Butter Chocolate Cream Tart
• The Lodge at Buckberry Creek Chocolate Paté
• The Lodge at Buckberry Creek Six-Spice Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• The Lodge at Buckberry Creek Cheddar Linzer Thumbprints with Hot Pepper Jelly

Practicalities

Various pancake houses are located throughout downtown Gatlinburg, you're never more than a stone's throw from any of them. I hope to be able to give you an update with the best pancake house picks, but this trip didn't allow time for that.

The Applewood Farm House Restaurant is located at 1151 Parkway in Gatlinburg. Call 865-436-4699 or visit www.applewoodfarmhouserestaurant.com.

The Smoky Mountain Brewery and Restaurant is located at 1004 Parkway. Call 865-436-4200. Just across the street is the Cherokee Grill at 1002 Parkway, call 436-4287. Also adjacent is Calhoun's. For all three restaurants visit www.coppercellar.com.

Tou can find Howard's Restaurant at 976 Parkway. Call 865-436-3600 or visit www.howards-gatlinburg.com.

The Alamo Steakhouse is located on the other side of town at 705 E. Parkway, call 865-436-9998 or visit www.alamosteakhouse.com.

The Lodge at Buckberry Creek is located at Wiley Oakley and Campbell Lead Roads (outside of town in the mountains), call 865-430-8030, or 866-30-LODGE, or visit www.buckberrylodge.com.

For further information and reservations, contact the City of Gatlinburg Department of Tourism and Convention Center at 800-568-4748 or click to www.gatlinburg-tn.com .

If you plan on driving to Gatlinburg, be sure to check out the time saving article below. If you plan to fly, US Airways serves nearby Knoxville, for reservations call 1-800-428-4322 or visit www.usairways.com.

More Fabulous Tennessee Travel

• The 10 Best Things To Do In Chattanooga
• Rafting the Ocoee
• A First-time Hang Gliding Experience
• The Evolution of the Bailey House
• Discovering Dollywood
• The Bloody Mausoleum of Cleveland, Tennessee
• RVing In & Around Chattanooga
• Fun Family Dining in Southeastern Tennessee
  

Cheri Sicard, in addition to being the editor of FabulousTravel.com and its sister site, Fabulous Foods.com is the author of The Great American Handbook: What You Can Do For Your Country Today and Every Day. To learn more about Cheri, click here.