mountain getaways
The Great Smoky Mountains
When looking for a great winter escape this year, options range from cabins in the
woods to inns, bed and breakfasts and rustic lodges—and everything in between
are available in Blount County, Tennessee (Alcoa, Maryville, Townsend) located at
the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
TASTE OF THE SMOKIES
Whether you stay at the Richmont Inn
to experience its award-winning Crème
Brûlée Kahlua, Gracehill Bed and Breakfast for an elegant breakfast experience
with a view, Dancing Bear Lodge to enjoy
locally grown culinary delights, or you
want to taste your way through a variety of local restaurants and homemade
masterpieces, the Smoky Mountains in
East Tennessee have an abundance of
options for even the pickiest palette.
“We are fortunate that our community values the authenticity of our region,
and it is never more apparent than when
you look at the food that our accommodations and restaurants serve,” said
Tami Vater, Director of Tourism for the
Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority. “Each gives its own
flare to East Tennessee cuisine, and they
all have something special that gives you
a ‘taste’ of what Appalachia really is.”
Scattered throughout Blount County,
there are numerous hidden gems that
serve delectable, Southern delights.
“We have accommodations and restaurants that do everything from packing a
gourmet picnic for visitors to creating
customized dinners for large groups,”
said Vater.
“It’s just a matter of deciding what
you would like to experience. We
have a chef or local restaurateur who
is able to accommodate. ”Many of the
accommodations provide exceptionally delicious culinary experiences for
guests, as well as the public. Just for the
foodies, there’s choices from casual to
elegant that serve delectable Southern
delights, authentic international cuisine
and tasty treats with an abundance of
“We are fortunate that our
community values the authenticity
of our region, and it is never more
apparent than when you look at the
food that our accommodations and
restaurants serve.” — Tami Vater
WINTER 2013 | FOOD TRAVELER 13