You see, we LOVE The Best Italian Cafe and Pizzeria in Gatlinburg. We are pretty sure that it is the best pizza in the area. But the thing about claiming that something is the best, is you can’t, not really, until you’ve tried them all.

So that’s why we ended up at Ogle’s Brick Oven Pizza in Gatlinburg. And we just happened to drive right by it on our way back from CLIMB Works. And we were super-duper hungry.

Ogle’s Brick Oven Pizza serves some fun-sounding appetizers (for example, fried spinach & cheese sticks), soups and salads, pasta, meat entrees, pizza, calzones, and Italian desserts.

There are sandwich lunch specials that cost about $6.

Here’s my analysis:

Things I loved about Ogle’s Brick Oven Pizza:

• 

  A very pretty outdoor seating area.

  Parking! If you’ve been to Gatlinburg much, you know exactly what I mean! It was raining, the baby cousin was sleeping, and we simply didn’t have enough energy to park and walk. So Ogle’s Brick Oven was perfect because it’s close to downtown Gatlinburg (address is 702 East Parkway), but there is a nice parking lot full of free parking. So that’s really nice.

• Very neat and clean. From the outside of this place, you can’t tell if it’s going to be a great experience inside. But it is really nice inside. I was really impressed by how clean everything was.
• Not crowded. Another thing problem you can occasionally encounter in Gatlinburg — crowds!!! We visited Ogle’s for lunch, but we were the only ones eating there the whole time. A few people came in to pick up orders, but no one else sat down. So, if you’re looking for a quiet, kid-friendly place that isn’t too crowded, this may be your spot.
• Food was good! We decided to order breadsticks ($1.99) and two large pizzas: deluxe ($19.99) and meatlovers ($19.99). The breadsticks were very doughy and buttery and pretty good. The pizza had a really nice crust, and big hunks of toppings. Very yummy.
• Great service. Our waitress was super friendly, and we had great service (which may have been because we were the only ones there.)
• 

  A large Deluxe Pizza.

  

  Yum. Breadsticks.

  Outdoor seating. On our way out, we noticed a really nice outdoor seating area. It was raining while we were there, so we didn’t even think about sitting outdoors. But if you’re looking for a spot with a really nice outdoor seating area on a nice day, this is a great one.

My analysis:

This was a fun stop, and a neat local spot to try. However, it is not as good as The Best Italian Cafe and Pizzeria. So, if you haven’t been there, take my word for it and go toThe Best Italian instead of Ogle’s. The garlic rolls FAR outweigh Ogle’s breadsticks (though both are good), and the pizza is better, too.

But if you’ve been to The Best Italian Cafe and Pizzeria several times and are looking for something new, this is a great stop. We also decided that Ogle’s Brick Oven Pizza might be our new go-to take-out stop. We have driven to The Best Italian several times for takeout pizza, and it takes FOREVER! You have to drive through Gatlinburg, find a parking spot, etc., but for Ogle’s Brick Oven Pizza, you could just pull into a parking place without ever hitting the major downtown traffic.

One interesting point: Ogle’s doesn’t even have a functioning website! How’s that for home-grown? Here’s a group site that can be used for info.

A team of archaeologists from the University of Tennessee set up under the Old Mill General Store in Pigeon Forge to excavate the ruins.

According to the article:

The dig team was looking for several different Iron Forge artifacts, including the furnace, hammer, water flume and water wheel. By 2 p.m., the team had made significant progress. … Some of the artifacts were lying in plain sight. A large, mossy log with wooden spokes, resting in a shallow pool of water surrounded by rocks, was readily identified as the beam the original water wheel turned on.

For more information about the excavation (and some neat photos of the dig), visit The Mountain Press website.

Honey Boo Boo’s mom, Mama June Shannon, married Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson on May 5. During their time in Pigeon Forge, the family plans to visit Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, Dollywood Splash Country, Hatfield and McCoy, and the Comedy Barn.

For more information about what Honey Boo Boo’s family is doing in Pigeon Forge, following her Facebook fanpage here.

Okay, it feels MUCH scarier in real life than it looks in the photo!

Okay, here’s a disclaimer: I’ve never been mountain biking. And I really only learned to ride a bike well in the past few years. A daredevil, I’m not.

But when I saw that CLIMB Works (usually known for its ziplining) had opened a new mountain biking trail that was free only until May 18, I figured we better try it out!  So we piled our bikes onto the back of our cars and took them along with us on our May trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.

I really didn’t even think about how scary mountain biking could be. I didn’t give it a single thought until we pulled up to the place (which, by the way, is about a 20 minute drive out of Gatlinburg). Then, I got nervous.

To make a long story shorter, we had an incredible time at CLIMB Works mountain biking. It was terrifying, but a complete blast. One kid chickened out, but we still enjoyed our time. I’ll tell you more about that later.

What is CLIMB Works?

CLIMB Works is primary is ziplining place. Instead of ziping through downtown Gatlinburg or Sevierville, this one is really in the mountains. So it takes a bit to get to. (Here’s a roundup of area ziplines. I’ve never tried CLIMB Works, but I’ve always thought it looked like the best one. We’re hoping to try in August.)

Here’s a snippet from the CLIMB Works story:

Proudly, we can say that CLIMB Works is what it is today because of a lot of sweat, sacrifice, teamwork, and all the right people at the right time. As we look back it’s hard to not be in awe how it all came together, but that’s what helps us know we’re moving in the right direction.

What to expect from the mountain biking trail

Mr trail-guide guy fixes our bike for free. For free!

On the CLIMB Works website, suggested ages for kids riding are 10 and above. But I happen to know that they aren’t sticklers. They let my 7-year-old ride very willingly.

When we arrived and told the guys at the bike shop that we wanted to ride, they were really excited. Apparently, they’ve been wanting some kids to come try out the trail, but hadn’t had any through yet. My kiddos were happy to volunteer. (Remember, the trail officially opens on May 18, so we were trying it for free, and it wasn’t officially open yet. Things were pretty slow.)

We all immediately felt affinity for the guys in the shop, as they chatted easily with us. My sister-in-law’s bike was acting up after the car ride, and one guy quickly popped it up on a lift and took a look at it. He did a bit of fixing, just out of the kindness of his heart.

During this, my 7-year-old son was feeling very intrigued by a small trick spot, what they call the pump track (remember, I don’t know anything about any of this!), with lots of little hills and dirt. He finally mustered up the nerve to ask if he could try it. I figured he was way too small, but the guy there encouraged him to go for it. He was super cautious at first, but by the end of the morning, he was taking those little hills like a pro and working on falling correctly. The shop guys were coaching him. He was hooked.

My little guy zooming around the pump track.

My 10-year-old daughter was much more reserved. After getting everything straightened away, we all took off for the practice course. And that’s when she (and I) started to get nervous.

I don’t know what we were expecting. A trail through the woods, I guess. But when we hit the warm-up practice loop, we saw big hills and bridges and all kinds of tricky spots. My daughter took the practice loop once (it’s very short), very slowly, freaked out, and decided she was done. We talked her into trying again, which resulted in a nasty fall down a hill. One more time we got her on the bike, and that’s when she flipped her pink and white bike and really bruised her knee. Now she was really done.

So the 10-year-old ended up staying behind with grandma while the rest of us took off on the 2-mile trail. Let me tell you: As a mother, this is not for the faint of heart. Not only was I terrified for myself, but I kept picturing my baby flying down one of the steep hillsides (felt to me like a CLIFF, but when I described it that way to someone, my husband laughed at me) at full speed!

But he made it. And he LOVED it.

Afterward, the said it was the best day of his life.

So worth it.

Something to note: the first third of the trail is uphill. We walked most of it. It’s pretty intense. The second third is flat, and just when you think you’ve got things figured out, you get  to the last third, which is downhill. It’s fast and intense. And terrifying. But really fun, too. And it’s nice that the tough part is at the beginning.

The curliest

Oh yes, this was really fun.

The trail ends with a structure that the staff calls “the curliest.” It’s really neat. It’s a curl-i-que shaped wooden structure (all built by local carpenters — and beautiful!) that you ride down at the end. You can pick the beginner track (flat), intermediate (a bit slanted), or expert (sideways!). I was majorly intimidated, but this was actually really fun, if you took the beginner track.

Beautiful woodwork by local carpenters.

I would’ve loved to do it again, but that would have meant doing that uphill part again.

Some of our group did the 2-mile trail twice, but I stayed with the kids for the second time. My son would’ve loved to go again, but the adults wanted to move a bit faster this time.

For those of you who know much about mountain biking, the trail also has rollers, logs, bridges, and berms. The website says that the trail is “rideable for beginners, and rippable for experts.”

If you want to go

Here’s the deal: it’s a bit expensive starting on May 18. But I really think it’s worth it, if you have an adventurous kid. She/He will remember it for a long time. Pricing for the official opening isn’t online yet, but I believe it will be $25 per person for a half-day. If you decide to do this, bring a picnic snack, so you can stop, rest, and refuel before wearing your kids out again!

Bikes are available for rent for $45 for a half day, but I think you get a price break for renting a bike and doing the trail.

Riders are encouraged to call to make a reservation at 865-325-8116, but we just showed up and were fine. I’m sure that it will be more difficult to just walk in as things get busier.

One thing I asked the employees there: If you pay for a child, who then decides he/she doesn’t want to go, do you get the money back? I wondered this because my daughter did exactly that. She tried the practice loop a few times, then refused to go on. Some discussion ensued. Since this is all new, they are still working out the kinks. But the in-charge type of guy thought that there probably wouldn’t be a refund. If they give one, he said, it encourages people to give up.

I understand this point of view. If we had paid $25 for my daughter to go, she would have spent more time riding (we would have insisted!). But that’s not a lot of help to parents who aren’t sure their kids are up for it.

My advice is this: Don’t try it with kids under 10 unless they are very adventurous. And even with older kids, if they are hesitant, you might want to save your money. Or bring along grandma to keep an eye on the kiddo, if they decide everything looks too intimidating.

Employees who believe in the company

How my 7-year-old felt after he finished the trail.

I loved our mountain biking adventure. I’m so, so glad we went to the hassle of bringing our bikes along on our Smoky Mountain trip. The trail was well maintained, the carpentry was beautiful, and there was enough to do to keep my little guy happy for hours.

But you know what impressed me the most about CLIMB Works? The employees.

While part of our group was out taking another lap, I stood and talked to one employee, who told me all about the CLIMB Works story, and about other properties they are working on in Hawaii and Nashville. He talked about helping build the trail all winter. He was animated and interesting and involved. We asked if he was a part owner.

“Nope,” he said. “I just work here.” But he spoke so highly of a company that lets employees work their way up to helping dream for the future. And that’s what this guy was doing. In between coaching my son on the safest falling methods, that is.

The other guy was out riding the trail, checking up on people. We saw him at least twice while we were on it, and he kept up the encouragement to my son every time.

The people were so impressive, in fact, that all five adults mentioned it as we left CLIMB Works. All of us wanted to come back, to try the ziplining and maybe mountain bike again. And my son, who had just had the best day of his life, declared that he wanted to work there when he grew up. None of us were surprised. Everyone just seemed so happy, and like they were doing exactly what they loved.

Safety

I’m a pretty laid-back mom, but I was still pretty nervous for my little guy during the mountain biking ride. If you’re like me, here are some things that might help:

• Walkie-talkies. Every so often, there are Walkie-Talkies along the trail, so you can radio for help almost immediately.
• Guides. As I wrote above, the guides are out riding the trail. They are extremely hands-on. You’ll see them a few times during each lap. I think they probably keep an especially close eye on kids that are riding.
• Minor injuries only. When I expressed “mom nerves” to one of the guides, he told me that since it’s a beginner trail, there are certain guidelines they have to follow. For example, when there’s a structure you could fall off of, there has to be a “fall zone,” or an empty area around it, so you won’t fall on a big, pokey rock, for example. They have thought this through. Trust the experts.
• Be prepared. But that’s not to say that no one will fall. We had three good falls out of our group of seven (all beginners). Stick some Band-Aids and Neo-to-Go in your pocket. And remember to fill up your bike’s water bottles, as you will work up a good sweat. And your kiddos might need a quick breather.

Have you ever been mountain biking in the Smoky Mountains? Can you give a recommendation?

There will also be a multi-million dollar show fountain, a carousel, and an arcade. Restaurants will include Island Yogurt, Mellow Mushroom, Timberwood Grill, and Poynor’s Pommes Frites.

A second phase will be finished later, which will include more shops and restaurants, and a hotel.

The wheel has 42 climate-controlled, glass gondolas that seat eight people. All ages can ride. Tickets will cost $13 for adults and $9 for kids (ages 3-11).

The Island is located right in the heart of Pigeon Forge, along the Parkway. It’s in the same location as the failed Belle Island project, which had a building that resembled a river boat. Current developers bought the property one year ago.

Video user Josh Evangelista made a video about his youth group trip to Gatlinburg. It’s great — it has so many familiar Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge sights. If you’re feeling homesick for the area, this is a great cure!

Thanks for the video, Josh! I love it!

Check out Josh’s video here.

The annual event will include several athletic events, such as caber toss, stone put, and hammer throw; dance workshops and competitions; and bands with lots of pipes and drums.

Prices vary, depending on which events you want to attend. To attend events on Saturday and Sunday is $25. Find more prices here.

For more information about the event, visit the Smoky Mountain Highland Games website.

But the one thing we didn’t plan for was BREAKFAST! Our hotel didn’t serve one, so we went out looking for a new place to try. After all the time we’ve spent in the area, it’s shocking that we haven’t ever tried one of the many Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin locations before!

So here you go — my unbiased (though you should realize that I’m slightly biased toward breakfast. I LOVE breakfast out!) opinion of Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin:

The breakfast particulars

• Address: Flapjack’s has one location in Sevierville (1016 Parkway), one in Pigeon Forge (2734 Parkway) and no less than THREE in Gatlinburg! (Located at 146 Parkway, 956 Parkway, and 478 E. Parkway, Hwy 321.) We visited the 146 Parkway location.
• Website: Visit Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin online here.

The location

The West Parkway location of Flapjack’s.

I’d strongly recommend the West Parkway (146 Parkway) location for the easiest in and out. Once again, we were in Gatlinburg on a rainy weekend, so things weren’t super busy, but we stopped by at prime breakfast time — Sunday at 9:30 a.m. — and had no problem finding a parking spot and had no wait. Free parking in Gatlinburg is a plus any time!

The restaurant is cute — it looks like a really big log cabin. The inside is clean and fresh, with plenty of space. You aren’t crowded in, like some of the other area breakfast spots. We were seated at a table near the back of the restaurant, so we had an amazing view, looking down over a rolling forest, with some cute cabins. Of course, it was pouring, but we still enjoyed it.

Again, this is an easy in, easy out stop, and it’s right on the way out of Gatlinburg, so that works, if you’re heading home on Sunday morning.

The menu

Reese’s Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Need I say more?

Red velvet pancakes.

One thing to say about the food — yum!!!  Here’s a link to the Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin menu.

The restaurant is running a special now, with sharing pancakes, and most of us opted for that choice. You and a friend get to pick one of the six AMAZING pancake options (we’re talking, like Reese’s Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Pancakes, etc.) to share (don’t worry — there are plenty), then you each get your own eggs and breakfast meat. The cost is $12.99, a bit pricey for breakfast, but again, that’s a shared price.

My husband, Jason, and I shared the Reese’s pancakes (I mean, really, is there any other way to go?), and they were AMAZING! They totally didn’t need syrup, but I drizzled a bit on a few bites, just to try. Wow. So, so good either way. I was quite happy!

My sister- and mother-in-law tried the Red Velvet pancakes. They were gorgeous! Good too, but not as great as mine!

I think the winner, though, was my brother-in-law, who tried the Sticky Bun Pancakes. He didn’t want to share! Wow! They were SO good! Basically, think cinnamon rolls, with a yummy glaze-y frosting, and of course, smothered in butter. I would definitely recommend trying these first (though they do have Pecans, if you have a nut allergy).  The Sticky Bun Pancakes cost $7.49, but are so worth it.

Kids’ Menu

Jr. Bear Waffle

We let our kids pick off the kids’ menu, and they both chose Chocolate Chip Pancakes (surprise!). They were a nice, big portion for the kids’ menu — two adult-sized pancakes, and neither of our kids could quite finish. We got a side of bacon for them to share (which cost $2.89). The Chocolate Chip Pancakes cost $4.29, but that doesn’t come with a drink or anything.

My nephew got the Jr. Bear Waffle! It won the prize for cuteness! It’s an actual bear-shaped waffle, with chocolate chip eyes and plenty of powdered sugar. Adorable! I could see a kid wanting to come again and again for that bear-shaped waffle. It also cost $4.29.

Other fun

My daughter’s favorite thing about the restaurant was the bathroom. Really! She went, and came back and told me I had to come, too! Off we went, to visit the bathroom.

Here’s what she liked: At the sink, there’s this grainy hand-washing stuff that you put on your hands with a little spoon, rub them together, then wash off. It actually was pretty amazing — my hands felt like SILK afterward! There’s lots of this stuff for sale in the gift shop, and I almost bought some, but it was $12, so that seemed like a bit much. But really fun to try — we had everyone go in and try before we left!

Water served in jars.

There’s also a cute little gift shop. My mother-in-law was thrilled with the black bear nativity set she found. It was pretty cute. So you can wander around a bit, while you’re waiting for your food to come. (Though our food came VERY quickly, so there wasn’t much time.)

One other little dumb thing — they serve water in clear glass jars. The kids thought this was really fun!

Overall experience at Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin for breakfast

This restaurant was a lot of fun. And I think we’ll be back. If there’s any negative, I think it would be the price. It wasn’t horrible, but we did end up paying $30 for the four of us.

But this restaurant does a lot of things right. The wait staff is friendly and efficient. The restaurant feels very clean and airy. The atmosphere is fun.

If you’re looking for a good, unique breakfast spot, I highly recommend Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin!

What about you? Do you have a favorite breakfast stop in Gatlinburg that you have to hit every time?

According to The Knoxville News, this marks the 35th location of the restaurant.

Here’s the CLIMBWorks website, but they haven’t updated it since the opening of the trail. If you want more info on the trail, check out the CLIMBWorks Facebook page, which has plenty of info and also a great video introducing the trails.

The great part? The trail is FREE to use right now until May 18! After that, it will cost. Of course, you have to bring your own bike to get the free price. Rentals are available for $45.

We’re heading to the Smokies this weekend, and this is on our list! We’ll let you know what we think!