Smoky Restaurant Review #2: Mel's Classic Diner

The Smoky Mountains..one popular tourist destination.  Not surprising, it seems like every chain restaurant landed here.  If you seek the familiar, look no further:  Cracker Barrel, Baskin Robbins, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Subway, Arby's, Taco Bell, Hardees, Long John Silvers, McDonalds, Five Guys, Wendy's, KFC, TGI Fridays, IHOP, Krispy Kreme, Denny'sTexas Roadhouse, Johnny Rockets, Golden Corral, Ruby Tuesday, Shoney's...the list goes on.  However, if you are like me, you want the local taste.

Check out Mel's Classic Diner.  After a day of hiking, a hearty breakfast sounds so good.  Fortunately, Mel's makes breakfast all day long.  If eggs, bacon, and pancakes don't sound right - no worries.  Mel's serves other traditional diner food like cheeseburgers, soup & salad, and ice cream sundaes.  Check out the special signs outside; the savings may entice you to wake up early and get the early bird special.

The most important meal of the day, Ode to breakfast:
Feb:  National Hot Breakfast Month
Feb./March:  Pancake Day
March 25:  International Waffle Day
May:  National Egg Month
Aug:  National Waffle Day
Sept:  National Breakfast Month
Oct:  World Egg Day
Nov:  National French Toast Day
Dec:  National Maple Syrup Days
Wow, we need to celebrate.

Back to Mel's Diner.  When you walk into the diner, you will notice the 1950s memorabilia right away.  To your right, a jukebox.  To your left, a gift shop.  Grab a stool or a table.  It's a casual, family friendly place.  Don't just take my word for it.  Check out the reviews, 4 stars or more on Google Reviews, TripAdvisor, and Yelp.  Plus, it's close to Lightning Bug Lodge:  119 Wears Valley Road, Pigeon Forge, TN.

Cabin Review #3: Fun

The cabin book with notes left inside.  It's the first thing I check when returning to our rental cabin Lightning Bug Lodge.  I especially enjoy crayon written notes from kids. 

In five sentences this guest summed up the experience we want to hear:  "We had a good time.  Do we have to leave?  It was so fun.  I hope we come back so much.  It was fun."

Cabin Review #2: Niece Weekend in the Smokies

To Billy, Trisha, Shelli, Allison, Damien, and Rylie,

Thank you so much for being guests at Lightning Bug Lodge.  Your story of your Nieces Weekend warmed our hearts.  What a great family to spend quality time together in the Smokies. 

We love our nieces too and have great memories of spending time with them in the cabin; we are so glad you had a fun time too.  Here's what Billy, Trisha, Shelli, Allison, Damien, and Rylie had to say about their experience at Lightning Bug Lodge:

" Feb. 18 -20, 2011

Niece Weekend Getaway

What a great place to spend the weekend watching movies by the fireplace, playing pool and foosball, big family dinners, and taking lots of pictures.

Great way to connect with the kids and get away from home for a couple of days.  Beautiful and cozy."

Billy, Trishia, Shelli, Allison, Damien, and Rylie, we wish you the best and welcome you return to Lightning Bug Lodge to build more memories together.

Cabin Review #1: Cabin Love

One of our cabin guests created this picture and testimonial.  I love the beauty and simplicity of the message.  This note means so much to our family; we really cherish this note.

According to the thesaurus & dictionary, love means so much:  admire, adulate, be attached to, be capticated by, be crazy about, be enamored of, be enchanted by, be fascinated with, be fond of, care for, cherish, choose, delight, dote on, fall for, fancy, glorify, hold dear, hold high, lose ones heart to, prefer, prize, think the world of, thrive with, treasure, wild for...

We hope you will fall in love with Lightning Bug Lodge and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park too.  Give love a chance, escape to the Smokies with your loved ones.