February 25, 2019
Early Spring Events in Gatlinburg Draw Visitors
Early spring is a great time to visit the Smoky Mountains. The air is cool and fresh and swathes of blooming wildflowers blanket the mountains. Whether you are interested in wine or wildflowers, crafting or running, this area has something just for you. In order to help you plan your visit, here are some community events in which you might be interested.
April Events
April 12-13 Smoky Mountain Wine Weekend. Located at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Wine Festival guests can sip from the area’s best wineries and savor samples from the best restaurants in the Smoky Mountains. http://www.gatlinburg.com/event/wine-fest/
April 12-14 Hands-On Gatlinburg. Studios throughout the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community will provide guests the chance to learn how to make crafts from the artists themselves. Festivalgoers will leave with the items they make. Woodturning, fused glass ornaments, rug weaving, and drawing are only a few of the areas to be explored. http://www.pigeonforge.com/event/hands-on-gatlinburg/
April 17-20 Arts and Crafts Community Center Easter Show. The Show will be held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Admission is free. Demonstrations are part of the fun as you view unique handcrafted products produced locally.http://www.gatlinburg.com/event/great-smoky-easter-arts-crafts-show/
April 21 Easter Sunrise at Ober. Gatlinburg’s Annual Easter Sunrise Service will be enhanced by the beauty of the Smokies when the community and its visitors gather at Ober Gatlinburg. The 30-40 minutes mountain service will begin at 6:30 am and will be led by pastors of the Gatlinburg Ministerial Association.
April 24-27 Wildflower Pilgrimage. The Spring Pilgrimage has been held for 68 years in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The experience features professionally-guided walks. Registration
Spring wildflowers abound in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
opens on March 1. http://www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org
April 26 Earth Day 5k. Both runners and walkers are invited to participate in this run/walk in beautiful downtown Gatlinburg. Proceeds benefit local scholarships, donations to schools, the Gatlinburg Goes Green Program and community-wide educational events. Buie Pottery is providing awards and finishers medallions. http://www.runsignup.com/Race/TN/Gatlinburg/earthday5kgatlinburg
We hope your visit includes a stay at Buckhorn Inn. We are conveniently located on the Arts & Crafts Loop with easy access to the both Gatlinburg and the Park.
February 18, 2019
Why Stay at a Bed and Breakfast Rather than a Hotel?
Why opt to stay in a bed and breakfast rather than in a large hotel? The website http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/info/trav discusses the many reasons travelers opt for smaller, independent inns and bed and breakfasts.
A Bed and Breakfast Offers Value
The article points out that hotels usually do not offer a big bang for your buck. The rooms can be small, you may pay for parking, and if there is a free breakfast it typically is a continental breakfast. Most amenities are available for an extra cost. At the Buckhorn Inn, you get a comfortable room and free nearby parking. We offer complimentary Wi-Fi, which has been newly upgraded. One of the best perks about staying with us is the hearty and delicious breakfast that comes as part of your stay. You enjoy fresh fruit, juice, and fresh-baked biscuits and sweet breads while you contemplate your choice of entrée. You may opt for a savory dish, like Country Eggs Benedict, a sweet dish like Bananas Foster French Toast, eggs cooked the way YOU like them with a breakfast meat, or a hearty bowl of oatmeal with delicious optional add-inns. And while you enjoy that, your mug will be kept filled with robust, regular or decaf coffee or tea.
Unique Rooms
Many people prefer the inns because they like a room with character. At the Buckhorn Inn you may
The Buckhorn Inn provides a serene oasis from the crowds viewing the eclipse.
choose from several different traditional inn rooms, premier suites, cottages, or guest houses. Each has its own personality and décor. Many of our guests find their favorite and always try to book “Cottage 5” or “the Red Room”!
Rich History
Many B&Bs have rich history and stories. At the Buckhorn Inn, we are proud of our 80-year history of serving guests. We have tried to keep the original charm and feel of Douglas Bebb’s vision, while providing our guests with the most modern amenities.
Personal Attention
Innkeepers go the extra mile to make sure you feel comfortable and welcome. Innkeepers John and Lee Mellor provide personal attention and assistance to all their guests. The bed and breakfast staff are great local experts and can provide you with great advice on what to see and do in the Gatlinburg area. Part of that personal attention is providing fresh-baked treats in the afternoon and providing a library of good books and DVDs.
Please let us know why you choose to stay at Buckhorn Inn!
February 2, 2019
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Smoked Cheddar Cheese
2 Tbl Extra-virgin olive oil
1 Medium Onion, halved and thinly sliced
¾ Cup Apple cider
2 Lb Butternut squash—peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch dice (5 ¼ cups)
4½ Cups Chicken stock
½ Cup Heavy cream
Salt and pepper
2 Tbl Unsalted butter
1 Apple, cut into ½-inch dice
1/3 Cup Coarsely shredded smoked cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
Toasted pecans and oats for garnish
In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil. Add onion and cook until golden. Add the apple cider and cook until syrupy, about 3 minutes. Add the squash and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until the squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.
In a blender, puree the soup in batches. Return the soup to the saucepan and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
Heat a medium skillet. Add butter and diced apple and cook over high heat until the apple is tender and golden around the edges, about 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Garnish with cheddar and toasted pecans and oats.
Yield: 4 servings
Girls’ Getaway in the Smokies: Suggested Itinerary
Buckhorn Inn is a popular destination for sisters, girlfriends, and mothers and daughters to get away from it all and reconnect. Based on the input from guests, we offer an itinerary for a perfect three-night stay for you and your best gal pals!
DAY 1 Arrive and check into your room, suite, cottage or guest house. Stop by the sitting room for a fresh-baked cookie or brownie. Be sure to ask for some lettuce leaves in the office. Why? Because your next activity is to walk the beautiful Buckhorn Inn Nature Trail. You will go by Buckhorn Pond where you can give our resident swans, Bubble and Squeak, a tasty lettuce treat. The Trail will take you by our formal gardens, our raised-bed vegetable gardens, and beautiful views of the mountains. Maps of the trail are available in the office. At 7 pm please join us in the dining room for a delicious four-course dinner. Your meal will begin with a basket of freshly-baked warm bread and include soup, salad, entrée and a decadent dessert. Remember that calories don’t count on vacation, so you can feel free to indulge. You will then retire to your cozy accommodation with the rest of your getaway in front of you!
DAY 2 Meet in the dining room for a cooked-to-order breakfast. Your options will include a sweet entrée, like bananas foster French toast; a savory entrée like Southern Eggs Benedict; eggs cooked to order with a breakfast meat; a yogurt parfait; or cereal options. You will enjoy a fresh fruit cup and warm biscuits and coffee cake while you are pondering your decisions. Before you leave breakfast, be sure to ask for a sack lunch menu so that you can order one for tomorrow.
Today will be spent exploring the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community. In the morning you may want to visit Buie Pottery to admire beautiful pottery and stoneware pieces. You might then want to stop by the Highland Craft Gallery. Their shop is a celebration of traditional and contemporary artisan work in metal, fiber, wood, leather, glass, clay, and printmaking. They also offer fine art created by more than 60 regional artists. You will also want to see the work in the G Webb Gallery. There you will find original watercolors, limited edition lithographs, and giclees. By this time you might be ready for a bite of lunch. We recommend the Wild Plum Tearoom as a lovely spot. A newer establishment, The Split Rail, offers a good selection of sandwiches and salads. We are partial to their fish tacos. If you opt to go to 3 Jimmy’s, we recommend the Mediterranean grilled vegetable flat bread. After lunch you can browse through Alewine Pottery, Tim Weberding Woodworking, and many other shops on the Loop.
The Loop has many options for dinner. You might want to visit the Red Oak Bistro for wine and tapas to share. There also is the Rampant Lion which offers a large wine list, imported draft beers, and elegant cocktails along with small plates and celtic-inspired dinners. No matter which entrée you select, the roasted brussels sprouts are a fabulous side. Another good spot is Crystelle Creek where you can listen to the live piano music and enjoy a spinach feta dip while you review the menu. Let the staff at Crystelle know you are experiencing the Buckhorn Girls’ Getaway and you will get a 10% discount!
DAY 3 Don’t forget to pick up your sack lunches after breakfast. This morning you will be exploring the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether you choose to hike in the Greenbrier section, to drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, or to take a scenic drive to Cades Cove, you are sure to find a lovely spot to picnic. The afternoon is a perfect time to enjoy the serenity of the Buckhorn Inn. Perhaps you have booked in-room massages. Or maybe you would like to choose some movies from the library and have a film fest. Board and card games are a fun way to spend time together while you chat. Or perhaps you will spend the afternoon enjoying the silence and serenity of your private porch as you read books and enjoy companionship. Be sure to return to the main Inn building by 6:30 so you can enjoy a glass of wine or spiced tea in front of the fireplace or on the veranda before your last luxurious Buckhorn Inn dinner.
DAY 4 As you linger over breakfast, we know you will be making plans to return!
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