-9264991B-0F8B-4453-82CA8500D4CFCA80.jpg)
Some places earn the title of “happy place” over a lifetime of visits. For Jan Hemsworth and her husband, Porch cabin in Gatlinburg was exactly that.
Jan has been booking with Mountain Laurel Chalets for 18 years. Over that time, she and her husband explored the Smoky Mountains the way only devoted regulars do — hiking the backcountry trails, watching the synchronous fireflies before the lottery system existed, spending a night at LeConte Lodge, and working through a long list of favorite restaurants trip by trip. Gatlinburg was one of his happy places, and Porch held a special spot in both their hearts.
When Jan's husband passed away in November, the family knew exactly where they wanted to gather. This past year, she brought ten of them together at Porch — five adults and five children between the ages of 6 and 16, traveling from Ohio and California — to spend a week in the mountains he had always loved. It was a trip full of laughter, good food, bear sightings, and the quiet comfort of a place that meant something. And it won't be the last. Jan and her family plan to keep coming back to Gatlinburg, returning to their happy place time and time again and keeping his memory alive in the mountains he loved so much.
This is their story.
I have recommended Mountain Laurel to several friends and I will always stay with them in the future.
— Jan Hemsworth, Mountain Laurel Chalets guest for 18 yearsGetting ten people — across two coasts, multiple generations, and five kids — to the same place at the same time is an achievement in itself. Porch cabin made the rest easy.
The name tells you something important about the experience. The two decks at Porch were a gathering place all week long — morning coffee, afternoon wildlife watching, evenings unwinding after a day out. Over the course of the week, the family spotted numerous bears from the decks, including a mother bear with four cubs, and even a bobcat. For the kids especially, that kind of front-row seat to Smoky Mountain wildlife is the sort of thing that sticks for a long time.
Eighteen years of Gatlinburg trips produces strong opinions about where to eat. The family worked through a list of tried-and-true favorites on this trip — a mix of Gatlinburg classics and a few spots that deserve more attention than they get.
A Gatlinburg institution. Bennett's has been slow-smoking meats in the Smokies for decades, and the combination of generous portions, consistent quality, and a dining room that feels like Tennessee is hard to beat for a group meal. Particularly good for larger families who need a reliable option that satisfies everyone at the table.
One of Gatlinburg's most iconic dining experiences, The Park Grill is set in a stunning log-and-timber building just off the main strip. The menu leans into Appalachian mountain cuisine done well, the atmosphere is warm and distinctly Smoky Mountain, and the service consistently earns its reputation. A good choice for a slightly more elevated family dinner.
A local favorite with a relaxed atmosphere and a menu that covers a lot of ground — the kind of place that works equally well for a casual family lunch or a laid-back group dinner. Worth finding if you want something a little off the main tourist path.
A practical and popular choice when feeding a crowd of kids after a full day out. Good pizza, easy ordering, and the kind of no-fuss experience that everyone appreciates by mid-week.
A Gatlinburg breakfast tradition that has been drawing lines since 1966. The Log Cabin Pancake House does one thing exceptionally well: the kind of big, unhurried mountain breakfast that sets up a full day of hiking or adventuring. Go early or expect a wait — it earns it.
A Gatlinburg local favorite that doesn't always make the top-ten tourist lists — which is exactly why regulars like Jan keep coming back to it. Solid American grill food in a relaxed setting, with the kind of consistency that earns a spot on the annual visit list.
Between meals and deck time, the family fit in a full slate of Smoky Mountain activities — a mix that worked well for a group spanning ages 6 to adult.
Hiking: Elkmont, Cosby Nature Trail, and Old Sugarlands Trail
The family did a couple of hikes during the week, choosing trails that worked for a mixed group with young children.
• Elkmont — one of the most popular areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with easy riverside trails along Jakes Creek and the Little River that are accessible and beautiful for all ages. Elkmont is also the prime viewing area for the synchronous fireflies each summer — a phenomenon Jan has seen twice, in 2010 and 2014, back when you could simply show up.
• Cosby Nature Trail — a short, peaceful loop through the forest in the Cosby area of the park, one of the quieter corners of the Smokies and a good option for younger hikers.
• Old Sugarlands Trail — a relatively flat, historic trail near the Sugarlands Visitor Center that winds past remnants of old homesites and offers easy walking through beautiful hardwood forest. A good option when the group needs a gentler pace.
Anakeesta
The mountaintop village above downtown Gatlinburg is a perennial hit with families of all ages. Accessible by chairlift or gondola, Anakeesta offers sweeping Smoky Mountain views, a treetop skywalk, zip lines, and a charming village of shops and dining. It's one of those stops that adapts well to the group — the younger kids gravitate toward the adventure elements while adults are perfectly content with the scenery and a coffee.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
One of the most visited attractions in Tennessee, Ripley's Aquarium sits right in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg and consistently earns its reputation. The highlight for most visitors is the underwater tunnel where sharks and rays glide overhead, but the jellyfish gallery, touch pools, and daily dive shows round out a visit that easily fills a few hours. An especially good option for rainy days or when the group needs an indoor activity that works for every age.
Jan and her husband didn't just visit Gatlinburg — they explored it deeply over nearly two decades. A few highlights from their years together in the Smokies:
• LeConte Lodge — Jan and her husband hiked to the summit of Mt. LeConte and spent a night at LeConte Lodge in 2014. At 6,593 feet, LeConte Lodge is the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States, accessible only by foot, and one of the most memorable experiences the Smokies has to offer. Reservations open a year in advance and fill almost immediately.
• Synchronous fireflies — twice!! — Jan has seen the synchronous firefly display at Elkmont in both 2010 and 2014, both times before the National Park Service introduced the lottery system to manage crowds. The synchronous fireflies — a rare species that flashes in coordinated unison for about two weeks each June — are one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles in the eastern US. Today, viewing requires winning a vehicle pass through the annual lottery.
• Smoky Mountain Cottage (formerly Evelyn's Eden) — before finding Porch, Jan and her husband stayed at Smoky Mountain Cottage 19 times, plus one stay at Three Suite Retreat. That kind of loyalty to a specific property says as much about Mountain Laurel Chalets' consistency as any review.
Eighteen years is a long time to stay loyal to any brand — especially in a market with as many options as Gatlinburg. Jan's answer is simple: you know what you're getting. Clean properties, comfortable beds, well-maintained cabins, and a team that genuinely cares whether guests have a good stay.
She has recommended Mountain Laurel Chalets to friends over the years, and plans to keep coming back herself. Some places earn that kind of loyalty. Porch cabin — and the mountains around it — clearly have.
Jan will be back. After 18 years, the mountains — and the people at Mountain Laurel Chalets — have earned that. Start planning your own Smoky Mountain trip at mtnlaurelchalets.com.
The mountains are waiting — and so is a cabin that might just become your happy place too.
