Fine Dining in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

For those who visit Tennessee and have a taste for fine-dining, there are more than blackberries and bramble to be found in the Smoky Mountains.  Christopher Place Resort offers a wide variety of sumptuous foods, and a full array of fine wines and alcoholic beverages, served in the Mountain View Dining Room Restaurant and Marston’s Library Pub.  These two venues offer distinct experiences, one more casual, one more refined.  It’s your choice of romance, here in Newport, Tennessee.

The Mountain View Dining Room Restaurant is the place to experience all the splendor Tennessee has to offer.  We give candlelit dinners from Tuesday to Saturday, and supply four-course prixe-fixe dining experiences, with salads, soups, or delicacies like “Baked Shrimp Remoulade Sauce,” and “Garlic and Onion Bisque.”  In description of the food served at Christopher Place Resort, East Tennessee Marquee Magazine said “Chef Valentine creates exquisite romantic dinners.”  As this steaming, seasoned symphony rolls over the tongue, the candles sparkle merrily and the fire pops in the fireplace.  Describing their overall experience at Christopher Place, one of our guests said “Beautiful rooms, excellent service and the secluded peace of the Smoky Mountains combine to make this the perfect place for a honeymoon. Delicious dinners and an in-room fireplace were the icing on the cake for us.”  Reservations are required to dine at this restaurant.

For a casual atmosphere, silvered with laughter and served with a traditional pub-style fare, visit Marston’s Library Pub, open every Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday.  To name but a few, we offer “Beer-Boiled Shrimp Cocktail,” a platter of jumbo shrimp boiled in a beer infused with seven spices, all served with a traditional cocktail sauce.  Celebrating the Old English feel, “Bangers and Mash” is a smoky sausage, served with creamy mashed potatoes covered in a rich brown sauce, with fresh sweet peas on the side.  And for a dessert that will send you to bed with a smile, the Marston’s Chocolate Cake with Guinness is made with rich dark chocolate, smooth Molasses, and a touch of Guinness, topped off with a shake of sugar and a spoonful of vanilla ice cream.

There’s a taste for everyone here, at the Christopher Place Resort, nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

Spring Festivals Near Newport, TN

Sometimes words are so perfect in their capture of an idea, and for me, whenever I hear the word “festival,” this small package of syllables does its job.  “Festival” enters my ear with a crowd of tumblers, clowns, colors and streamers in its wake.  Around this time of year in Tennessee, "festival" is the word sweeping the state.  Several Tennessee small towns are greeting the onset of spring with food, music and dancing for everyone.

The Ramp Festival, held in Cosby, Tennessee, is the longest running festival in the State, and will be held on May 7-8 this year.  Back in 1954, the members of Cocke County wanted to generate tourism and publicity for their area.  So they brainstormed, trying to think of something noble, powerful, anything worthy of celebration.  In the end, they found a common pride in the “ramp,” not to be confused with the “on-ramp” used for merging onto the freeway.  The ramp, a member of the onion family and just as powerful in taste and aroma, was believed to hold the revitalizing quality of a spring tonic, and was chosen as the subject of their celebration.  Since then, every year in Cocke County Tennessee, the people of this state celebrate heritage and springtime through music, dancing, food, and the crowning of a “Maid of Ramps.”  In 1955, former President Harry Truman even attended.

Another festival held in the spring is the Bloomin’ Barbeque and Bluegrass festival.  This family-geared celebration is held in tribute to the sound of Bluegrass music, the beauty of spring, and the taste of the barbeque.  Located in Sevierville, held on May 20-21, there is no admission charge.  You can just show up.  Of course, food, drink and merchandise will be sold there, so don’t forget your wallet, but the Bluegrass Music will also be staged for free.  And for those who live for the taste of delicious meats, hot and sizzling off the grill, a first class barbeque cook-off will be held, with barbeque teams coming to Sevierville from across the nation.

So if you’re in the neighborhood of Gatlinburg or Newport Tennessee around springtime, make sure to check and see if a festival is going on.  Come experience the sights, sounds and feelings of a classic Tennessee festival, beneath the gaze of the beautiful Smoky Mountains.

Smoky Mountain Canopy Tours

At Christopher Place, we pride ourselves in creating the perfect atmosphere for rest and relaxation.  We offer sweet, succulent solace at our resort, with the tranquil Tennessee scenery as a backdrop.  But for those who prefer a spike of adrenaline and a bite of excitement, for those who can only get so much “rest and relaxation” before their feet start to itch and their hands start to quiver, Canopy Tours have been popping up like crazy around here.

Canopy Tours take you into the picturesque scenery, weaving in and out of the trees via ziplines.  Some even reach the speed of 40 mph.  There's the sound of the wire, the wind, and the rushing leaves.  At Smoky Mountain Ziplines, they offer 14 different zipline courses, estimated at 2 ½ hours each, for the price of 84$ per person.

Adventure America Zipline Canopy Tours offers various zipline courses for 79$ a person, with the Pigeon River Tour at 54$ a person, and reduced prices for groups.  Both of these establishments offer tour guides who will walk you through your first experience on the ziplines.  If you feel uncomfortable with plunging down the mountainside at 40 mph, the tours through the canopy start out on gradual inclines, and slowly move to the faster courses. 

Really, we all wish we could fly.  One of our childhood dreams was that of flight.  With the right gear and the proper facility, Canopy Tours can provide you with this experience. It's just one more adventure close to the Christopher Place Resort.