Mother's Day Brunch on May 12

Give mom a special Mother’s Day this year by treating her to brunch at Dancing Bear Lodge & Restaurant to start off her day! From classic dishes such as biscuits and gravy to regionally inspired dishes like trout with Benton’s Bacon and grits, Chef Carter’s menu has been made especially with mom in mind! For more information or to make a reservation, please call (865) 448-6000.

Mother’s Day Brunch Menu

Snacks for the Table

Regional Cheese and Charcuterie Plate

In Jars

Bakery Plate

Entrées 

Fried Oyster Salad with Red Oak Lettuce

Cornmeal, Lemon and Ricotta Pancakes

Steak and Eggs

Cornmeal Dusted Trout with Benton’s Bacon and Grits

Biscuits and Gravy

Bacon, Chicken and Cheese Sandwich

Brunch Cocktails

House Made Bloody Mary

Strawberry Bellini

Mimosa

Get to Know the Little River

Our Townsend community has always been proud to call the Little River a favorite fishing spot teaming with trout. Fortunately, the Little River is located right across the street from our property and suits casters from all experience levels.

The Little River stems from 3 tributaries in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and flows to the Tennessee River. It is inhabited by brown and rainbow trout and free flows without the use of dams.

For Fly Fishing Weekend, let us know what parts of the Little River you would like to fish and enjoy with our Orvis-certified guides on May 10-12!

A Guide to Successful Family Reunions

The warmer season offers the best opportunities for family outings and reunions! For those planning family get-togethers, we understand that taking on the task of organizing a retreat may not sound appealing at all, but we would like to offer some helpful tips to make your job easier:

Pick a venue with plenty of open space and indoor facilities for different activity interests. Some of your family members may only be interested in outdoor games and sports, while others will prefer resting indoors nestled up by a fire. Also, be sure to choose a destination that fits your family’s travel and accommodation needs.

Create a Facebook page and invite your family members to join, rather than having to send several e-mails or make phone calls. On the page, include a section with up-to-date information on your reunion and share posts regularly with the information. Also, increase participation on the Facebook page by posting about what will be offered at the family reunion and what everyone is most looking forward to. Ask your family members to share old family photos and memories to get excited about the upcoming reunion.

Does your family have a special quote or “inside joke” they enjoy sharing while together? If so, have reunion t-shirts made with the quote and include your family crest or picture with it.

Do not forget to bring your camera and video camera! You can create an Instagram hashtag and ask your family members to post pictures from the reunion using the hashtag. After the event, print the photos off of Instagram, or create an online album of all the pictures.

Decorate for your family reunion using a color scheme throughout your venue in banners, tablecloths, streamers, and any prizes you give away. Does your family agree on a favorite sports team? Use the team’s colors to decorate with! Wanting to theme the reunion with the spring season? Incorporate pastel blues, pinks, purples and greens for a relaxing vibe!

Whether you are visiting with a few close relatives or seeing long-lost cousins, we are here to help you prepare for and enjoy every moment of your reunion!

Do you have any further suggestions or ideas for hosting family reunions? Feel free to let us know!

Trout Foolery in the Smokies

Fly fishing as a premise seems to be hard enough as it is.  Using a long, flexible lever to throw several feet of line connected to an almost weightless imitation of a bug tied out of feathers and fur. All of this to deceive the best sense a fish has his vision.  Whether it is dry or wet fly, or bamboo or graphite, the fly angler makes fooling the fish hard on himself.  The cast takes practice, tying flies is verging on an art form, and gaining the knowledge to do it all right can be a lifelong pursuit.  But the chance to bamboozle a trout at his own game is what keeps anglers of all kinds on the water.

Our experienced Orvis-certified guides at Dancing Bear are more than happy to share their stories of fly fishing adventures with you during the Fly Fishing Weekend held May 10-12! Fly fishing excursions and story-telling will occur at the lodge and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with several activities held throughout the weekend.

For more information on the weekend, visit http://www.dancingbearlodge.com/fly-fishing-weekend.htm

The Top Five Bicycling Paths near Dancing Bear Lodge

If the excitement of The Bicycle Bash does not satisfy all of your cycling needs, here is a list of five bicycle paths near Dancing Bear Lodge everyone is welcome to enjoy during your stay:

Townsend 9-mile trail along the Little River

Tremont Road leading to the Great Smoky Mountain Institute

Greenbrier with access to trailheads             

Cades Cove Loop Road

Gatlinburg Trail from Sugarlands Center

Once you have taken part in The Bicycle Bash, be sure to stay and check out other exciting routes within a short drive of Dancing Bear Lodge!

Accessorize Your Bicycle for the Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash

Express your cycling personality by adding touches to your bicycle and enjoy showing them off at The Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash! Continue reading for ideas on how to personalize your bicycle:

GoPro Cameras offer a thrilling way to capture your cycling adventures by mounting a video camera onto your cycling helmet! Check them out at http://gopro.com/

Dancing Bear Lodge offers a Bicycle Kit with a cycling jersey and shorts to help you feel comfortable during your ride!

Light and Motion carries an array of bicycle lights for all sorts of cycling environments. http://www.lightandmotion.com/

For your children, Rookie Magazine offers a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) guide to making your own bicycle streamers! http://rookiemag.com/2012/07/diy-bike-streamers/

What plans do you have to accessorize your bicycle for The Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash?

The Anatomy of a Bicycle

Brush up on your bicycle knowledge and become familiar with its main parts so that you will be able to engage in conversations with all types of bicycle enthusiasts at this year’s Bicycle Bash, held April 5-7.



(Diagram courtesy of trailsandtreads.com)

Are there any special parts or accessories you are going to include in your adventures at the Dancing Bear Bicycle Bash? To register, go to http://www.dancingbearlodge.com/bike-bash-registration.htm