Great Things Are Coming With Springtime......

I am talking about FOOD!  We have so many choices of restaurants with such great variety of menus here in the Great Smoky Mountains.  And here are a few secrets that we locals really appreciate:

The Johnson Family of Restaurants offers great discounts during January through March 4th and they have been doing this for a few years now.  It is a phenomenal deal and you can have a feast for what you would pay for fast-food.  All the specials are dine in only.

Alamo Steakhouse (I am putting my favorite first):
Buy one get one free lunch (M-F 11a-3p)
Buy one get one free dinner (Wednesday only)

Bennetts Pit Barbecue:

Buy one get one free lunch (M-F 11a-3p)

Mama's Farmhouse:

10.00 All you can eat dinner of 3 meats, 5 veggies, soup, bread, dessert and a beverage!(M-F)

Big Daddy's Pizzeria:

Buy one get one free lunch (M-F 11a-3p)

Buy one get one free dinner (Friday only)

See, I told you so!  Where can you get an all you can eat home-cooked dinner with all those choices and a beverage for 10.00!?!?  Unheard of!

And, if you happen to be visiting the area outside of the dates for these specials, you can visit their websites and get coupons for up to 15% off.  

And last but definitely not least.........We have heard that my husbands prayers have been answered.  We are getting a Buffalo Wild Wings!  I am sure we will be found there at least once a week as soon as the doors open.  We have been amazed that you really can't find a true hot wings restaurant close by.  We usually travel to Knoxville to Quaker Steak to satisfy our cravings.  Think of the money we will save in gas!

Frugal RV'ing, The Latest Trend!

From the Kansas City Star:

By SHARON HARVEY ROSENBERG AND MYSCHA THERIAULT

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

After months of shopping for an affordable tow-behind recreational vehicle, a manufacturer of custom cargo trailers caught our eye. When we pulled in to see if the cargo trailers could be modified for RV travel, the business owner gave us a bargain tour. The detour included frugal ideas for RV travel.

Alternatives: Horse and race car owners have altered custom cargo trailers to tow gear to events and to haul around a place to sleep on site. The average cost? Around 80 percent less than any other option we had researched. Cheaprvliving.com has information about other unexpected RV alternatives as well, including converted box vans and school buses.

Efficiency: Downsize your belongings and store them as efficiently as possible in order to conserve, space, gas mileage and sanity while traveling. Use accessories to organize your travel equipment. Wall hooks are ideal for securing bags, including sacks filled with bulky cold weather equipment. Other items can be clipped to the ceiling or spaced throughout the vehicle.

Networking: Partner up with other RV folks to share costs on activity and entry fees when you reach your destination. Group and potluck camping dinners are popular with the recreational vehicle crowd, and group activities turn make-your-own meals into a social event. Make new friends to develop a support network and sense of community that you may start missing after several months on the road. Rv.meetup.com lists RV networking groups in various locations. Find one near where you're heading to see if there's an event scheduled during your time there.

Public parks: State parks and private camping grounds often charge affordable overnight rates for RV travelers. Many camp sites are full-service facilities, with a variety of amenities and activities. Regional lists are available at campgrounds-by-city.com and rvparksusa.com. Campgroundsofamerica.com, for example, features a state-by-state list of national forests, state parks, RV parks and campgrounds. Floridaparks.com provides a detailed list of rental fees, park attractions and pet-friendly policies.

Rosenberg and Theriault are co-authors of the best-selling book "10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget," and founders of PoshFrugalityNetwork.com. Theriault is founder of TrekHound.com, a travel website, and TheLessonMachine.com, a website for teachers. Rosenberg is the author of "The Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money."

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/31/2621821/the-frugal-traveler-rv-travel.html#ixzz1DCtWFVYf