Split Rail Eats

Split Rail Eats is at 849 Glades Road, Suite 1B1, in Gatlinburg, on the loop that makes up the city's Arts and Crafts Community. That is the part of Gatlinburg where working studios and galleries replace the Parkway's neon, and a sandwich-and-salad cafe fits it well. If you have spent the morning among potters, weavers and glassblowers, this is where lunch makes sense.

• Address: 849 Glades Rd, Suite 1B1, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.
• Website: splitraileats.com.
• Hours: listings disagree. One directory shows a Tuesday to Saturday schedule with a shorter Sunday, and a restaurant write-up describes a Sunday brunch menu served only on Sundays. Listings show Mondays closed. Check the website or call before you go.
• Price: moderate, in the lunch-cafe range.

Most Gatlinburg visitors never leave the Parkway, which is exactly why a table here tends to be easier to get than anything downtown. Glades Road has its own parking at most stops, so you can park once and walk between studios. That is a real advantage on a busy October Saturday, when the Parkway crawls.

The Arts and Crafts Community loop is a short drive from downtown and connects back toward the park road. A common plan is a morning in the park, lunch here, and an hour or two among the studios before dinner. When you head into the park afterward, remember that any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes needs a parking tag. Entry to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free, but any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes needs a parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual) displayed on the dashboard. America the Beautiful and other federal passes are not accepted for it; the Park Service fees page has the details.

• Couples or friends making a day of the studios and galleries.
• Travelers who want a calmer lunch than the Parkway offers.
• Sunday visitors looking for brunch away from the crowds.

Call ahead about the day's hours, since a small cafe can close for a private event or a slow weekday. Bring cash and cards for the studios, because many small shops on the loop are independent and payment options vary. If you have dietary needs, ask about options when you arrive, since menus at small cafes rotate.