Boojum Brewery Taproom

Boojum Brewery sits right on Main Street in downtown Waynesville — yeah, it's actually North Carolina, not Tennessee, but we're only 15 minutes from the border so close enough. We've been coming here for years because they nail the balance between family spot upstairs and adult hangout downstairs. The taproom has 16 rotating beers on tap, all brewed right there, plus they do a solid burger that's become our go-to when we're exploring Waynesville's shops.

The real gem is literally called The Gem — their 21+ basement bar with pool tables and darts. Thursday trivia nights get competitive with the locals, and they do live music on weekends. Fair warning though, it gets loud down there after 9pm, so if you want a quiet dinner, stay upstairs on the main floor.

We always try to snag a table on the back deck when weather's nice. Mountain air and a cold beer — can't beat it. The deck gets busy on weekend evenings when bands are playing, so get there before 7pm if you want a spot.

One thing that catches people off guard: they're completely closed Tuesdays. We've driven over from Gatlinburg on a Tuesday before and found the doors locked. Also, parking downtown can be tricky — we usually park on the side streets and walk a block or two. The kitchen stops serving at 9pm most nights, 10pm on weekends, but The Gem stays open until 1am Friday and Saturday if you want to keep the night going.