Don't! No dollywood, no junksy wild west photos, etc...
Stay the heck out of Gatlinburg/P-forge if you want to visit GSMNP. They built a bypass for a reason.
I've found a few places I think are good (or would be good) places to stay in the area. I've stayed at the LaQuinta in Pigeon Forge a few times, and if you can get past the cemetary/crematorium in the backyard, it is one of the most convienient hotels to the central section of the park, because it is about two lights from the Gatlinburg bypass. The ride in sucks, but getting to the park is really fast. Another place I haven't tried, but looks good, is the Days Inn (?) in Townsend. It might be good, it might be nasty, but it is usually deserted, and it provides instant access to that area of the park. Watch your possessions in PF and Gburg, the meth related theft issues are MASSIVE in the tourist areas, including the rental cabins.
I won't give you the standard advice of driving Cades Cove and the Motor tour or whatever, because I find both of them not worth the traffic most of the year. If you are going now, or in another off-season, fine, go for it. But my best advice is to look at the park map, look up names, and find somewhere you think you'd like. I'm partial to the area around Heintooga Ridge Road/Balsam Mtn road, although much of that area is closed this time of year. Cataloochee is okay wildlife watching without the crowds. If there is ice, they close the road in winter in sections, so you might have to approach from North Carolina. In winter, everywhere you can drive is probably tolerable, crowd-wise, but during the on-season you have to either get up early, go during the week, or head to the fringes to avoid the crowds.
But... If you are one of those people (or your wife is) who would enjoy Gatlinburg proper, my advice probably won't be helpful. I'm anti-people, and anti-tourist. I've been known to consider turning around after driving 2 hours to visit a waterfall somewhere, just because there is one carload of people nearby. Then again, between my camera gear and the chihuahua, I attract obnoxious questions.
