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On the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park lies the beautiful city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  This popular tourist destination draws a crowd because of its numerous attractions, both natural and man-made.  Gatlinburg has the only ski resort in all of Tennessee, called Ober Gatlinburg, which doubles as an amusement park.  It is also home to a variety of shows, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, and other family-friendly attractions.  As an added bonus, the city is situated near Pigeon Forge, making it easy to access Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country.

In addition to the assortment of activities mentioned above, visitors to Gatlinburg might be interested to learn the haunted history of the area.  On the Gatlinburg Haunted Ghost Tour you get the chance to discover the supernatural side of this part of the world, with a stroll down the streets and alleys leading to haunted hotels and buildings located downtown.  You will be entertained from start to finish as you listen to stories about a murder committed at a famous hotel there and the ghosts who still haunt it.  This trip into the unexplained lasts 90 minutes and the time will fly by quickly as you get lost in the guide’s animated and informative narrative.   

Another way to walk the area is on a scenic hike.  The Homestead Hike from Gatlinburg will take you back in time as you explore the most historically significant parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, navigating through forgotten homesteads and learning about some Cherokee lore and Appalachian tall tales.  Throughout the trek, your guide educates you on the way of life of the Native Americans back when the land was being settled, before the introduction of grocery stores and pharmacies.  This is a fantastic activity for school field trips, corporate retreats, and religious groups and gives everyone added insight into the history and inner workings of life before the conveniences of technology.

Gatlinburg should definitely make your short list of vacation destinations whether you decide to travel in the winter or when it is warmer outside.  For more information on how to get the most out of your stay, visit www.gatlinburgtours.net.

Posted under Gatlinburg Tours, Sightseeing, Tennessee Attractions, Tennessee Tours, Things To Do, Tickets, Transportation, Travel, Walking Tours

Dolly fans, car and truck enthusiasts, and music buffs in general come in droves to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and with good reason.  Pigeon Forge is the home of Dollywood, a theme park owned by Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation as well as other shows and activities with a country twist. 

Dollywood offers crafts, the music of the Smoky Mountains, and amusement park thrill rides.  Adjacent to the park there is also a water park called Dollywood’s Splash Country and Dixie Stampede, which is a southern dinner theater with a live opening act playing country and bluegrass music and the main event,  a modern day Wild West type of production.  During the show, each side of the theater takes on an identity - one half as the North and the other as the South.  Both sides battle to win horse competitions, pig and ostrich races, and more.  At the end, guests can meet the animals who took part in the show at the Horse Walk, located right outside the complex.

In addition to the Dolly-themed activities in Pigeon Forge, there are other shows in the area that are sure to pique your interest.  The Country Tonite Show, which was voted the “Best Live Country Show in America,” is a music, comedy, and dance extravaganza.  New and old country favorites pulsate throughout the theater as the award-winning vocalists take the stage.  This show is highly-acclaimed in the music community and has been receiving accolades since its inception in the 1990s. 

If you have finished enjoying your time in Pigeon Forge, or if you simply wish to get away for a little while, you can travel to nearby Asheville, North Carolina and check out the Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned home in America.  Sitting on 8,000 acres, this mansion boasts 250 rooms and a winery that is the most visited in the country.  The house is also surrounded by 75 acres of perfectly manicured gardens and woodlands.  You can visit the estate at Christmastime and check out the 35-foot-tall tree in the Banquet Hall, as it is lit up and adorned with oversized ornaments and other decorations which can be seen throughout the house.

As you can see, there is much to see and do in Pigeon Forge, and these are just the events happening this winter.  During the summer and fall months, you can travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a walking tour, some river rafting, and a show and you can also take advantage of a wide range of activities in Pigeon Forge, Asheville,  Chattanooga, and Bryson City that are designed for the warmer months.

Visit www.pigeonforgetours.net and discover all that Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area has to offer.

Posted under Chattanooga Tours, Gatlinburg Tours, North Carolina Tours, Sightseeing, Tennessee Attractions, Tennessee Tours, Theatre, Things To Do, Tickets, Transportation, Travel, Walking Tours