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SUMMER DESTINATIONS
Channel your inner adventurer with a wild ride through Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Many family-friendly acitivites are available in Pigeon Forge.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. -- All the singing may be about good ole Rocky Top, but there's another Tennessee destination worth singing a tune about.
"One of the fundamental observations about Pigeon Forge that is good for both the city and its visitors is that it's an ever-changing destination," said Tom Adkinson, spokesman for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. "Some are devoted to one aspect -- the music or the shopping or the theme park experience with Dollywood -- but most people are coming because there is such choice upon arrival. Everybody ends up with something they love."
This year features the biggest show ever staged at Dollywood, the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the construction of an ocean liner on the Parkway.
"Dollywood's big news for the summer season is a show 'Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke,' which is about the land that became the national park. Dolly wrote the songs, and this is the biggest and most elaborate show Dollywood ever has produced," Adkinson said.
Dollywood remains Tennessee's most popular ticketed attraction and is adding an adventure attraction -- a zip line -- this year as well. Riders can soar over the 150-acre theme park in a multiple station zip-line experience.
A major new show on the Parkway is the Temptations Revue, highlighting the Motown sounds of the Temptations. The Smith Family Theater has also undergone a facelift and is now known as the Smith Family Dinner Theater to accommodate a show and meal. Thirteen theaters up and down the Parkway, from Black Bear Jamboree to Dixie Stampede, are waiting for you.
Attractions for the body include miniature golf courses, go-cart tracks, a nostalgic roller skating rink, bungee jumps and thrill rides. Get adventurous with indoor skydiving at Flyaway or become a Zorbonaut at Zorb Smoky Mountains.
And entertain the brain at WonderWorks (easy to spot -- it appears to be completely upside down!) inside a hurricane room or a complex simulator that allows you to design your own roller coaster track.
Channel your inner Harry Potter at MagiQuest, an indoor reality/virtual reality game with magic wands, dragons and sorcerers. Get up close and personal at Dinosaur Walk. Visit one of the area's six outlet malls.
When you've exhausted the family, relax in any type of lodging choice -- hotel, motel, cabin, chalet, bed and breakfast or condo. There are 10,000 rooms in Pigeon Forge scattered throughout the Parkway and up into the mountains -- all minutes from the heart of town.
"I know for myself, when I was traveling with small children, I would look for lodging that provides extra space and includes a kitchen, maybe a cabin, condo or suite. This gives everybody the room they need plus the added benefit of being able to have some area for meal preparation," Adkinson said.
Adkinson recommends the city's Fun Time Trolleys as a way to see the town without driving everywhere yourself. Trolley rides are 50 cents.
And, though it is not yet open, it is an attraction in itself -- the Titanic replica being built on the Parkway. (For more information, visit titanicpigeonforge.com.)
"The finished attraction is going to be a knock-out. It's a museum about the Titanic," Adkinson explained.
One of the best choices for traveling, according to Adkinson, is to take advantage of package offers.
"If there are things you know you want to do, look for a package that has the things you're after. They almost universally provide you with a good buy because they're about economy and convenience -- just make sure the components are things you really want," he said. "It's an excellent way to stay on budget, too."
Utilize Web sites and the local tourism board for additional little-known "secrets."
"Some of our sites have a policy where, if you visit after 3 p.m. one day, you can enter that same place the next day for free," Adkinson said. "Look for things like that and give us a call."
Full information is available at www.mypigeonforge.com.
The Herald-Dispatch
GATLINBURG, Tenn. -- No trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area would be complete without a stop at its gateway -- Gatlinburg.
This family-friendly vacation mecca features accommodations of every sort, dozens of dining options, unique shops and attractions.
Gatlinburg boasts family-oriented attractions such as museums, a world-class aquarium, mini golf and more.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies lets families come face-to-face with an array of sea creatures and travel through the world's largest underwater tunnel.
For vacationers seeking adventure, the area offers whitewater rafting, camping, horseback riding, fishing and hiking.
Family-friendly restaurants offer Southern specialties and fine dining options.
Gatlinburg is also home to a rich Arts and Crafts Community. In fact, Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, established in 1937, is the largest group of independent artisans in North America.
Gatlinburg offers the best in a wide range of craft shops, including pottery, woodcarving, candle making, quilting, weaving, broom making, and painting, among many other fine art forms.
