Friday, April 29, 2011

Dolly Parton's Springfest Parade in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Looking for a great outdoor event to take in with the family?  Try visiting the Smoky Mountains!  You can attend Dolly Parton's Annual Homecoming Parade, where she opens up SpringFest in Pigeon Forge.  May 6, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. marks the 26th annual Dolly Parade. This Dolly Parade kicks off Pigeon Forge Springfest with Sevier County's favorite daughter, Dolly Parton, as its grand marshal leading the celebration. Traditionally, over 50,000 parade watchers line the streets to admire the colorful floats, marching bands, entertainers and local celebrities on the streets of Pigeon Forge. For photos of the Dolly Parade.

The Dolly Parade will begin on River Road near traffic light #7 and will travel north along the Parkway disbanding at the Belz Factory Outlet World at traffic light #3. The Dolly Parade will get underway at 6:00 p.m. All visitors who come to the parade will get a real taste of the entertainment that can be found all year in Pigeon Forge. Every year for the last 25 years Dolly has been holding her annual Homecoming Parade. This event puts Springfest into full swing. The parade usually draws Dolly lovers and spectators from all over the world. It is fun and it is free, and you get to see Dolly herself. It is so much fun to see what parade float and outfit she will come up with next.

Born January 19, 1946, singer, songwriter, and actress Dolly Parton inspires locals and visitors! Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Dolly’s hometown in the Great Smoky Mountains was not a large enough place to contain all of this amazing woman’s dreams. A day after Dolly graduated from Sevier County High School, she packed her cardboard suitcase with songs and moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

This performer is also a businesswoman! Each year she returns home for her parade through Pigeon Forge and to visit her theme parks, Dolly Wood and Splash Country. The little girl who grew up in the mountains of east Tennessee and made them a part of her music still loves her home.

She also shared her name with the theme park and from the opening day in 1986 forward, it became known as the now famous Dollywood. Now Tennessee’s most-visited tourist attraction, Dollywood ranks in the top fifty most attended theme parks in the world and has now doubled in size. Covering over 100 acres, with several new areas and many more attractions, this theme park draws over two million visitors to the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area each year!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains (Near Gatlinburg, TN)

Cades Cove, just outside of Gatlinburg, is located on the south end of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Plan to spend from 5 to 7 hours including the round trip from Gatlinburg.  You can hike it, walk it, bike it, horseback ride it, or drive it!  When you go early, you miss the congestion of people and traffic.  Also, if you go at dawn or sunset, you will also enhance your chance to see abundate wildlife.  During much of the year, you can see Bear, Deer, Fox, Birdlife, and beautiful flowers.


There are at least three 100 plus year old churches.  Two of them are Baptist churches, while the other is a Methodist Church.  You can see many intriguing pioneer log cabins throughout this historic community.  If you feel like hiking, try the Abrams Falls trail which only takes a little more than an hour each way.  It's beautiful and will provide an excellent backdrop for picture-taking.  Cades Cove is a peaceful, historic community within the National Park that is sure to provide memories for your entire family. Please respect this East Tennessee Treasure (don't litter, pollute, or disturb the habitat).  We want to keep it available to the public in its present state for generations to come.  Feel free to call the National Park for more information about Cades Cove at 865-436-1200

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Gettin' Married? Try Gatlinburg, Tennessee




Getting Married is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion (let's hope), so it is imperative to make memorable wedding plans!  Of course, you could get married and take your honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains.  Or you could do a destination wedding, with your guests, in beautiful Gatlinburg Tennessee.  Gatlinburg offers a very affordable option to those that want a destination wedding and will be hosting guests from all over the Country.

The National Park offers a great backdrop for a wedding.  It also gives your guests some weekend activities to do, while they are attending the wedding.  Its scenic beauty of glorious mountains, serene forest, rushing streams and cascading waterfalls is the perfect setting for a romantic Gatlinburg wedding.  Over twenty wedding chapels in Tennessee and services are located in Gatlinburg. Brides dreaming of a formal wedding will find that their dreams can come true, whether they want a traditional white chapel or a charming log chapel. Every wish can be met during a Gatlinburg wedding including candlelight ceremonies, professional photography, camera videos, and elegant receptions.

Couples dreaming of a simpler wedding also have many options. Many of the Gatlinburg wedding chapels offer gazebo, garden, or waterfall settings. Aunt Bug's Cabins is one luxury log cabin provider that offers bridal couples private cabin settings with mountain and creekside views.  Also, there are Gatlinburg wedding services that will perform weddings at an outdoor location of your choice, such as by a mountain stream, mountain or riverside cabin, or a natural waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Many services and vendors are available to you and your wedding party including limo services, florists, photographers, caterers, dress shops and tuxedo rentals. Additional benefits are easy access, first-class quality chapels that charge reasonable rates, and marriage-friendly laws. In the state of Tennessee, no waiting period or blood test are required. All that's necessary is a license (ask the Chamber of Commerce for locations), be 18 years of age or older, and have lots of love in your heart. Couples can even pick up their marriage licenses on a Saturday in Gatlinburg.

Another popular trend is to get married in your honeymoon cabin or chalets, which offer privacy and incomparable mountain settings.  Gatlinburg offers the bride and groom everything needed for that perfect day. Gatlinburg, often called “Wedding Capital of the South,” is the ideal place to set the tone for years to come.

Still, if you desire to get married in your local hometown, consider Gatlinburg as your honeymoon destination. There are honeymoon cabins that now offer mountain views, heart-shaped jacuzzis, private indoor pools, hot tubs, fireplaces, porch swings, floral bouquets, in-room dining, and privacy.  The Gatlinburg cabin rentals are affordable and beautiful for your romantic hideaway in the Smokies!



Monday, April 25, 2011

Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN (Cabins near Dollywood)

Dollywood is the most visited theme park in Tennessee.  This family attraction is also the most popular in the Smoky Mountains.  Visit Dollywood March thru December each year for the best in family entertainment.  You'll enjoy the top rollercoasters in the South which include the Tennessee Tornado and Barnstormer.  Dollywood's season and calendar of events begins in early Spring and continues through December, showcasing the park's beautiful Smoky Mountain setting amid the splendor of all four seasons-from fall festivals to Christmas outdoor light displays.

Dollywood's spectacular Tennessee setting provides the perfect backdrop for a variety of amusement park rides and attractions.  Thrilling roller coasters, daring water excursions, family rides and kiddie rides-you'll find them all at Dollywood-along with one-of-a-kind attractions that let you experience our Smoky Mountain way of life.  See a live show while you're here and don't miss the best roller coasters in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee!  Dollywood open 8am - 6pm daily, except for major holidays.

When visiting the Pigeon Forge area, we recommend reserving a fabulous vacation cabin rental for all the conveniences of home.  Cabins are available near the Little Pigeon River, Outlet Shopping, Splash Country, and Dollywood.  Creekside and mountain view log cabins are available for your family vacation.  These vacation homes in Pigeon Forge often offer swimming pool access, hot tubs, pool tables, full kitchens, deluxe King beds, gas or park-style grills, and laundry facilities.  The value of these accommodations is incomparable to other lodging options.  Book your cabin rental today, as you make plans to visit Dollywood amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  Your family will love the Smoky Mountains experience this Season!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Auto Shows in the Smokies (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)

The Spring Grand Rod Run kicks off the car show season with classic Fords, Chevy/GMCs and Gold Wings. Thousands of classic car, truck and motorcycle enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains each year for the first, big Pigeon Forge car show. Pigeon Forge is a popular host to rod runs and car shows. Participants love to take their classic car or hot rod group on a Smoky Mountain scenic drive.  Show off or put your car up for sale, stay at a vacation cabin rental, and enjoy the sights of the beautiful Smoky Mountains.

The participants in these car shows are so eager to get the weekend started that the Parkway and hotel parking lots begin to fill with classic cars on Tuesday of that week. The events feature more than just rare and unique autos, though. Throughout the event weekend, visitors can enjoy interactive displays presented by vendors from all over the country.

Those who enjoy the mechanical aspects of the auto world will savor the opportunity to participate in workshops and get answers to technical questions. Are you traveling a long way from home for the car shows? A variety of welcoming lodging and restaurant options are available to delight any visitor, including cabins, chalets, condos, & resorts in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, & Sevierville area.

Some of the following auto events include:
April 29- May 2               Rally in the Forge 2011
May 7- May 8                 Volkswagen Show
May 12-May 14              Annual F-100 Supernationals & All Ford Show
May 19-May 21              Chevy Classics Car Show
June 3- June 4                 Pontiacs in PF
June 12- June 18             All Chevy Supernationals
June 25- June 26             Arts of the Samurai Grand Nationals
Sept 9- Sept 10               Shades of the Past Rod Run XXIX @Dollywood’s Splash Country
Sept 15- 19                     Grand Fall Rod Run

Call 866-286-8284 for more information on local car shows. Ask for Brian

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

10 Unique Reasons to Vacation in the Smokies (Gatlinburg, TN)




  1. Write poetry or a journal.  We often have musicians come to the Mountains to write their music lyrics and songs.
  2. Heal a relationship. Get some quiet time to heal a broken heart or a relationship. Sometimes quality time and a beautiful landscape is all it takes. Remember to relax and communicate, when you get here.
  3. To get away from the concrete jungle. Some "city slickers" love the Great Outdoors. We have plenty of that here in the Smokies.
  4. Walk downtown Gatlinburg and remember how small the World can be.  Gatlinburg has a little bit of something for everyone. Bring your pet.  The Smoky Mountains is one of the Top pet-friendly travel destinations in the Country.
  5. Catch a Minor League Ballgame with your sons and daughters.  The Tennessee Smokies is a great Double A team to grab a game with the Kids.  The kids will love to be outdoors to watch baseball & grab a Ballpark hotdog with their Dad.
  6. Mothers and their daughters love to shop.  We have both the best outlet shopping, as well as Arts & Crafts communities, in the country!  No matter what you are looking for, you will find it here in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
  7. Fly fish or Trout Fish together as a family.  You've seen the movie (or read the novel), "A River Runs Through It?"  Well, live out family traditions here in the Smokies; go fishing in the Great Outdoors.
  8. Karoke-Lover? Gatlinburg has karaoke in several local pubs & restaurants throughout the week. Try the Smoky Mountain Brewery or Crawdaddy's in Gatlinburg, if you love to sing Hank, Shania, or Journey!
  9. Girls weekend...or Guys.  Get together with friends and grab a log cabin rental in Gatlinburg with friends.  You can enjoy the area during the day, grill out at night, or enjoy your own log cabin in the Smokies with friends.  It is a great way to catch up with friends once (or twice) a year!
  10. Take a hike on a special or secluded trail with your loved one.  Make it a special annual event.  Make that mountain trail your own & enjoy the conversation, exercise, and time together.  The Great Smoky Mountain National Park has hundreds of trails, places to see, and wildlife to view!  There's not many places like the Smokies anywhere in the World. Enjoy!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Lodging in Style in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

 People that live in the City often need a break from all the stress in their life!  Just getting out of the City to a different landscape can be a refreshing change that you need to make once or twice a year.  In Tennessee, you can visit the most visited National Park in the country.  The Smoky Mountains has so much to offer for someone looking to getaway or take a family vacation.

Outdoor activities include hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, river rafting, & tubing.  The Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area also offers one of the top amusement parks in the country, Dollywood.  During the Winter, Ober Gatlinburg offers Skiing, tubing, ice skating, tram rides, and more!  Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Dixie Stampede, & Wonderworks are fun for families.

Grilling out in the Great Outdoors, soaking in the hot tub as you look out over the mountain views, and sipping your favorite beverage while you sit on a rocker or swing outside are some of my favorite activities to do when vacationing in the Smokies.  Hiking is the best way to capture amazing photography of the Smokies, while getting your daily exercise.  You'll love the feeling you get when you are exploring the National Park!  Bring a camera, a backpack with water and snacks, and pick out a trail with waterfalls or mountain views to enjoy.  You'll love it!  The City can be a fun place, but there is nothing like God's Country here in the Smoky Mountain.

Friday, April 01, 2011

Gatlinburg Municipal Parks for Families

Herbert Holt Park is a creekside park and the first one you come into as you enter Gatlinburg from Pigeon Forge. There is a large pavilion, playground equipment, a handicap accessible fishing pier and a trout facility for the kids' entertainment. Herbert Holt is a great place for a picnic too with its own grills, sinks and horseshoe pits for the grandfathers who join you one Sunday afternoon.  Acorn cabin rentals has three cabins on the Little Pigeon River that are antique riverside cabins near this Park.  These cabins include River Dream, Granny's Cabin, and Bear Cabin.  You'll love the beauty of the rushing waters at this location! This Park is walking distance to town.

Mills Park is further up from Gatlinburg on Highway 321, right next to the high school and the Gatlinburg Community Center. Mills Park is a good place for kids to play sports in with a basketball court, baseball field, football and soccer fields, running track, skate park and horseshoe pits. Down the road a bit is another park with a playground and pavilion. There are also grills and sinks to cook out with.  The community center also offers bowling, racquetball, fitness center, ping pong, and so much more.  They also have indoor swimming pool.  Great for all ages to enjoy their exercise and sports.






Mynatt Park is downtown Gatlinburg's Municipal Park. It's located at the top of Airport Road with a creek running alongside it. Mynatt is the place to go to let the kids run around and wear out before bedtime. There is a LOT of open space, a basketball court, a playground just up the street, and a creek running along the picnic grounds. This Park is up Historic Indian Trail Airport Road at Light #8 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.