Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Tennessee

Gatlinburg Tennessee is known at the Tennessee entrance to the Great Smoky National Park. It has a reputation of being a great destination for walking the historic streets, shopping and having fun. But, with the crowds and the heavy focus on mini-golf and Dukes of Hazard museums, we decided not to spend much time. We did, however, visit Ober Gatlinburg, a combination ski resort and amusement park with a spectacular view of the Smoky range. We sat in the après-ski bar and had an adult beverage and appetizer while enjoying the grand view. When we checked into it, we learned that because these are eastern mountains, the total vertical drop at this ski resort is only 600 feet – we used to ski 600 feet of vertical drop in the river valleys and Great Lake bluffs in northern Minnesota!

Pigeon Forge is the home of Dollywood, the massive theme park spawned by Dolly Parton. While we weren’t looking for exposure to the collection of roller coasters (which is really impressive by the way), we did want to take in the numerous museum and story type attractions surrounding Dolly’s career.

The Woman did agree voluntarily to go on both the carousel and the small traditional Ferris wheel in the kiddie section of the park. However, you would have thought this an immense wheel from the cacophony of screams coming from the seat right next to me. When we got off, the attendant asked if we had a good time, and the Woman screamed “It was scarier than sh_t!” The guy laughed, assuming she was just funnin him (it really is a small wheel), and I apologized for her language. He just laughed again and said “Sounded like perfect English to me!”

I did manage to scam onto one of the big coasters. I found one where there appeared to be no line, and because all the young’uns were trying to get on the front and back cars, I walked right onto a middle car just waiting for me with no wait at all. It turned out it was a great coaster with no less than 3 loops in a really tight, fast and thrilling configuration. Great fun and the Woman hardly knew I was gone very long.

All in all, we enjoyed our visit to Dollywood and I am glad we did not pass it up. By the way, doesn’t anybody take first level marketing anymore? Is this a really good name for a business that rents rooms to sleep over night? I have a hard time deciding which I would rather have in my sleeping room – Aunts or bugs? Maybe both!

 

Talk to you soon!