The Great Trek to Oshkosh begins on Sunday. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a natural stopping point. This is America’s most-visited national park so I’m hopeful that readers have some brilliant ideas for activities in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. To refresh your memory:
First, I would avoid driving through Gatlinburg at all costs. Nothing to see there but tourists buying tourist things and you will be stuck in endless traffic.
Horseback riding concession in the park was a lot of fun.
There are a lot of hikes, so that should be easy to find.
Cades Cove is also worth the visit but can take some time to see. It’s fun to explore the old homesteads.
Would recommend the funky Fox & Parrot Tavern for food and beer if you want to avoid the endless chains and touristy places (see Gatlinburg reference above). A small ways off the beaten path.
The Titanic museum was better than the one we went to in Ireland.
Dollywood is a surprisingly good park. With a variety of coasters. Clean and well landscaped.
Thanks, Ken! Dollywood is on our list, though I am not sure that Senior Management appreciates both kinds of music (Country and Western). Our boys are natural-born rednecks, though, and they should enjoy it!
GKT is a fantastic airport. They’ll bring your rental car to the plane (which they’ll tie down) and make you feel like a G550 passenger.
Thanks, Nishant. We actually have a car reserved there! The G550 would need an unpressurized baggage compartment in order to deliver anything like the in-flight comfort of the SR20!
I haven’t been there except for a very, very brief time recently so I don’t have any good suggestions for tourism or events, but I can recommend that you play this song at least once along the way: “Smoky Mountain Rain” by Ronnie Milsap, 1980.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj6_CpSGPoE
There are some live versions on YouTube and even a duet with Dolly Parton!
It’s beautiful country there and I hope you have a great time.
You’ll love it! The atmosphere is very refined, sort of like the square in Florence where the replica David stands. Be sure to get pistachio gelato and chianti. Ask any local, they are so helpful and kind to steer you away from anything tacky.
It depends on what you want to see and how much time you have. I’d recommend a day hike in the park if you have time.
I spend 2-3 weeks every year on the south end of the park in the Bryson City area – much less “touristy” there, and just build a cabin outside of cellphone coverage west of there close to Fontana Lake.
Road to Nowhere aka Lakeview Drive
I’ve heard good things about the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.