Dollywood?

[hucifer]

I'm not positive, but I believe that she is there for big celebrations. Opening dayparade (the day before the season opening), Christmas parade.

Thanks!

 

[ccgirl]

LOVE Dollywood! Two days, I would say. Especially if you want to "do" the waterpark portion (which is an extra cost on your ticket)...

Lots of artisans, music, and lovely shaded paths....the train ride is a blast! You need to throw yourself into it for the best experience, imho.

I haven't been in May, but we went in June and the crowds weren't all that bad...similar to Disney in early May, I'd say. Mostly very polite, as a rule "country" people are pretty nice!

The other wonderful thing to do is to take the Artisans Trail up through the mountains around the two towns....it's gorgeous, and the crafts etc are phenominal!!

You can also easily spend days walking the downtowns of both....beautiful, plus awesome shopping, plus dinner shows etc....

Can you please tell me more about the Artisans Trail? Sounds like something we will love and we are going in July.

we went last year over spring break and had such a great time we bought season tickets! If you are only going for the rides, it would be a one day park, but we did all the shows and were there 3 days and honestly could have gone one more day!

We found that some of the shows had different performances depending on the times you went. I know that was true of the Cirque type show they had while we were there. We went twice and saw a different show each time we went.

We have zero interest in country music and southern gospel music, but the acts were so good it didn't matter. One of my very favorites was an African Acapella Gospel group. If you would have told me I would enjoy something like that, I would never have believed it, but they were fantastic!

My DD who is 14 said she would rather go back there this year instead of WDW. I think part of the reason is we can get there in less than a day and she enjoys the shops in Gatlinburg. I love it because its much cheaper than WDW. I just checked a few days ago and a season pass for all of us is close to the same price as one day at WDW. Add our condo rental and food and its a pretty cheap trip!

Sounds great! Funny...my DD8 said the same thing after Disney this year. We went to Gatlinburg 2 years ago, and didn't even do Dollywood, and she really wants to go.

We ended up "upgrading" our Orlando timeshare for one in Gatlinburg sight unseen. When we got there, we were so happy. The timeshare, Westgate Smoky Mountain, was gorgeous. The waterpark was free since we were owners and my daughter loved it. I found the people around there were just wonderful. We didn't experience the rudeness that we do at Disney. We loved the drive around Cades Cove, the Apple Barn Restaurant, and the Old Mill Restaurant. We also went to a couple of winery's that were really yummy and would be perfect for a girls weekend. We ended up coming home with 2 cases of wine it was so yummy. We ended up going up a big mountain (duh...I'm sure that's helpful) but I can't remember the name of it. I know we could took a cable car and did some slides and a luge type thing then we took a ski lift to the top of the mountain. Forget the name of it but it was absolutely breath taking! I think we are going to try Dollywood this year as my DD really likes the coasters now. We are going in July. We drive and it is such an absolutely gorgeous drive there.

Have fun!

 

[roscoepc1]

Can you please tell me more about the Artisans Trail? Sounds like something we will love and we are going in July.

Absolutely! Here's a map :
http://www.gatlinburgcrafts.com/map.html
WE REALLY enjoyed it...there's everything from stained glass, to broom-makers, to a 50's diner that had the BEST hotdogs and soda fountain I've ever had! (I think it was Glades...centre portion of the map, number 39, but it's been a couple of years) Dulcimers, clocks, candles, etc....



Sounds great! Funny...my DD8 said the same thing after Disney this year. We went to Gatlinburg 2 years ago, and didn't even do Dollywood, and she really wants to go.

We ended up "upgrading" our Orlando timeshare for one in Gatlinburg sight unseen. When we got there, we were so happy. The timeshare, Westgate Smoky Mountain, was gorgeous. The waterpark was free since we were owners and my daughter loved it. I found the people around there were just wonderful. We didn't experience the rudeness that we do at Disney. We loved the drive around Cades Cove, the Apple Barn Restaurant, and the Old Mill Restaurant. We also went to a couple of winery's that were really yummy and would be perfect for a girls weekend. We ended up coming home with 2 cases of wine it was so yummy. We ended up going up a big mountain (duh...I'm sure that's helpful) but I can't remember the name of it. I know we could took a cable car and did some slides and a luge type thing then we took a ski lift to the top of the mountain. Forget the name of it but it was absolutely breath taking! I think we are going to try Dollywood this year as my DD really likes the coasters now. We are going in July. We drive and it is such an absolutely gorgeous drive there.

Have fun!

Oooooo the Apple Barn is AWESOME! Dh and I ended up being tipsy ther ethough, by accident, b/c we did the wine-tasting first thing in the morning and forgot we hadn't had breakfast yet! I fell off the sidewalk on the way out! We ended up going into the bakery and stuffing ourelves with the fabulous bread to sober up!

We also went white water rafting, which was a BLAST! We're waiting to go back until both girls are old enough to go with us, since I know they'd LOVE it!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Riding the huge cable car lift takes you up to OberGatlnburg.
One can also drive right up there, without paying for the lift.
They do have a website.

Folks are skiing up there right now..
I am sure they must have gotten that Christmas snow, and the temps have been low, for snowmaking, ever since!

We happened to be in that area last winter, and took DS up there to do the snow-tube run with DH. He really enjoyed it!

 

[lakelandgal70]

This has been a very informative thread. We are heading to my Aunts in Greeneville, TN in October and really want to go to Dollywood. Thinking the leaves would be really pretty and cooler weather.

 

[rie'smom]

Now, you have me wanting to plan a trip to Dollywood. We haven't been in probably 8 years. The crafts are outstanding from what I remember and my daughter LOVES roller coasters.

 

[donaldduck352]

Just a note if you drink - Pigeon Forge is a dry town with the exception of beer and wine served at a few restaurants, so you will need to bring your own or make a trip to the liqour store in Gatlinburg.

Not that it matters,but DW does'nt serve no beer at all?

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

All of our times in Gatlinburg, and we've never been to Dollywood, but now I'm going to have to try it sometime!

I agree about Cades Cove and Asheville - Biltmore is truly an experience, especially good for a girls trip.

http://www.romanticasheville.com/Biltmore.html

 

[live4christp1]

Riding the huge cable car lift takes you up to OberGatlnburg.
One can also drive right up there, without paying for the lift.
They do have a website.

Folks are skiing up there right now..
I am sure they must have gotten that Christmas snow, and the temps have been low, for snowmaking, ever since!
We happened to be in that area last winter, and took DS up there to do the snow-tube run with DH. He really enjoyed it!

We were in Sevierville last week for Connect and drove through Gatlinburg Wednesday afternoon before heading home. The trees were still hanging full of snow on Wednesday and there was lots on the ground still. We saw lots of people out playing in the snow, sledding, building snowmen, etc. along the road into and out of Gatlinburg. Temps have been a little warmer over the weekend here (we are two hours from Pigeon Forge) so I think the lower area has probably melted off but I'm sure the mountains probably are still covered pretty well, especially at the ski resort. It was beautiful but also very crowded being the week between Christmas and New Years.

 

[ccgirl]

Riding the huge cable car lift takes you up to OberGatlnburg.
One can also drive right up there, without paying for the lift.
They do have a website.

Folks are skiing up there right now..
I am sure they must have gotten that Christmas snow, and the temps have been low, for snowmaking, ever since!

We happened to be in that area last winter, and took DS up there to do the snow-tube run with DH. He really enjoyed it!

That's it! OberGatlinburg. It was awesome! We took the cable car to enhance the experience but agree we will probably drive up next time.

Not that it matters,but DW does'nt serve no beer at all?

I'm a little confused by this. If by 'DW' you mean Disneyworld, Magic Kingdom does not serve alcohol but the rest of the parks and all the resorts do.

 

[kimmyann]

Now, you have me wanting to plan a trip to Dollywood. We haven't been in probably 8 years. The crafts are outstanding from what I remember and my daughter LOVES roller coasters.

Ditto! We have been twice to Dollywood and enjoyed both times. We went in August one year and also did Splash Country, which we loved. The kid area there is worth it. Dollywood reminds me alot of the Busch Gardens here in Williamsburg. It's a nice, clean park with lots to look at. I actually have a room booked in Pigeon Forge for spring break and was planning on canceling it, now I'm thinking it may not be a bad idea to go. DH has family close by in KY so we always break up the trip.

Also, Cade's Cove is a must do IMO, love it. This time I would love to park and go see one of the waterfalls. Last time we were in the area, Cade's Cove was closed due to repaving the roads.

 

[SR]

I was excited about going to Dollywood when it was suggested, but now I am really excited to see the whole area.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions and ideas and thoughts.

I told my friend about what everyone has said and she was thrilled too. So now we are just trying to figure out a date to go. Probably early May like we had thought.

Thanks everyone...if anyone has more to add I would love to hear it. More suggestions of things to do or sights to see.

We are planning to be there for a week.

 

[Jeafl]

Bumping up this old thread to see if anyone else has other ideas for the area...

 

[lvloopingbag]

Bumping some more.......About how long does it take to get from Pigeon Forge to the Biltmore in Asheville? Has anyone ever stayed in Pigeon Forge at the Inn at Christmas Place? It looks really nice.....

 

[MoonFaerie]

Bumping some more.......About how long does it take to get from Pigeon Forge to the Biltmore in Asheville? Has anyone ever stayed in Pigeon Forge at the Inn at Christmas Place? It looks really nice.....

Well how long it takes to get anywhere really varies on the time of the year. Earlier this week, all 3 lanes of the parkway between Sevierville & Pigeon Forge were at pretty much a stand still. I'm not sure how bad it was further in to PF. Also, it depends on if you take I-40 or go over the mountains. Typically though, it takes about 1 hr 45 mins once we get on I-40 at exit 407. They're doing construction on Hwy 66, and at night it's down to 1 lane in each direction out near the interstate.