Smoky & The Bandit!

We had planned to spend three days in Pigeon Forge before heading to Nashville.  Little did we know how many things there were to see and do around the Great Smoky Mountains!  First, let’s start with Pigeon Forge.  It was NOT what we expected!  Don’t take that the wrong way, we weren’t disappointed…but it was a totally different atmosphere than we had imagined.  The entire stretch of the Parkway was lined with tourist traps, rides, entertainment, outlets, restaurants, traffic lights, and TRAFFIC!  Lots to see and do…but we found it more of a pain to get anywhere than enjoyable. 

We spent an entire day cruising around Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains.  Gatlinburg is a nice small town that has lots of shops and allows you to walk the streets with things to see and do.  I tried to convince my wife to ride the Ober Gatlinburg scenic chairlift (and/or scenic tram) which lifts you high above the Great Smokies, but I lost that battle.  The only thing my wife was riding was the Harley.  So off we went!  We cruised through the Smokies which offered some beautiful views from high over Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.  We experienced a big drop in temperature as our altitude increased in the mountains. 

Unfortunately, our relaxed trip through the Smokies turned into a long afternoon!  Our GPS went wacko in the mountains, and we got totally lost.  We followed the mountains all the way to the North Carolina border, before winding our way back to Pigeon Forge for the evening.  Next time we'll pack a paper map so we don't have to rely on this awesome GPS technology! 

Our first night in Pigeon Forge we made plans to attend the Dixie Stampede.  The dinner show and entertainment were A+ and we really enjoyed the southern hospitality throughout the night!   It started in the tiny pre-show waiting area.  A small stage allowed the blue grass band to entertain us before the main show.  Jenesa and I nabbed some cold beverages in

Dixie Stampede boot souvenir mugs! 

On to the main show, we were treated to some friendly North and South competition, thrilling horse-riding stunts, spectacular special effects, phenomenal music performances, and a mouth-watering four course meal complete with dessert!