Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge area suggestions

[PRS]

My husband and I will be in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area around June 29 - July 5. For those of you that know this area, what are some things we should DEFINITELY see or do? What things do you like or not like, etc. I appreciate your input!

Thanks,

[dulcimerduo]

Hi,
Drive over to Townsend Tn, a shortish drive from Pigeon Forge, and visit the Wood'n'Strings dulcimer shop. Tell Mike and Connie I sent you. If it happens to be on a saturday, you will get a free concert sat evening. Just bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and enjoy the show on the Pickin Porch.
Just a heads up, expect huge delays in getting anywhere, the traffic is heavy.
It's a wonderful area to visit, I'm about 1 1/2 hrs away.
DD

[Hungryjohn]

Hi,
Drive over to Townsend Tn, a shortish drive from Pigeon Forge, and visit the Wood'n'Strings dulcimer shop. Tell Mike and Connie I sent you. If it happens to be on a saturday, you will get a free concert sat evening. Just bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and enjoy the show on the Pickin Porch.
Just a heads up, expect huge delays in getting anywhere, the traffic is heavy.
It's a wonderful area to visit, I'm about 1 1/2 hrs away.
DD

If you go to Townsend, dip down to Cade's Cove in the National Park. Gorgeous scenery.

If you like amusement parks, Dollywood is pretty good. Lots of decent shows in addition to the rides, which include three decent roller coasters.

All in all, this area is just way too crowded for me, though.

[PRS]

Thanks, DD! That sounds like a great idea!

[Hungryjohn]

Hi,
Drive over to Townsend Tn, a shortish drive from Pigeon Forge, and visit the Wood'n'Strings dulcimer shop. Tell Mike and Connie I sent you. If it happens to be on a saturday, you will get a free concert sat evening. Just bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and enjoy the show on the Pickin Porch.
Just a heads up, expect huge delays in getting anywhere, the traffic is heavy.
It's a wonderful area to visit, I'm about 1 1/2 hrs away.
DD

If you go to Townsend, dip down to Cade's Cove in the National Park. Gorgeous scenery.

If you like amusement parks, Dollywood is pretty good. Lots of decent shows in addition to the rides, which include three decent roller coasters.

All in all, this area is just way too crowded for me, though.

[PRS]

Thanks, Hungry John! Cade's Cove will definitely be on my list.

[LarryHicks]

Cade's Cove is a definite must see. Maybe you will get lucky and see some bears there like we did. Of course you need to drive across the mountains to Cherokee, stopping on the way at New Found Gap and maybe Clingman's Dome. Before you get into Cherokee, there is an old grist mill on the right and an old village to visit on the left. Mike Clemmer's store in Townsend is a must see also, but Jerry Read Smith's Song of the Wood store in Black Mountain North Carolina makes a nice day trip. He has a great selection of HD's, MD's, psaltery's and other stuff. And Tom Fellenbaum's store with his dulcimers is about a block from Jerry's store.

Larry

[PRS]

Larry,

Thanks for your input. I believe that the towns and sites around Gatlinburg and Pideon Forge will be the highlight of our visit to this area. I just needed to hear which ones are really special.

[missy]

Cosby used to be, but some family members just got back, and Lee Schilling is closing up the shop (Lee has remarried) and moving.......

Boy - the good times I spent on top of that mountain. That was the first dulcimer festival I ever went to.

It's still a nice area for hiking, and if you are into physical punishment, do the Ramsey's Cascade hike about mid-way between Gatlinburg and Cosby. But do NOT believe the sign that it's a 4 mile in and 4 mile out hike!! I don't know anyone who's done it in less than 4 hours (it took me almost 7 once).

[DonB]

If you are into banjos in any way, Jack Hatfield's shop is in Pigeon Forge.

[barbmwolf]

If you want to see the local crafts, be sure to visit the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community in Gatlinburg. http://www.artsandcraftscommunity.com
I enjoy the Old Mill area in Pigeon Forge: http://www.old-mill.com
Pigeon River String Instruments is located there.
Townsend and Mike Clemmer's shop is also a favorite of mine.
Have a wonderful time in beautiful Tennessee!
My hometown is Sweetwater, Tennessee.

[PRS]

Thanks for your info. It's very helpful to hear from yall. In case we don't get back that way again, we want to use our time there wisely.