Gatlinburg, Tennessee

[swilshire Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close swilshire]

How much does this area "close down" in the Sept./Oct. timeframe? I know lots of areas that are very busy in the summer become ghost towns in the fall.

Sue

As mentioned above, mid-Oct to the end of the month is the busiest time of the year. Total gridlock on the highways. September is loaded with harvest festivals and crafty events. Dollywood goes full bore with a bluegrass event in Sept and harvestfest. They shut down for a week right at the end of November, then start up again with the Christmas festivities.

The only off-season in the area is New Years to a week or so before Valentines Day (also big because a gazillion people get married there that week). Even then, the locals have been very crafty about planning events that bring in lots of folks. I've been up there for a kid's band event in Jan with the weather just yucky, and yet the streets were full of folks walking around. Also, Winterfest goes through the end of Feb, so the lights are fun to look at after the Christmas crowds are gone.

Never a ghost town now. 30 years ago, yes, in the winter. Not any more.

Sheila

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Dollywood - Pigeon Forge - Gatlinburg Tennessee

Any great discount coupons available for
Dollywood - Day or Seaon Pass - Parking

Dolly Parton's Great Smoky Mountain family Amusement Park

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Tennessee Tourist Information 2007


Its been 25 years since we last visited this area
Went to the 1982 Worlds Fair in Knoxville Tennessee

Now we are back in TN and has everything changed

From Interstate I-40 @ Exit 407
South along the Parkway Route 441
Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg
Cross the Great Smoky Mountains
To Harrahs Cherokee, North Carolina

Nothing looks the same!

Will keep you posted on whats new here in the area.

[swilshire Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close swilshire]

Went to the 1982 Worlds Fair in Knoxville Tennessee.

I was there. LOTS. I was working part time for the restaurant that operated the Budweiser beer garden. I never worked at the fair, but my boss was kind enough to get me an employee pass for unlimited access. My future husband's band played almost daily somewhere on the fairgrounds. No wonder they broke up shortly after the fair ended. They were probably all sick of each other by then.

Lots of fond memories.

Sheila

[SoundQ SVT Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SoundQ SVT]

I too was at the 1982 Worlds Fair for a couple days.

My wife and I will be in Gatlinburg staying at Mountainloft 9/1-9/8. It will be our first time staying there for both of us. I did have a pass-thru visit on the way to Florida in March of 2000... was there for lunch and kept going.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Hot and Humid Summer Days inTennessee


Schools started here on - Monday August 20, 2007

Temps have been in the high 90`s the past week and are
expected to reach 100 degrees today, May break a record
No rain - Huge drought - Douglas Lake water level is down!

Record high temps this week here in the Smoky Mountain
areas of Knoxville - Sevierville - Pigeon Forge - Gatlinburg

Plan to spend more time in Air Conditioning so we are
going to do a few timeshare presentations this week.

[swilshire Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close swilshire]

Schools started here on - Monday August 20, 2007

That is surprisingly late for this area. Ours started August 7. Knox county's started August 9.

Maybe they need the kids up there to work in the tourist related businesses and delay school for that reason. I know Dollywood went back and forth on hiring 15yos while my daughter worked there. There are definitely more jobs than people to fill them.

Sheila

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail


August 25, 2007


The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a journey through
The Great Smoky Mountains. The one way drive along a
narrow road starts just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

This was our first visit and the drive took us 90 minutes.
We stopped a few times for photos - we did not get out
to hike the many trails to the falls or through the woods.

Here are a few links - regarding the history of the area:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Roaring Fork NPS

http://www.imagesbuilder.com/gsmnp/r...ork/index.html

Roaring Fork - Great Smoky Mountains - Wikipedia)

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Great Smoky Mountains - Cades Cove -near Gatlinburg


August 26, 2007

Rt. 321 to 73 - Great Smoky Mountains - Cades Cove

Today we did a Self Guided Auto Tour of Cades Cove

We began our 11 mile drive just
before noon as a brief drizzle started.

First stop along our route was the horse stables.
We stopped and looked at the horses.
Here they offer horse back riding and buggy rides.
From his area we seen Wild Turkey`s out in the field.

Another Stop was the
Cades Cove NPS Visitor Center
Here they sell various items and have
an indoor restroom but no restaurant.

Signed up to become a member of the
Great Smoky Mountains Association
Friends of the Smoky Mountains $25

Purchases a lovely Music CD
Sunday in the Smoky Mountains
and a GSMNP License Plate with
a Bear on it. (CC NSP Stamp)

The afternoon weather was nice with
temps in 90`s with sun & fluffy clouds

Last Stop
before driving back to Gatlinburg Tenn.
We stopped at the Camp Ground Store
and had a hot dog and coke cola soda
We finished our roundtrip scenic drive
of CC around 6 PM (approx 6 1/2 hours)
via River Road to Sugarland Visitor Center


Cades Cove is Simply Beautiful

We Took 350 Digital Photographs
& plan to make a Kodak calendar.


Cades Cove - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cades Cove

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Ok Marti!! Sounds like you are having a great time. Where's the pics? shaggy

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

A Huge Thanks to John at Bakers Towing


August 28, 2007 - Tuesday Afternoon
Hot - Humid - With Temps in the 90`s

Had to have our Mineral Gray Mustang towed
to: McNelly Whaley Ford Dealer this afternoon

Just wanted to say Thank You to
Mr John the tow truck driver from:

Baker's Wrecker Services

AAA Approved Towing
136 Kilby Street
Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone (865) 453-9203

For the fast, friendly and professional service
he provided us using his roll back tow truck..

If anyone is in the area and should need assistance with
their vehicle be sure to call and ask for him personally.

[swilshire Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close swilshire]

Sorry to hear you had a problem. What happened?

I've always heard good things about McNalley Whaley. Hope they took good care of you.

Sheila

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Places we recently visited


Sevierville - Pigeon Forge - Gatlinburg


Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant - On the Parkway in Gatlinburg
Smoky Mountain Trout Dinner - Roast Turkey & Dressing Dinner
Nice Restaurant - Good Service - Free Parking
Delicious Apple Fritters - Average tasting food

No. 1 Chinese Buffet - Sevierville - Tennessee
Average tasting buffet food - Inexpensive

Damons Grill - On the Parkway in Sevierville - Tennessee
Two Prime Rib Dinners with Baked Potatoes and Veggie`s
Good Location - Nice Waitress - Overpriced
Below Average Tasting - Bread and Entrees

Fuddruckers - Governors Crossing - Always Great!


Lid'l Dolly's Country Store - 2870 Parkway - Pigeon Forge
Handcrafted Childrens Dresses - Collectable Dolls - Quilts

Muesum of Salt and Pepper Shakers (Andrea)
Winery Square on Highway 321 -Gatlinburg TN
http://www.thesaltandpeppershakermuseum.com/index.asp

Smoky Mountain Knife Works In Sevierville, Tennessee
Smoky Mountain Knife Works - World's largest knife showplace

National Knife Museum - Located on the Mezzanine Level - SMKW
NKM

Oak Ridge TN 1942-1949
Oak Ridge

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

August Heat and High Humidity in Gatlinburg

The hottest weather in more than 50 years in Eastern Tennessee has
wreaked havoc on everything from computer servers to water supplies.

Stop and Go driving around and across the Great Smoky Mountains
in the record breaking heat and high humidity got us and our car!

With record Temps over 90 degrees + for some 30 days here in TN
Our Mineral Gray Mustand needed a new battery and an alternator!

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Maps - Tourist Information - Coupons


Gatlinburg Tennessee is only a day`s drive away for half of the US population.

Be sure to pick up a Free Tourist Information & Coupon Book:

Here is a list of my favorites

Best Read Guide Smoky Mountains 78 pages
Best Read Guide Smoky Mountains

Gatlinburg Vacation Guide 58 pages
Gatlinburg Tennessee: Heart of the Great Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountain Navigator 112 pages
Smoky Mountain Navigator