The Great Smoky Mountains • A Week Of Adventure and Fun
Spending a week in The Great Smoky Mountains was an adventure with a little fun sprinkled in! Check out four days of our trip back in mid October and at the end check out the RV Resort we stayed at.
Day One • Foothills Parkway and More
Entrance To Foothills Parkway
Day One of our visit to Smoky Mountains National Park included a drive on Foothills Parkway, The Tail Of The Dragon, and a surprise visit by some Elk!
The drive around the parkway included some great foliage (leaf peeping they call it) and a long winding ride on the Dragon. That takes you into North Carolina and when all was said and done we found we had a 2 1/2 hour drive to get back to our RV resort! Good thing we had Nina with us!
Day Two in the Smokies had us on the 11 mile road around Cades Cove. Allow two to four hours to see many scenery, trails and wildlife. There is a road that bisects the route so you can go back and pick up things you may have missed. We recommend The Gypsy Guide Tour App. You can hear some of it in these videos. The loop road is closed to motor vehicles until 10:00 a.m. every Saturday and Wednesday morning from early May until late September to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the cove.
Day three of our Great Smoky Mountains journey was to the highest mountain. Clingmans Dome, at 6643 feet is also the highest point in the state of Tennessee and according to Wikipedia the highest point of the Appalachian Trail. If going keep in mind the time of year. It is a 7 mile drive in. We went at a prime time in the fall during "leaf peeping" season and traffic was awful and parking almost impossible. But it is well worth it! Be prepared for the 1/2 mile walk up a paved but very steep road. There are places to stop and rest and unless you are in top shape.... trust me you will need them.
Dolly Parton's Stampede in Pigeon Forge, TN is a dinner theater that is part of the entertainment company that owns Dollywood. First, let me say that it turned out to be a fun evening for both of us and we met some nice people as well. It's impossible not to as you are literally sitting on top of your neigbors from the pre-show that lasts about 20-30 minutes (see picture above and try to get seating for that in the upper level for best viewing) to the main dinner where you have a 4 course meal that you literally eat with your hands. Not sure I understand the point of that....I know you eat with your hands at those medieval shows but didn't the old west have forks and knives?
Main Show Vantage Point
The main show is approximately an hour and a half and its a theme of Americana with horses, excellent riders, pig races, ostrich races, with some comedy added as well. Think circus master and clown. Lots of dance and horse and rider competition riding through pylons and grabbing flags. They have the usual photos taken at the start that they hawk during the show, a gift shop perfectly placed at the exit, and they do offer excellent handicapped seating. Our seats, pictured below, show how they pack you in but there is just enough room to eat and applaud.
Its a great place for kids and grown up kids alike. Would we re-visit? Probably not but it was enjoyable.
Seating Vantage Point Main Theater
Day Five • The Island At Pigeon Forge
While on vacation in The Great Smoky Mountains we took a day to take in
the sights at The Island in Pigeon Forge. It’s 23 acres of shops,
restaurants and attractions such as the 200 Foot Observation Wheel.
(Pictures are a view from the wheel and Mike sampling some Moonshine).
We also ate at the well known Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen and spent some
time tasting (only Mike) at Ole’ Smoky Moonshine.
Shot Taken From The Wheel
Mike Sampling The Moonshine
Two River Landing RV Resort • Our Home For The Week
Two Rivers Landing is on the French Broad River and is a small one street resort with pull in sites for motorhomes along the river and back in sites opposite them. This place is clean and kept pristine and with the Prevosts', Entegras' Tiffins as well as our Georgetown proving why. Everyone I spoke to loves it here. Many are heading south as well. They have a pool, sitting room, as well as laundry facilities.
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