Hollywood Wax Museum

June 29, 2009

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Want to be surrounded by your favorite Hollywood stars, from Johnny Depp to Marilyn Monroe? Gatlinburg’s Hollywood Wax Museum is almost as good as the real thing. The museum features actors, singers, and Hollywood legends so life like you will want to reach out and ask for an autograph. The museum is located in downtown Gatlinburg.

For more information please call (865) 430-1800.


A Wedding in the Smokies

June 28, 2009

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The Great Smoky Mountains provides the perfect backdrop for a dream wedding. Whether an outdoor or a traditional chapel wedding is what you want, Gatlinburg is the place for you. There are many local chapels located atop a mountain, providing the perfect spot for an indoor or outdoor wedding. Gatlinburg is not only ideal for the ceremony, it is also a romantic location perfect for the honeymoon as well. For information on everything including marriage licenses, wedding services, flowers, photography, lodging, and reception services click here.


Sugarlands Visitor Center

June 27, 2009

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During your vacation around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, be sure to stop by the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Before you decide on what trail to hike or where to picnic, you can pick up a park map and have your questions answered by a ranger. There is a 20-minute orientation film that provides an in-depth look at the diverse plant and animal life within the Smokies. Inside the visitors center you can also view historical exhibits about the wildlife you may see in the park. During the summer, the visitor center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The center is located 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US- 441. For more information about the visitor center and others throughout the park click here.

 


Mills Park in Gatlinburg

June 26, 2009

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Want to make your family vacation as memorable and fun as possible? Mills Park, off of Mills Road, has a variety of amenities to help make your vacation one to remember. They have a playground area for the kids, football and softball fields, horseshoe pit, jogging trails, basketball court, a track, 9-hole disc golf course, and a skate park. And after a long day at play, enjoy a family picnic dinner right in the park. Everyone in your family will be able to find something to entertain at this great location. This is a great place for your family to enjoy the outdoors!

 


Douglas Lake

June 25, 2009

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Douglas Lake, located outside Sevierville, has more to offer than you may expect. The Lake offers activities such as camping, swimming, and boating. For the fisherman in your family, Douglas Lake is perfect. It is ranked top 5 in the nation for Crappie and top 10 for Large Moth Bass. If fishing is not for you, then spend the day just relaxing on the water. Houseboats, ski boats, and pontoon boats are all available to rent from the marina. Douglas lake will surely provide you and your family a weekend of fun. If you’re not a family of campers, click here for lodging around the Douglas Lake area.


New Found Gap Road

June 24, 2009

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Newfound Gap Road is a 33-mile drive from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC. It makes up the largest drivable pass through of the entire park. It is the perfect way to see everything the park has to offer. Along the way, don’t forget to pack a picnic and pull over by the river, or take advantage of the great photo opportunities. You can call the National Park at (865) 436-0120 for a Newfound Gap Road Auto Tour Booklet that will tell you all the great pull-offs and hiking trails along the drive.


Water Rides at Ober Gatlinburg

June 23, 2009

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Ober Gatlinburg offers guests a lot more than just winter activities. In the summer, there is plenty to entertain you and your family as well. With offerings like a year-round amusement park, a high bank go-cart track, and tree water raft slides who wouldn’t love it? One of the rides is the Alpine Slide, an 1800 ft twin slide! Ober is perfect year-round for those who enjoy photography, or would just like to see an open view of the mountaintops. For all you winter lovers the ice skating rink is still open year-round. Click here for other attractions and lodging in the Gatlinburg area.


Maddron Bald Trail Information

June 22, 2009

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The Maddron Bald trail in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park provides the perfect two-night camping trip for those who love the outdoors. The Trail begins on an old logging trail and continues through an old virgin forest, streams, and historical homelands. The Baxter Cabin has been refurbished to exhibit what a typical home looked like in the 1800’s. The plant life on the trail is so diverse and old. There is a buckeye tree that is over seven feet around. After three miles on the trail, you will come to Albright Loop, which is a side trip through an open forest displaying huge trees. Albright Grove is one of the most secluded areas of the Smokies. Halfway through the grove will be a place with a remarkable 360-degree view of the forest. The loop is short, after only .7 miles it intersects with Maddron Bald Trail. If you want an extra challenge, continue on the Bald Trail for 15 miles and it will intersect with the Snake Den Trail. If you do not continue on the trail and return as you came after the loop, the hike is 7 miles.

 

Directions:

From Gatlinburg on US 321, go 15.5 miles to Baxter Road 1/10 mile East of Yogi’s Campground. Follow the road and keep to the right to signaled trailhead. There is a small parking lot outside of the gate.


Getting There, Gatlinburg, TN

June 21, 2009

The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area has a lot to offer, but sometimes it is hard to find the one place you are looking for. Here are some directions of how to get to a few key places in the area from your cabin.

 

To Walmart:

1. 
Jackson Mtn. Homes, Left on US-321 to US-441 (Traffic Light #3) [3.4 mi]

2.Turn right on US-441 North to Walmart on the left [11.7 mi]

 

To Gatlinburg Convention Center:


1. Jackson Mtn. Homes, Left on US-321 to US-441 (Traffic Light #3) [3.4 mi]


2. Keep left on US-441 to Traffic Light #8 [.6 mi]


3. Turn left at Light #8 on Historic Motor Nature Trail Road [.1 mi]


4. Convention Center is on the right

 

To Food City Grocery and Pharmacy (Liquor and Wine store is across parking lot)


1. Jackson Mtn. Homes, left on US-321 to US-441 [1.4 mi]


2. Food City will be on your right

To McGhee Tyson Airport (Knoxville/ Alcoa)


1. Jackson Mtn. Homes, Left on US-32 to US-441 [1.4 mi]


2. Turn Right on US-441 North, changes to Hwy-66 (To I-40) [13 mi]


3. Continue North on Hwy-66 to I-40 West [8.7 mi]


4. I-40 West to Alcoa Hwy (Airport Sign) [20.8 mi]


5. Alcoa Hwy to McGhee Tyson Airport on right [12.7 mi]

 

To Fort Sanders Hospital (Sevierville, TN)


1. Jackson Mtn. Homes, Left on US-321 to US-441 (Traffic Light #3) [1.4 mi]


2. Turn Right on US-441 North, changes to Dolly Parton Pky/Hwy-411 [12.9 mi]


3. Turn Right on Dolly Parton Pky/Hwy-411 [1 mi]


4. Turn Right on Middle Creek Rd. to Fort Sanders Hospital on right [.9 mi]


Mountain Sage Gallery, Townsend, TN

June 20, 2009

 

Come to the Mountain Sage Gallery & Woodshop to view collections from some of Tennessee’s finest artisan’s. The Gallery features hand built crafts, as well as displays of watercolors, oils, prints, and photography within the Smoky Mountains. The Woodshop artisans use both reclaimed and new wood for the custom-built pieces. You can have custom- made interior or exterior doors, tables, cabinets, hand railings made from trees, and mantels. This is a great place to stop-in and see first-hand the culture and arts of East Tennessee. The Gallery is located on the main thoroughfare on the north edge of Townsend.