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Archive for July, 2008

Peace of Mind is a great one-bedroom cabin perfect for couples that want to get away. This cozy little cabin comes with a pool table, a 40” HD LCD TV, a hot tub, and an amazing mountain view. For those who can’t afford to totally escape from their daily life, the cabin also offers wireless [...]

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The Great Smoky Mountains is a great place to view birds. There are over 240 different species of birds that have been spotted in the park, 60 of these birds are year-round inhabitants. A list of birds to look for can be found here.

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For all the museum lovers who are traveling to the Pigeon Forge area, here is a list of local museums.
- Dinosaur Walk Museum: 106 Showplace Blvd, Pigeon Forge
- Elvis Presley Museum & Gift: 2638 Parkway, Pigeon Forge
- Carbo’s Police Museum: 3311 Parkway, Pigeon Forge
- Garrett’s Muscle Car Museum- 320 Winfield Dunn Parkway
- Sevier County Heritage [...]

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It was a long hard journey for the Great Smoky Mountains to become a national park. Unlike other national parks in the U.S. the Smokies contained many farmers that owned the land, and getting them to sell their family’s homestead to the government was not an easy task. There was also argument about whether the [...]

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The Smokies are known as the salamander capital of the world because of the diversity and abundance of salamanders. There are five different families of salamanders located in the park and there are 24 different species of lungless salamanders. Another interesting fact is that salamanders are amphibians not reptiles like lizards. Salamanders are considered amphibians [...]

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The mountain roads through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are perfect for a relaxing cruise through the beautiful mountains. A motorcycle ride is a perfect way to feel the Smokies on your skin, and be able to have unhindered views of the Park and mountains. Here is a list of some scenic roads through the Park [...]

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The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge is the store with all of your Christmas needs. Selling everything from ornaments and ornaments to Christmas jewelry and lights. The store is open year-round to get a little taste of the holidays any time of the year. For more information call 1-800-445-3396 or email santa@christmasplace.com.

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The Village, located in downtown Gatlinburg, is filled with 27 unique boutiques, galleries and restaurants. The Village gives off a nostalgic charm of another time in East Tennessee. Click here for other amenities and lodging for your vacation in the Smokies.

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Greenbrier is a little known secret to tourists. This area is one of the finest, most convenient, and least crowded places in the National Park. There are many activities at Greenbrier including; fishing, hiking, jogging, picnicking, waterfall, tubing, wildflower observation, and viewing wonderful natural scenery. The Ramsey Cascades are also located in Greenbrier which is [...]

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Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is beautiful and a great way to see the wonders of the Park. If you are a more experienced, adventurous hiker, the back country trails offer an in-depth backwoods experience. Here is a list of some of the trails throughout the park.
Trail – Mileage – Difficulty Rating [...]

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The trail to Hen Wallow Falls is about 4.4 miles round-trip and is labeled moderately difficult. The hike begins on Gabes Mountain Trail, which is located near the Cosby Picnic Area of the National Park. The Hen Wallow Falls trail is a walk through beautiful hemlock and rhododendron forest.

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The Cataract Falls is a small 40-foot waterfall near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. If you are at the Center and need to stretch your legs before continuing through the Park, this is a short and easy walk. To get there, head behind the Visitors Center toward the headquarters building parking lot. Don’t take the natural [...]

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In beautiful Cades Cove, there are numerous historical sites throughout the area. One of these is the John P. Cable Mill, which was an early grist and saw mill. There were few sources of power in the 1800s, so the water wheel at the mill was a key element in the lives of the pioneers. [...]

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Starting today through the 27th is the 33rd Annual Summer Craftsman’s Fair in the Gatlinburg Convention Center. The craftsmen will not only have their art on display and for sale, but will also be doing live demonstrations. In addition to the fair, there will also be country and bluegrass music shows by Keith Longbotham and Band as [...]

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At the shopping center in Pigeon Forge’s Old Mill Square  there are two stores dedicated to kids of all ages.

The Toy Bin is a toy store that features old-fashioned toys and games. The store carries everything from a little red wagon to a large plush bear. Whether you want to see the toys of your past or take [...]

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The best way to enjoy your stay in the Smokies is by renting a cabin. Appalachian Lodge is a great place to relax and enjoy the mountains around you. With a 145-degree panorama view, this 4-bedroom cabin is perfect for the family. The double-decker porches on the back of the house are perfect for entertaining and grilling out. [...]

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Some say that Ramsay Cascades is the best waterfall in the Smokies. There are pictures everywhere of this 90-foot waterfall, but it is something you need to see on your own in order to grasp its true beauty. The hike to the cascades is roughly 8 miles and it considered strenuous’ however, the trail is [...]

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The Coffee and Company store located in Downtown Gatlinburg is Gatlinburg’s premier gourmet coffee and coffee bean supplier. They offer over 20 straights and blends as well as several flavored coffees. Coffee and Company also has seasonal coffee flavors featuring Hawaiian Hazelnut and Jamaica Me Crazy! for the summer. They also have an online coffee order form.

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If you want to experience the Great Smoky Mountains without having to carry a backpack, you should tryllama trekking at English Mountain. These guided tours are safe and something unique for the family to do. English Mountain Llama Treks provides snacks and beverages throughout the hike, and enjoy a meal on top of the mountain. You [...]

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The Smoky Mountains Naturalist Expeditions Camp, sponsored by Institute at Tremont, is a summer camp for middle-school aged kids. During the week of July 14-24, children will get to explore the Great Smoky Mountains and help real scientists with ongoing research. At the end of each day there is always time for a dip in the [...]

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Village Market
7945 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN
(865) 448-3010

Townsend Shopping Center
7609 Old Highway 73, Townsend, TN
(865) 448-6915

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Gregory Bald is full of azaleas and blueberries, which makes it a great summer hike. The trail is near Townsend, TN, and is 12.9 miles round trip. The hike is considered between moderate and strenuous. The top of the bald is a great place for photo opportunities. You can stop and have a picnic lunch [...]

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If your looking for a fun, affordable way to spend the afternoon with your family in Gatlinburg, visit Mynatt Park just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pack a picnic for lunch by the river, or use the BBQ grills for a family cook-out. Other amenities include basketball and tennis courts, horseshoe pit, baseball [...]

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If adventure is calling your name, then Off Road Voyages is the place for you. At Off Road Voyages you will experience the Great Smoky Mountains like never before. Their custom designed open-air Hummers will take you through creeks and several other twists, turns, and bumps. These custom Hummers feature unique 11 passenger stadium seating which insures [...]

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Before planning your hiking route, it is important to stop by a Visitors Center in order to get up-to-date information. It is also important to not start your expedition without leaving a hiking plan with someone else, so that incase of an emergency you can be located. Below is a list of hiking trails throughout [...]

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A great and inexpensive way to view the sites of Gatlinburg is on the Gatlinburg Trolley. Gatlinburg features many trolley stops around the area and rides start at just 50 cents! More information on the trolley can be found here.

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Here is a list of some of the local churches in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. If you want to attend a service while on vacation, be sure to call the church of your choice to confirm service times. For a complete listing click here.
1. First Baptist Church
111 Oglewood Lane, Gatlinburg
(865) 436-4685
2. Fist United Methodist Church, Pigeon [...]

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Naturalist Hiking Week is coming up on July 7-12 at the Institution at Tremont. Each day at the event, participants get to choose between two trails and a “day-off” activity. Each hike and other planned activities will be lead by an experienced instructor that will be able to offer insight into the wonders of the Great Smoky [...]

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While planning your 4th of July plans, consider the picnic areas of the Great Smoky Mountains. Picnic sites in the park have a picnic table that includes a raised grill for grilling hamburgers and hotdogs. Some of the larger picnicking areas are Metcalf Bottoms, which has 165 tables, Collins Creek, which has 182 tables, and [...]

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This forth of July, kick off your holiday at the nation’s first parade at midnight on Friday, July 4 in Gatlinburg. Come join in the celebration of our country’s independence and pay tribute to each military branch. This year, according to Special Events Manager George Hawkins, will be the most patriotic and colorful midnight parade [...]

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