Since Pigeon Forge (home of “Dollywood”) and Gatlinburg, TN were only a 20 mile detour off our route we decided on a quick side trip. We expected Pigeon Forge to be a sleepy town dominated by “Dollywood” and Gatlinburg to be an artsy mountain town.
Boy, were we shocked! The the 15 or so miles from the interstate through Pigeon Forge was one solid “strip” ...... miniature golf, go-cart tracks, outlet malls, pawn shops, fast food, chain restaurants, arcades, tee-shirt emporiums, etc., etc. and of course, “Dollywood”. It was like a Jersey shore boardwalk, without the ocean and the boards. The bad news was that the traffic was horrendous .... the good news ... we got to see a lot without getting our of the RV. The traffic cleared as we entered the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, in which Gatlinburg sits. It was a 5 mile beautiful, winding, completely forested ride along a mountain stream reminiscent of many untouched natural settings we’ve visited until ...... bang ..... we hit Gatlinburg. It’s small, hilly, windy with hotels, condos and shops everywhere and jam-packed with pedestrians and traffic. It was like Fifth Avenue in Rockefeller Center at Christmas time.
It must be that all of the southland decided to spend their Easter break in that region. At least it gave us the “opportunity” to see all the sights from our rig. It turned out to be an experience we’d never forget and were glad we did it.
Boy, were we shocked! The the 15 or so miles from the interstate through Pigeon Forge was one solid “strip” ...... miniature golf, go-cart tracks, outlet malls, pawn shops, fast food, chain restaurants, arcades, tee-shirt emporiums, etc., etc. and of course, “Dollywood”. It was like a Jersey shore boardwalk, without the ocean and the boards. The bad news was that the traffic was horrendous .... the good news ... we got to see a lot without getting our of the RV. The traffic cleared as we entered the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, in which Gatlinburg sits. It was a 5 mile beautiful, winding, completely forested ride along a mountain stream reminiscent of many untouched natural settings we’ve visited until ...... bang ..... we hit Gatlinburg. It’s small, hilly, windy with hotels, condos and shops everywhere and jam-packed with pedestrians and traffic. It was like Fifth Avenue in Rockefeller Center at Christmas time.
It must be that all of the southland decided to spend their Easter break in that region. At least it gave us the “opportunity” to see all the sights from our rig. It turned out to be an experience we’d never forget and were glad we did it.
Pigeon Forge
Gatlinburg
We eventually made to Chattanooga and had a good night's rest.
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