The wife and I will be heading back to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area the last week of May. We have been in the area before but loved it so much that we just had to return. Now we have been through the main roads (through the smokies), been to the Old Mill, through Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge shops and things, but we are looking for the things tourists normally don't get to see.

So what do we need to be sure to see this time? We can head into NC, TN, GA, KY, ..... pretty much any place in the area. :D

Can't help you much but I enjoyed spending a couple of hours at Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car museum the last time I was there.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that we went through there the last time we were in the area. That is a definitely must see for those that haven't been.

You can ride across the foothills parkway and make a pass through deals gap or just sit in a curve and watch the motorcycles for a while. There are places that will rent you a motorcycle if you're the type that prefers two wheels. Lots of people like to make the drive through Cades Cove (I've never done it).

Only 1 hour to Cherokee if you like to gamble. There is a Craft Loop in Gatlinburg if you like crafts and such, Ober Gatlinburg, if you like to ski, Bristol is an hour and a half away, Asheville is an hour and a half away. The list goes on but escapes me now, have fun though.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville is highly impressive...If you're in to that sort of thing. It blows me away how innovative Mr. Vanderbilt was.

Only 1 hour to Cherokee if you like to gamble. There is a Craft Loop in Gatlinburg if you like crafts and such, Ober Gatlinburg, if you like to ski, Bristol is an hour and a half away, Asheville is an hour and a half away. The list goes on but escapes me now, have fun though.

Luv68's... thanks for the ideas, we will have to check them out. When my wife went with her family a few years ago they ran down to Cherokee and had a great time, and they also went to Bristol. We might have to check out Asheville, anything in particular to look for?

You can ride across the foothills parkway and make a pass through deals gap or just sit in a curve and watch the motorcycles for a while. There are places that will rent you a motorcycle if you're the type that prefers two wheels. Lots of people like to make the drive trough Cades Cove (I've never done it).

Do you mainly head down the main highway through the hills when you head out for a photo shoot? We will have to check out Cades Cove.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville is highly impressive...If you're in to that sort of thing. It blows me away how innovative Mr. Vanderbilt was.

We pulled up the Biltmore Estate, and we might just have to do this. That place looks amazing!

We have been going to PF/Gat for the last 20 years, and really enjoy hiking in cades cove area. Abrhams falls, grotto falls, etc. A good resource is NPS.GOV they have alot of info on things to see and do in the park. Relax, and have a great trip!:two:

Do you mainly head down the main highway through the hills when you head out for a photo shoot?



I try to take my camera with me anytime I go somewhere....If I see something that strikes me, I'll stop. If I'm shooting for someone else, I try to have something picked out before we head out. There are infinite numbers of photogenic locations in that region.

not trying to hijack, but we went to gatlinburg 5 years ago, and we went through cherokee national forest, we also visitited the lookout pavilion at the very tip top then it was off to cherokee to the casino..but its a beautiful drive...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/koolz71/161918809igJavD_fs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/koolz71/161914611HHTEaR_fs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/koolz71/161909941BrmCeI_fs.jpg

its even great pix for you and your other to get those happy moments captured forever
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/koolz71/161921417uTmtBw_fs.jpg

Ride an hour or so south and spend a day in Chattanooga ... lot's to do downtown at the river front.

Ride an hour or so south and spend a day in Chattanooga ... lot's to do downtown at the river front.

Take 74 through Nantahala Gorge and down through the Ocoee river area.
Whitewater rafting and Lots of hiking in the Chilhowee area
lots of great hiking here. Away from the Smokie crowd
http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/joycekil.html
Stop at Chilhowee to camp or hike, Here's the view from the top about 15 minutes from my house.

Also, you should check out Hot Springs, NC

You can ride across the foothills parkway and make a pass through deals gap or just sit in a curve and watch the motorcycles for a while. There are places that will rent you a motorcycle if you're the type that prefers two wheels. Lots of people like to make the drive through Cades Cove (I've never done it).


This was my hang out for a long time with my bikes!:metal:

It's a 11 miles with 319 tunrs, ya that's a lot and your wife may get car sick ridding on that, but it is a must see.

http://www.dealsgap.com/maps.htm


And so is Biltmore that is very cool, one of the cooler things I have ever seen.

Trav

The Biltmore Estate!!! A very impressive day trip! I wish I was a Vanderbilt!!!! A visit in the spring is awesome and even more beautiful around Christmas.

Thanks for the inspiring pics 70cstjr!

Travis, we might have to take the trip through that rather interesting route.

Has anyone heard of the tail of the dragon? I did a search on the net but it brought up several different roads. My boss was telling me about a span that ran through Kentucky and Tennessee... any truth to that? It was like an 11 mi stretch

The tail of the dragon is Deals gap.

That map is it..

I don't know where to start, a week ain't enough :lol:

That run makes me wish I still had my MGB or Triumph Sptifire... That would be a heck of a ride... Although I am not sure I would still fit in those cars.... And if I did fit myself in there, odds are there would be no getting out... :lol:

That run makes me wish I still had my MGB or Triumph Sptifire... That would be a heck of a ride... Although I am not sure I would still fit in those cars.... And if I did fit myself in there, odds are there would be no getting out... :lol:

remember the looks we would get walking towards the mg midget you had lol that poor car we weighed more then it did :sumo:

remember the looks we would get walking towards the mg midget you had lol that poor car we weighed more then it did :sumo:

That car was something else... Had to push it, jump in, and pop the clutch to get it to start... And the floorboard was rusted so when you ran over a mud puddle the bottom of you legs would get wet.... A Fred Flinstone mobile... :lol::lol::lol:

Thanks for the info guys, we are still working out the final details of our trip.

Don't laugh.... is Dollywood worth it? We thought about going the last time we were there but decided not too. For one, we were unsure how it compared to Silver Dollar City, or Six Flags...

Luv, does that mean we'll have a personal tour guide? :lol:

I wish, I am on the West side of the state, depending on your
route you are welcome to stop by here going either direction.