Tennessee - Pigeon Forge

It was recommended that we go and see the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, so that was our destination after picking up Joshuah.  We've been basing our travels on and around places from the Scenic Drives of America book that Stuart got me for my birthday.  It is a good guide for planning where to go.  But as usual it took us longer than normal and we ended up doing the drive as the sun was setting....it is a windy, steep road, but beautiful views...and we had to race through it...but not before we crossed the border into.....

... only for a short while, before we crossed back into Tennessee....

 There were loads and loads of motorbikes out on the road, that were going flat out, with photographers on bends taking photos that they upload to a website.  We didn't go to the website...would have been embarrassing to see our little car amongst all the flash motorbikes!

 I know why they call it the "Smoky" Mountains...it was dusk and there was a haze surrounding us...not sure why that is though. Hang on...I do know..... Blue haze is a phenomenon commonly observed in the Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee.  As tiny hydrocarbon particles released by vegetation chemically react with ozone molecules, they produce particles that selectively scatter blue light, giving the mountains their blue appearance.  There you go!

We finally got to the base of the mountains at around 9pm...or so we thought.  We'd actually crossed into another timezone (our 3rd for the trip)...and it was actually 10pm. Our accommodation was at a place called Pigeon Forge. We checked in late to our tiny, weeny cabin.....and settled in for the night.

The next morning Stu and I went for a drive to Gatlinburg....as recommended to us, but neither of us liked it.  It was very small, but so many hotels...maybe you ski there in winter...and cars and people everywhere. It was supposed to be a quaint German style village....we didn't see that.  So we decided to go back to Pigeon Forge.  Turns out this town is the home of Dollywood which is a theme park owned by Dolly Parton. 

No, she wasn't there....

It is the biggest employer of locals in the town, employing over 3000 people. We didn't want to go to the theme park,  so took a drive up the main street of town. That was possibly better than any theme park.
 It was tacky, gimmicky, over the top, tasteless, crass, bloody fantastic, fascinating, unbelievable and moreish!!!  There were that many food chains, 'theme' attractions, shops, go karting, mini golf, water slides etc etc...amongst them..the Titanic Museum Attraction..

the Wonder Works attraction....I think they had magic shows here..

Wax Museum...complete with King Kong

 There were so many different themed shows on offer, musicals, dinners...etc...and it covered most tastes.....

and hundreds of tacky shops selling awful, awful gimmicky items. 

I really, really wanted to buy one of these but was talked out of it...by Stuart of all people!  You could buy most things....

toys and knives in the one shop....and these t shirts and stickers were also particularly tempting to purchase....again I refrained.

Stu found a show called Country Tonite, so he and I went to that.  It has been running for 16 years...has a live band and around 5 singers and 6 dancers.  There were dozens of costume changes, easy music, good dancing and singing.

The theatre was about 1/2 full but there was lots of woohooing and yeehaaing from the crowd....very American..including the unfurling of the biggest USA flag I have seen as they sang "Proud to be an American", while wearing sparkling stars and stripes coats,  pants and dresses, with a standing ovation and pumped fists throughout!!

Not necessarily my cup of tea but certainly an eye opener and not something we would see at home! I'm glad we went though.....Josh stayed back at the cabin and watched the NBA....probably a wise move to not take him!
The next morning it was pouring but Stu and Josh wanted to go go-karting.  They got soaked and of course were ultra competitive.  For the record, Joshuah won....

So would I ever go back to Pigeon Forge?  Probably not...but I'd suggest to our Aussie friends...if you want a Southern experience, see all sorts of different people, over the top shows and shops....come for a visit...you certainly won't forget it!