we are headed to pigeon forge tn from new york state what is some good things to see on the way

Who's Ready for a Route Trip?!

I have been climbing the walls for a long time and was so excited to finally to go abroad on holiday once again!  If you're like me and ready for a road trip, catch a good pair of walking shoes and your adventurous spirit and head to Tennessee!  An easy vii-7 ½ hour drive from Williamsburg, VA (depending on stops) along beautiful, mostly flat highway lies Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where you volition find more to do than you could maybe imagine.

Nosotros loaded the motorcar and children and embarked on a much needed, surprisingly relaxing trip.  Nosotros stayed at the Black Play a trick on Social club, located only down the road from everything fun Dove Forge has to offer.  This hotel sits dorsum from the primary drag so it's serenity and allows you to unwind every bit soon as y'all check in.  The staff is incredibly friendly, helpful, and go above and across to ensure your stay will make you want to return (which nosotros actually did; this is the second fourth dimension we've stayed here).  When you volume this hotel, spring for a room with a balcony-the view of the river in the back does not disappoint!  The rooms are very clean and spacious, they offer nutrient in the eating house/bar area for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the pool was a hit with the kids with the waterslide and mushroom shaped fountain to play under and around.  If you stay here, getting around is much easier considering you can hop on the road that parallels the main one to get to all of the local sights without traffic (just like driving on Mooretown Rd. instead of Richmond Rd.).

Although we love this hotel, we didn't drive 7 hours just to stay here 😊.  When in Dove Forge, you HAVE to get to Dollywood!  This is a repeat trip for us because we were and then impressed with everything this park has to offering.  My preconceived opinion of this park was changed for the better every bit soon every bit we entered; this park has the beauty of Busch Gardens with the thrilling rides of Kings Dominion (or other large amusement parks).  We ordered our tickets online before arriving and information technology was incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel to scan them at the park entrance.  We purchased the two-day tickets because it made sense financially and we wanted to be sure we had time to see and practise everything we wanted in case of big crowds, lines, or bad weather.  Luckily, our weather was gorgeous throughout the vacation and, although the park was crowded both days, the look times were surprisingly manageable on most rides.

The rides that tended to have the longest wait times were: Lightning Rod, the earth'southward fastest wooden coaster (this is worth the wait if you don't accept the choice!), Mystery Mine (ane of the most intense, unique rides I've experienced and a MUST for coaster enthusiasts), Wild Eagle (wait for the front on this one), and Fire Chaser Express (a family favorite and a must ride).  I don't want to give too much information nearly the rides because I don't want to spoil the thrill that they all provide to anyone riding for the commencement time; if you dear amusement parks and thrilling coasters, this is the destination for you lot!

A few tips for Dollywood:

• when entering the parking line, stay to the far right or far left-both lanes will split further to the right or left and these tend to go faster
• society tickets online but print a copy as a fill-in in example of technical difficulties (personally, I adopt hard copies)
• if you get to the park when it opens, get to the right and get in line for Lightning Rod (this ane ordinarily has the longest look, but worth it!).  *We did this i offset (most an hour and 20 min. look and nosotros entered the park at x:fifteen).  When the ride was over, nosotros backtracked and went effectually the park counter clockwise.
• If you arrive a little after opening, choose a direction and stick with it-go around the park and practise everything along the manner either starting from the right or from the left
• Our favorite places to eat were in Wildwood Grove (child'south area; Mexican and craven tenders) located to the left of the master park archway across from Mystery Mine and the barbeque/smokehouse place located about the Eagles and the log flume ride on the correct side of the park
• Don't get discouraged by wait times; you can practice the entire park in a day if y'all step yourself and have some patience
• Heed the warnings regarding medical atmospheric condition for these rides!  As I said, they are intense and some can actually impact you if you aren't careful (Lightning Rod, Thunderhead, Mystery Mine, Tennessee Tornado)
• STAY FOR THE DRONE SHOW!  This is i of the coolest things I've seen so far.  Watch the fireworks/drones from the Wildwood Grove (kid'southward) expanse.  Nosotros stood/sat on the side of the pathway past the eating house only not down by the giant tree by the DJ (due to the large crowd there).  The show is in the heaven above the large, lit tree area.
• bring your ain ponchos in instance of rain
• y'all can ask for ice water in the restaurants and refill a canteen at whatsoever of the kiosks where drinks are sold-non necessary to buy water 😊

As I said earlier, this was a repeat trip then we wanted to explore more of the overall area this time.  On our second day, nosotros collection approximately 20 minutes (in that location was some traffic) through the quaint little town of Gatlinburg and arrived at the base of our side by side hazard: the parking lot for Anakeesta, "downtown Gatlinburg's highest point."  I had never heard of this identify before and it was well worth a twenty-four hours of exploration!  When we first arrived, we paid for parking ($15) and got into line for tickets.  Not knowing what to look, nosotros didn't purchase tickets online but we now know better!  After obtaining tickets (well-nigh 10 min. wait), we then got into line for the lift line to take us to the superlative; this line took about 45 minutes because it was much busier than we anticipated.  You can get to the superlative in one of three ways:

• Have the elevator-these hold 4 people.  *if you are afraid of heights or don't similar ski lifts, this is NOT for you!
• Have the Chondola (gondola)-same idea as the lifts, but yous are enclosed so they experience more secure (for those who don't like exposed heights).  You will look longer for these as there are simply ii chondolas spread between 30 lifts.  Chondolas tin accommodate vi people or families with strollers.
• Take the omnibus-these run about every fifteen-30 min. just volition keep you grounded. 😊

Once you arrive at the top, you volition enter a cute sky-high mountain wonderland.  Everything is arranged to highlight the beauty of the surrounding mountains and nature.  The landscaping was meticulous and artistic, in that location were areas for all ages to enjoy, and there is truly something for everyone!  If you want adventure and are seeking thrills, the mountain coaster and ziplining are for you.  If you want gentler thrills or have smaller children, explore the tree peak skywalk and the tree venture and behave venture areas.  For relaxing family fun, check out the splash pad area, gem mining, AnaVista belfry and gardens, and whatever of the overlook points lined with rocking chairs.  There are many beautiful shops to explore forth the way also equally several restaurant/food options serving delicious nutrient and refreshing drinks for all ages.  There is also a stage expanse with alive entertainment in front of the Cliff Meridian eating place/splash pad area if you are looking to sit down and recharge.

Tips for Anakeesta:

• purchase tickets ahead/online and skip the longer que line to the top (become to the fast track line)
• if you're afraid of heights, either opt for the Gondola (they telephone call them Chondolas) or the bus to accept you up and back!
• If y'all desire to experience the ziplines, book early: these sell out
• If interested in the mountain coaster, don't await; this as well fills up apace
• If yous have little ones, at that place is a splash area-bring a towel or change of clothing
• If yous are riding the lifts down, be prepared to wait in line the later it gets
• If yous desire to take a Chondola downward, in that location is a separate line closer to the departure zone-you lot don't have to await in the lift line first for this, merely you will await (remember, at that place aren't that many)
• If you lot ride the lifts, keep your eyes open up for wildlife: we saw a bear cub on the style down!

Following our run a risk in Anakeesta for the solar day, we decided to explore The Island, a tourist destination in Pigeon Forge comprised of restaurants, funfair-mode rides/attractions, and shopping.  Prior to arriving at the Island, we took the kids next door to a place chosen The Track and took a fun-filled, 5-minute get kart ride on their multi-level rails.  There are many go kart tracks to choose from all over Dove Forge and the smiles and excitement this brought to our daughters made this diversion a must do, in my opinion, for anyone visiting.  Now, back to The Isle: nosotros arrived after than predictable and could not get on the list at whatsoever restaurant there, so we went to the Margaritaville Hotel bar for dinner 😊.  We were able to get a seat exterior along the river and away from the crowds and received our food in about 20 minutes (when all of the restaurants were quoting ii hours for a table).  It wasn't fancy, just the nutrient was good, the bathrooms were clean, and the service was friendly!

Tips for The Island:

• Parking is gratis and there is a tram (or you can walk)
• if you lot are planning on eating in ane of the restaurants here, prepare to go far early on and await!
• This can be a laissez passer-through place or an all-day stop depending on your family/group (in that location are plenty of rides/activities to occupy your time, but exist prepared to pay a la carte).  If you take been to Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, it is similar but cleaner/safer feeling in my opinion.
• This is what I would consider a "tourist trap" but it was smashing for nighttime time activity/getting out of the hotel

Upon leaving Tennessee, nosotros decided to intermission up the return home by stopping in Lexington, VA for the night.  In one case we settled into the hotel, we went to Devil's Backbone for dinner and a drink with a view.  From there, nosotros headed to Hull's Drive In theatre where we saw Black Widow under the stars!  Hull's Drive In is a beautifully maintained, community endemic drive in established in 1950.

Tips for Hull's Bulldoze In:

• You tin purchase tickets online or at the kiosk when you lot drive upwardly
• Bring chairs or a coating if you want to sit outside of your vehicle in the grass (we didn't take these with us, then we fabricated a finish at the local Wal-mart and purchased chairs)
• Bring problems spray
• NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED-this is a family establishment involving vehicles
• Purchase food/snacks from them-their prices are incredibly reasonable and it helps support this gem
• Bring a ball, frisbee, or something to play with while you wait for the motion-picture show
• Become there early to reserve your spot (movies start around ix when it's dark)
• The last 5 rows above the snack bar area are the smoking section; the front end rows are non-smoking

Before officially returning abode, we checked out of our hotel and drove fifteen minutes to Natural Span to hike and explore.  This was a great terminal terminate considering information technology was what I consider relaxing exercise 😊.  I hadn't been here in years and had forgotten how beautiful this area was.  After a good couple of hours, we loaded the girls into the car for an like shooting fish in a barrel iii-60 minutes trip home.

Overall trip tip:

My daughters are 10 and 14, so they have learned how to travel well (they've had years of practice).  This trip began on a Monday and concluded on Saturday.  We spent 1 full day driving to Tennessee, four nights in TN (One thousand-Th), and the remainder making our way home.  If your family travels well, this was very manageable and relaxing.  If you have younger children, focus on your destination (TN) and maximize your time in that location.

Our Itinerary:

Mon – bulldoze to TN

Tuesday – Dollywood

Wednesday – Anakeesta/The Isle

Th – Dollywood

Friday – checkout; stay in Lexington

Sat – checkout; Natural Bridge; abode

HAPPY TRAVELS!

~Kimberly, Travel Writer

grahamseallegaid.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.williamsburgfamilies.com/road-trip-to-pigeon-forge-tennessee/

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