How long for Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN?

Re: How long for Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN?

• MommyLiberty5013 member

  

  February 2012

  Do you guys like to hike? Just asking because there is a big national forest or park nearby there with nature stuff to do. DH and I visited two years ago. I honestly couldn't think of spending more than 4 days there, let alone a week. It's full of some nice shopping, but also lots of chintzy stores full our tourist junk.  The Blue Ridge Parkway also begins near there, so you could do a driving trip...

  Report0 Reply
• sunshine_day_dreams member

  

  February 2012

  I haven't been there in years, so I don't have many specific recommendations.  But I do agree with PP that 5 days is more than enough.  We used to vacation there frequently when I was a teen, and we never spent more than 3-4 days at a time and I always felt like that was more than enough.

  There is a lot of shopping, but it's all kind of the same thing.  You can do some hiking in Smoky Mountain National Park.  There's a good trail I did a couple of times called The Chimney Tops.  Gatlinburg Sky Lift takes you up the side of the mountain to overlook the town.  I think there used to be a small amusement park like thing up there with a few carnival rides.
  

  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• babygirlpriest

  February 2012

  5 days is more than enough time.

  We were there a couple years ago with DH's family for christmas. Even spending days doing the cheesy things like Dollywood and walking the Pigeon Forge tourist trap strip (Dukes of Hazzard museum anyone?) we were bored after a few days. Going during decent hiking weather would have probably filled another day or two but personally, I wouldn't want a full week.

  Report0 Reply
• gracie2762 member

  

  February 2012

  I think it's too much time. When we went we did 2 nights/3 days and it was plenty of time. We went on to Nashville and Memphis for a few more days. Maybe you could do something like that?
  

  Report0 Reply
• marshmallowevening member

  

  February 2012

  gracie2762:

  I think it's too much time. When we went we did 2 nights/3 days and it was plenty of time. We went on to Nashville and Memphis for a few more days. Maybe you could do something like that?
  

  I agree. 4 days would be my limit. If you're going in the other direction, maybe Asheville, NC. I hear it's a pretty neat place. Memphis is pretty far away unless you're going that way.
  

  "Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." ~William James My Blog

  Report0 Reply
• lawyerlindsay

  February 2012

  My family did a big vacation there last Memorial Day weekend.  I would think that 3-4 days would be plenty.  The "strip" as it was referred to above, is VERY touristy.  We spent most of our time at the cabin that my family rented.  We did do a rafting trip, which was a LOT of fun!  No one had really done it before, so we picked a trip that was sufficiently low-key, but not boring.  It was a highlight of our trip honestly.

  

  Report0 Reply
• WhineandCheese

  February 2012

  Thanks everyone, that's about what I was thinking, but I haven't been there since I was a child.  DH has never been.

  I think we'll be staying 4 days.  We have a cabin in the mountains that we'll likely spend a lot of time inside of, and we plan on doing some hiking/nature-related things as well.  So I think we'll have plenty to do outside of town.

   

   

  Report0 Reply