tjw61

Hi,

Going to Nashville for 4 nights and the Pigeon Forge area for 3 or 4 nights. It will be 4 of us, including 20 year old daughter and 17 year old son. Anything that's a can't miss or really cool that we'd probably miss will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

tj

spirobulldog

Climbworks Canopy Tours--make reservations
Parrot Mountain
Hiking in Smokey's
My nephew loved Zorb, I didn't attempt it.

Perhaps a trip over to Ashville to see The Biltmore

I like Tomatohead for a meal in Knoxville(on the way in or out of the area)
Cakes By Bakin Bishop is good and Kilwin's Ice Cream are both good for a stop for something sweet.

jent103

What made you interested in those places? It's hard to give input without knowing anything about your interests.

abram

Country Music Hall of Fame
Ryman Auditorium
Hermitage
Parthenon
Grand Ole Opry Show & backstage tour
Belle Meade Plantation
Tennessee State Museum

Great Smokey Mountains National Park
Arts & Crafts Loop

tjw61

Thanks for the replies. We will look into them all. As for why, we went to Hawaii last year and were looking for a place to drive and save airfare. We like country music, so Nashville seemed like a spot, but we didn't think we'd be busy enough for a whole week, that's where Dollywood came into play.

jent103

For Nashville, if you're a country fan I'd add to abram's (good!) list the Station Inn - it looks like a complete dive (and it is), but it's where you're likely to find some of the most true country/bluegrass around. The honky-tonks downtown will have musicians, more along the lines of what you'd hear on the radio.

The Bluebird Cafe is one of the most well-known venues in town; it's not strictly country, but features singer/songwriters, many of whom have written a lot of country songs. It's different from other places around because they really enforce quiet during the music - no phones, no chit-chatting during songs. If you plan to go there, book tickets early - it's been selling out more than usual because it's featured on the show Nashville.

spirobulldog

Loveless Cafe in Nashville

Las Paletas for popsicles(yeah, they are that good)in Nashville

The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson Home)

tjw61

Thanks for the responses. We are currently debating whether to shorten our time by a day at each stop and spend a few days in Charlotte. Any thoughts on that?

spirobulldog

I think you will need 3 or 4 days at each spot, depending on what all you want to see and do. So, if just a week, then I don't think you would have time to add an additional stop.

spirobulldog

Between Gatlinburg and Nashville, stop at Knoxville at The Tomato Head for a meal.

tjw61

Thanks for all the responses, the trip was great!

Gretchen

I live in Charlotte, and if you want to come, I would love for you to do that. I really think Asheville might be a possibility.
Pigeon Forge is cheap kitsch and outlet shopping--if you and your kids want to do that, that's fine with me. You mention Dollywood, and I've never been, but LOVE LOVE Dolly Parton. But I'm not on board with PF.
In Nashville do be sure to have their signature "dish" --hot chicken==somewhere.

jent103

Gretchen - they've already been on the trip.

tjw, glad you had a good time!

Gretchen

So they have. When I posted, (in spite of the time stamp), Spiro's post was the last one.

tenthumbs

tjw~what did you end up doing, and what was your favorite?

tjw61

We had a good time at each area. We saw Carrie Underwood along with some great oldsters, like Jean Sheppard at the Grand Ole Opry Show. That was great. We stopped at the Tomatohead on the way to Nashville, very nice, good food. Nice area of Knoxville too. In Dollywood, we did the park which was good, but we also went on an ATV ride, which was a lot of fun. In Charlotte, we enjoyed downtown, but had a blast at the U.S. National Whitewater Center http://usnwc.org/ Besides whitewater rafting in a manmade river with Class II, III and IV Rapids.o have ziplines, high wire adventure courses, and lots of other stuff. It was really a great day and I'd have to say we had the most fun there. Again, thanks for the input!

Gretchen

The whitewater center is terrific!! Glad you came and did it==and had a good time elsewhere.