Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN What a GEM!!

You MUST do the "gem mining" in Pigeon Forge. WOW, what a wonderful experience and VERY profitable. If you have kids this is so "educational".

Quick Tips:

If you are traveling during summer months do park your car and take the trolley(from 25 cents to ). Do NOT pay more than to park a day in downtown Gatlinburg (there is some real ripoffs here and if there prices is not prominently displayed move on).

Next suggestion do the timeshares presentations as they give GREAT freebies for you doing this. Just remember to keep saying "No,thank you!" DO go into the Smoky Mountains National Park as there is some beautiful scenery!

Best Way To Get Around:

If you are there in the summer months DO park your car and take the public trollies!If you need a hotel, do stay at the hotels in downtown Gatlinburg as you can walk everywhere and save a fortune in parking fees etc.

We had a two bedroom deluxe suite with a Jacuzzi, balcony, two TVs, full kitchen, and everything a person could possibly ever need! It had a fireplace with an automatic timer. Did not put out a lot of heat but we did not need the heat, just liked the ambiance. Turned the air conditioning up so we could use the fireplace. Very quick check in and checkout and people very accommodating.

Quite a few planned activities but I was disappointed with the parking. The way it is that they had NO van service to take people to the activities (I would gladly have paid for the van service and I know others that would have also).

P.S. I had to put something in as to price of rooms but this a timeshare for owners and RCI guests only so they do not rent these out to the public, so I am just guessing as to the value.

This restaurant has received awards for best barbecue, best ribs, etc but I did not see that here. The french fries were horribly salty and I had to ask for new fries with NO salt. Portions were really small compared to what we are used to in TN. I do NOT recommend this place according to service we received.

The Aquarium in downtown Gatlinburg is just totally awesome and a MUST do for everyone. They have reasonable parking fee right next door.

There are fish I have never seen before and you get on this escalator type thing and you go by fish, sharks, etc. Right now, they also have a wonderful Titanic exhibit and a film about it.

This is just the most AWESOME thing we ever did and we do not have kids but if we had small kids I can imagine that it would be an even greater experience. We brought back many raw emeralds, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, topaz, etc. They have a gemologist that will tell you what you have and will offer to take your gems and make you a ring, pendant, earrings, etc. for a very reasonable price and will mail it to you. We racked up big time and left them a sapphire and they made me a five-carat ring and my hubby also. What beautiful rings from such an UGLY stone!