Winterfest in Pigeon Forge is a magical and festive time. When you see the millions of brightly colored lights, dancing and twinkling in an array of red, green, blue, yellow, and white lights, your heart almost skips a beat, and you can feel the excitement growing inside just like you did as a young child. The town is lit up from November to February, and the towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg both have guided trolley tours of the light display. Be sure to visit the light display set up in Patriot’s Park.

Pigeon Forge is a shopping outlet heaven, with name-brand retailers such as Aigner, Timberland, Reebok, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo, Liz Claiborne, Gap, Bose, Oshkosh, and many, many more. It offers water parks, go-carts, bungee jumping, and miniature golf, just to name a few of the many ways of keeping the kids entertained. And don’t forget that it is home to the ever-popular Dollywood theme park. There are also several golf courses in the area, each designed by golfing greats, which will challenge your skills while you enjoy the mountain splendor that surrounds you. Live shows such as The Louise Mandrell Theater, Memories Theatre, Black Bear Jamboree, Dixie Stampede, and the Comedy Barn have made the Pigeon Forge area well-known for its quality entertainment, appealing to all age groups. Restaurants are plenty; anything from fast food to all-you-can-eat buffets to steak and crab legs. The choices are many, and the decision becomes hard when you have to try to choose one.

Pigeon Forge can truly be described as a family getaway. It certainly has something for everyone, of all ages.

The Great Smoky Mountains are just a few miles away, and the sights in the springtime are quite splendid. The rhododendron, mountain laurel, redbuds, and flowering dogwoods sprinkle signs of the season throughout the park. Fall is one of the most popular times to visit, with the trees showcasing vibrant colors of reds, yellows, and orange. Fishing, whitewater rafting, hiking, and horseback riding are just some of the ways to experience this natural beauty.

Quick Tips:

We used to visit Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg on New Year's Eve as a quiet, but fun way to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. It had been several years since we had been there, and my, how times have changed! If visiting the week between Christmas and New Years, be prepared for the teenager invasion! A church youth retreat is held every year at this time and draws a crowd of over 30,000 teenagers from the South, not to mention the wild dash of shoppers after Christmas bargains and families who take vacation because the kids are out of school.

Do some research for accommodations. I wouldn’t recommend arriving without reservations. Some motels still had vacancies, but the most popular and most decent ones to stay in fill up fast. New Year’s Eve dates sell out quickly, so plan early. Discount coupon books are available at the Welcome Centers and in most motels and restaurants in the city. Be sure to take a few minutes and pick these up. A few minutes of time can save you several dollars on entertainment and food.

Best Way To Get Around:

A car is needed if you're planning to explore the area around Pigeon Forge. However, walking is a great way to get some exercise and beat the traffic jams that now plague Pigeon Forge. Be sure to bring some good, comfortable walking shoes. Many sights are within walking distance from some of the major hotels.

The Pigeon Forge trolley is another great way to get around, see the sights, and not worry about traffic. Trolley stops are very visible throughout Pigeon Forge, and the trolley runs on 20-minute intervals daily from 8:30am to midnight, April-October, and 10am to 10pm, November to December. Exact change or Fun Time Trolley tokens are required if you're planning to ride.

The Pigeon Forge Trolley also connects with the Gatlinburg Trolley. It loads at Patriots Park, goes to the Gatlinburg Welcome Center on Route 441, and from there, you can transfer to the Gatlinburg Trolley.

The Best Western Plaza Inn in Pigeon Forge is simply wonderful!!

We had reserved a room for the week after Christmas, and upon arriving and completing check-in, we immediately went to our room. When we opened the door, we just looked at each other and went, "WOW!". While I was expecting it to be nice, I had no idea it would be this good. What lay before us was a huge (did I say HUGE) room with a king-size bed, fireplace in the right corner, table and chairs immediately inside the room, and a nice entertainment center which housed the small refrigerator, microwave, and television set. There were also three drawers available for storage in this setup. This one room alone was bigger than some entire motel rooms we have stayed in. And there was still more!!

As you walked through the doorway into the bathroom area, immediately to the left was an area to hang clothes, along with an iron and ironing board. The large vanity area had a four-cup coffee maker and hair dryer. Another doorway led into the actual bathroom, which had a wall separating the toilet area from the Jacuzzi tub/shower. We could not believe our eyes... all this for only $89 per night, and that did not include the 15% discount coupon we had.

The Plaza Inn offers a free continental breakfast in their café, consisting of several varieties of cereal, instant oatmeal, and pastries. Coffee, milk, and juices were also available. You must show your breakfast pass to the attendant before you can actually pick up your items. The Continental Café was open from 7 to 10am during our visit, and the lines were long. Get up early and be in line before 8:30, or you will spend a lot of time in line and have no place to sit. There are outdoor tables available, which would be great during any season other than winter. We did the free breakfast only once during our 3-night stay, due to these circumstances.

The Plaza Inn has three pools--one indoor and two outdoor--a sauna/steam room, and three whirlpools on-site. The trolley stop out front is very convenient. You can leave your car parked, not fight the traffic, and shop til you drop! The BW Plaza Inn is located at traffic light #8 on the Parkway and is 1 mile from the Dollywood entrance.

Various room types are available, such as their regular, mountain view, Jacuzzi, or whirlpool rooms. Discount coupons can be printed from their website, which gives a 10% discount for the weekends and a 15% discount for Sunday to Thursday. The direct toll-free number to the motel is 800/232-5656, or the nationwide toll-free number is 800/937-8376.

I had always envisioned the Best Western Plaza Inn as being one of Pigeon Forge’s premier motels. After having stayed there, I can certainly attest that it is. It will definitely be our motel of choice whenever we make another visit to Pigeon Forge.

As we drove back to Pigeon Forge from a day of hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the aroma of hickory-smoked meat filled the car, and my husband immediately had the idea of what he wanted for dinner this evening. The only question was, where would it be? The first place that came to mind was Bennett’s Barbeque! We had never eaten there, so we decided to give it a try.

We arrived at the Pigeon Forge location around 7pm to find an entrance hall that was packed. We inquired about the wait time and were told it would be around 15 minutes. We quickly put our names on the list and grabbed a menu to start evaluating what our evening meal would consist of.

We were seated quickly in a booth surrounded by wooden beams, with plants hanging in planters and metal buckets from the ceiling. The walls were decorated with NASCAR memorabilia, old license plates, railroad signs, and antique cooking utensils such as rolling pins, egg beaters, etc. The red and white checked tablecloths and gingham curtains reminded you of years gone by.

After carefully selecting our menu items for dinner that evening, we settled back and enjoyed the hustle and bustle while we waited for our dinner. My husband ordered the full rack of baby-back ribs with french fries and coleslaw as his side items ($19.99). I chose the South of the Border Chicken Breast, which was a mesquite-grilled chicken breast topped with sautéed onions and mushrooms and covered with melted Monterey Jack cheese. I selected a baked potato and cut-off corn as my two side items ($14.99). Each dinner also came with a roll. When our dinner arrived, we could not believe the ribs! They were literally hanging off of the plate on each end! Since some people like more sauce, a small container of barbeque sauce was included for extra dipping. My husband always compares ribs to those at one of our local restaurants... if he says the ribs are as good as Jesse’s, then they are good.

Bennett’s offers a breakfast buffet and also has pancakes, a variety of omelets, biscuits and gravy, and French toast. Most items on the breakfast menu ranged in price from $4 to $7. A lunch menu consists of appetizers, various salads and sandwiches, as well as several lunch platters. Most platters were priced around $8 to $10, while the sandwiches were priced around $6 to $8. A kids' menu is also available for children age 10 and under.

Bennett’s has two locations: one in Pigeon Forge and one in Gatlinburg on River Road. Discount (10%) coupons can be printed from their website or can be found in the many area Visitor Guides.

Our dining experience was a pleasant one, and my husband loved the ribs. He’s actually commented a couple of times this month that he would like to go back and eat some more ribs at Bennett’s. They must have made an impression!!

Mountain Edge Grill seems to be our favorite place to eat when we are shopping at the Five Oaks/Tanger Outlet Malls in Sevierville. (The towns of Sevierville and Pigeon Forge interconnect). Maybe it is just one of those shopping-related things--you shop, you get hungry. Actually, the food is excellent, and the restaurant’s "outdoor" theme reminds us of our dreams to someday retire in Montana. The owner’s sons are big ski enthusiasts, and the walls are decorated with ski posters, canoes, kayaks, ski poles, and all kinds of items that remind you of white winter wonderland activities. There are also several TVs to keep you informed with the latest sporting and news events while you eat and rest your weary feet at the same time.

The Mountain Edge Grill has a lot of variety on the menu, with appetizers such as mozzarella cheese sticks or nachos/cheese and salsa for under $5.50; or hamburgers, such as the American Classic (with lettuce, tomato and onion) for $5.99, and my husband’s favorite, the Forrest Burger, which has sautéed mushrooms and Swiss cheese for $6.69. A large selection of sandwiches can also be found on their menu, some of which are the Philly beef, tuna salad, reuben, BLT, or the Avalanche Club, which has smoked turkey and bacon with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and their special Vidalia onion dressing on sourdough toast. Most sandwiches are priced between $5 and $7. Sandwiches come with chips, but french fries can be substituted for a nominal charge. Also, the Mountain Edge Grill serves soups and salads and is known for its famous white chicken chili. A kid’s menu is also available, which has grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken strips, plain hot dogs, or half a sandwich, all for under $3.50.

One of the Mountain Edge Grill’s specialty dinners is a Buffalo Burger Plate. It consists of a half-pound buffalo burger with lettuce, tomato, and onions, french fries and baked beans ($9). Everyone says it is delicious, but we can’t seem to get past our favorites, which are the American Classic and Forrest burgers.

Mountain Edge Grill is located in Suite 975 between Zales and the mall office in the Tanger Outlet Mall Shopping Center. You can’t miss the outlet malls, as there are many white-sided buildings with forest-green-colored roofs. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9am to 9pm, and Sunday 9am to 7pm. Hours in January and February are usually Sunday through Thursday, 10am to 6pm, and Friday and Saturday, 10am to 9pm. Another Mountain Edge Grill is located in downtown Gatlinburg at 631 Parkway (Baskin Square).

If you want a tasty place to eat while shopping, or if you just want a good burger, stop in at the Mountain Edge Grill and let Mr. Black Bear, in his bright orange "Tennessee" hat, serve you something to eat at the "Skier Pick-Up"!

Abrams Falls is one of the most popular waterfall trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. The trailhead is located almost halfway through the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop, between signposts 10 and 11 on the Cades Cove driving tour. Turn right at the sign for Abrams Falls and drive about a half-mile on the dirt road until you reach the parking lot. This is a very popular trail, and parking is usually at a premium during the spring, summer, and fall.

The trail starts out by crossing a large footbridge over Abrams Creek. Immediately to the right is another half-mile trail that leads to the Elijah Oliver Place. Elijah was the son of John Oliver, who was the first white settler in Cades Cove in 1818. The Abrams Falls trail is off to the left.

When you first begin, this trail is rather wide and level. The trail follows Abrams Creek, and it is a refreshing sight to glance to the left and see the creek water gently rolling downstream. Soon you will start to climb, and the tree roots become more predominant with each step that you take, not to mention the rocks that are on the trail. There are several places along the trail that provide a good spot for stopping and taking photographs.

The trail switches back and forth, rising and descending to follow Abrams Creek. You will cross two more single footbridges before you reach Abrams Falls. As you near the end of the 2.5-mile hike, you will hear the falls before you see them. After going steeply down hill (while remembering that if you go down, you must come up on the return trip), cross another single footbridge, bear to the left, and cross another footbridge. The falls will soon be in view.

While Abrams Falls, at 20 feet, is certainly not the largest waterfall in the Smokies, it is one of the most thundering. The water gathers in a pool at the base that is over 100 feet in width, and according to information on the falls, it is a popular playground in the summer. The area surrounding the falls would be a great place to have a picnic, but don’t plan on having any private time. There will always be someone close by.

Also, allow yourself plenty of time. The sign at the trailhead said to allow 3 to 4 hours. We started around 3pm and walked (very quickly) down in about 55 minutes. It took us 65 minutes to walk out; however, we were not strolling, since it was the end of December and dusk was already setting in at 5pm. Allow yourself plenty of time, as the trail is well-used and maneuvering around the tree roots will definitely slow you down.

We’ll have to go back and hike this trail again, only we will get an earlier start so we can enjoy the trail, scenery, and waterfall, instead of rushing because it’s getting dark.

The Little River Trail is a perfect trail for everyone. It appears to have been a road at one time, so it is wide and relatively flat, with little or no elevation gain, well-groomed and has good footing (no tree roots or huge rocks). It is 2.3 miles one-way, but it is so easy to walk that you won’t realize how quickly you have made it to the end. This trail is great for both the young and the not-so-young!! On the day that we walked it, there were several people pushing baby strollers, and they did not appear to be having a difficult time.

The thing that I loved best about this trail is that it follows the Little River. You have an awesome view of the river, and there are several places along the way where you can stop and sit a spell on the log benches and just enjoy the rushing sound of the water. There are also plenty of photo opportunities as you walk along this trail. On our visit in December, there were icicles hanging from the logs in the water as well as icicles hanging on the sides of the rocks next to the trail. Right before you reach the end of the trail, there is a small, but beautiful cascading waterfall. Again, there was ice on both sides of this waterfall and it just made the sight even prettier than our pictures were able to capture.

From the Sugarlands Visitor Center, take the Little River Road west towards Townsend and Cades Cove. You will go about 6 miles to Elkmont. Turn left at the sign for the Elkmont Campground. Go about another 1½ to 2 miles, and when the road forks, take the left fork. Go about another mile, and you will see cars parked everywhere. The trailhead starts up a blacktopped road, and you will pass several deserted houses, both on the right and left sides. These are the remains of the "Appalachian Club" vacation community, which was adjacent to the former logging town of Elkmont. The Little River Lumber Company sold land to affluent individuals from Knoxville to create a private social club. According to the park’s master plan, these structures will eventually be removed and the park restored to its natural state.

The Little River Trail connects to the Huskey Gap Trail, the Goshen Prong Trail, and the Cucumber Gap Trail. There were bear activity signs posted, and this was a reminder that no matter what trail you are on, one should always be aware of their surroundings and realize that we are treading into their habitat.

So, now that you know where to find this easy and relaxing trail, next time you make a trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, try to make time to enjoy the beauty and sounds of nature.