Summer Trip to Gatlinburg 2005

Overview

The Boyds Bear Barn is really something to see and a fun place to go. Dollywood was a bit disappointing--we were expecting a bigger amusement park--but I suppose that for where it is, it is a big deal, but compared to the Six Flags parks, Cedar Point, Paramount, and the like, it is not in the same category. The Ober Gatlinburg provides a nice half-day activity for the family. The indoor skydiving (the first location in the country) is a REAL crowd pleaser!!!

Quick Tips:

The prime thing to do in Gatlinburg is shop, in shop, after shop, after shop. Our group was not much into shopping, so we spent a lot time getting to other events. The things to "do" are more limited, with most not really taking a half-day.

Best Way To Get Around:

In the summer, everyone in the area is heading to the same locations on the same small road, and the result is that traffic can be a nightmare!! When we arrived in Gatlinburg coming through Pigeon Forge, the approximately 13-mile trip took just under 2 hours. It wasn't an accident. It was very usual and customary (according to those who live there). They have a bus system that gets you around a bit better. You can park free, and the bus cost is nominal, but you have to have a car. As soon as you arrive, ask anyone and everyone (i.e. waitresses, salespeople, timeshare staff) the ways to get around--the locals know the back routes, which will help you a lot!!!!!

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Bent Creek Golf Village

Hotel | "Sunterra Resorts Bent Creek Golf Village"

Best Things Nearby:
The Gatlinburg tourist areas

Best Things About the Resort:
It was very clean, well maintained, and quiet.

Resort Experience:
We were traveling in a party of six, four adults and two children. Our reservations were for two one-bedroom units, which were to accommodate four each. The rooms ended up being adjoining, which worked out very well for us. Each room had a full kitchen. The bedrooms each had one double bed, and each living room had a foldout sofa. The resort is very nice, and the staff is very nice and helpful.

There are essentially NO scheduled activities for children or adults. It is mainly geared towards just R&R. The pool is very nice, and everything is very well maintained and clean. The location is about a 30-minute drive any time you want to see anything in the area, and in the summer, the high traffic can make that 1 to 1.5 hours!!!

Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
Activities: Poor
Amenities: Very Good
Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
Family Friendliness: Good
Service: Very Good

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by mtemail on August 20, 2005

Bent Creek Golf Village
3919 EAST PARKWAY Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
865-436-2875

Dollywood

Attraction

If you are used to going to many major amusement parks, this will be disappointing for you. There are quite a few kiddie rides, but the older child to adult rides are limited and few. The setup is more of a shopping mecca rather than an amusement park. If you aren't planning on getting wet, the number of rides is extremely limited. I couldn't imagine spending a full day there. We were repeating rides after about an hour.

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by mtemail on August 20, 2005

Dollywood
1020 Dollywood Lane Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863
(865) 428-9488

Biltmore Estate

Attraction

You have a number of choices. You can just do a walk-through tour, you can pay for the audio equipment to give you an overview of rooms and items you are seeing, or you can sign up for their special guided tours. There are quite a few choices, which are all found on the Biltmore Estate's webpage at http://www.biltmore.com/. It is spectacularly beautiful. I would highly recommend the audio tour. The information is brief, gives the kids something to do, and is very interesting. There are not many things labeled or identified to read if you are just walking through. Overall, it is very impressive!

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by mtemail on August 20, 2005

Biltmore Estate
1 Approach Road Asheville, North Carolina 28806
(828) 274-6333

Ober Gatlinburg - Ice Skating

Attraction | "Ober Gatlinburg"

You take the sky ride up the side of the mountain. The signs say that each car has the capacity of 120 people. We had 78 in our trip down, and I don't know how they could have gotten 40 more people in!!! Once at the top, there is a small amusement-ride section with a small walk-through fun house, a swinging pirates ship, go-carts, a couple of kiddie rides, and the alpine slide. You ride a chairlift up to the top of the alpine slide ride and then ride a small cart down, and it really is a hoot!!!! You can also remain on the chairlift and go farther up the mountain and ride down!!! The rides are about $5 apiece. You are far better off getting the $19.95 per person wrist band for unlimited rides!!!!!

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by mtemail on August 20, 2005

Ober Gatlinburg - Ice Skating
1339 Ski Mountain Rd Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
(865) 436-5423

Dollywood's Splash Country

Attraction

This was a nice water park. There were a number of choices of slides and such!!! There were two different family raft rides, which our group highly enjoyed.

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by mtemail on August 20, 2005

Dollywood's Splash Country
1020 Dollywood Lane Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
865/428-9488

White Water Rafting

Attraction | "White-Water Rafting"

You have two choices in trips, the upper river and the lower river. The upper river has a nice set of class 2 to 4 rapids and is a fun trip. The lower river is just a float down the river without any significant white water. When you have a child under 8, you're stuck on the lower river. It's a nice, relaxing trip; the views are pretty; and you get the chance to swim in the river if you choose, but the fun is on the upper river. It's not high-end white water (like the new river in WV), but it is fun and a great thing to do for an afternoon!! You really need no skill for either trip--just to enjoy!!!!

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by mtemail on August 20, 2005

White Water Rafting
453 Brookside Village Way Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Indoor Skydiving!!!

Story/Tip

According to company information, this is the first location for this type of activity. Essentially, the building contains a huge fan apparatus, and people are essentially simulating freefall sky diving. My group thought that this was the absolute best!!! There is a 40-pound minimum weight requirement, so even the 6-year-old traveling with us did it and thought it was TERRIFIC!! You can purchase a video or DVD of your flight, which is well worth the cost. One warning: the weight restrictions are pretty strict. Maximum, a woman can weigh about 180 and a man about 200, based upon height requirements. It is about $25 a person. There is a short training session, and the time in the "fan" is about 15 minutes for a group of four to five.

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The Comedy Barn

Story/Tip

This was a fun evening. It is marketed as wholesome family fun, and I guess it was, with lots of it was “fart” humor, and it was light. The show seating is comfortable and the cost was reasonable at about $20 per person. Take your camera for the great photo ops at the end. The cast makes themselves available for photos and are extremely friendly!! Everything is a money-making opportunity; they take your group’s photo, they sell popcorn and goodies, they offer the video or DVD of the show… the list goes on and on!!!!

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The Black Bear Jamboree Dinner & Show

Story/Tip

This is a dinner show that was entertaining. It is owned by the same company that owns the Comedy Barn, so they know how to market for your tourist dollars, with lots of extras for sale. T hey make sure that all the kids are up onstage at least one time to make the video of the evenings performance that much more attractive for purchase. The food was not very good and the show was OK. It was something to do for an evening!!!!

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Boyd's Bears

Story/Tip

Right off the main strip is the "biggest barn you have ever seen!!” And it is!!!! It is filled with Boyd's products, and it has two special areas. One is nursery where you can adopt your own baby bear or hare, complete with bassinets, nurses, and an ample choice of available accessories. The second is the build-your-own-bear area, where you pick out an animal, not only bears, but dogs, cats, pigs, and a moose; choose the color pellets you want (all have a special meaning (i.e. red for love)); and then fill it. They sewed it up, creating a belly button. You get a barn box for transport, and voila, for just 19.99, you have a fun time for a child!!!! (Of course, there are lots of additional items.) The store is filled with Boyd's items, and of all the things in the Gatlinburg area, I would put this on the don't-miss list. The lower level even has a food court, which had very good food!!!

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Gatlinburg

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Summer Trip to Gatlinburg 2005