When John got down on one knee more than 11 years ago and proposed….of course I said yes. Followed by "now can we please get to the car it is cold." He had asked me to marry him at the beautiful duck pond near our apartment in Charlotte on a cold fall evening.
We chose a date in March that was my grandmother’s birthday to honor her. By the time we would be married I would be almost 31 and thoughts of a magnificent grand wedding had long gone. Granted these days that doesn’t make one a spinster, but still the lavish wedding would have been something I would have been more inclined to do in my 20’. Unfortunately in my 20’s I was quite enjoying single life and wasn’t inclined to think about weddings and husbands! I would also be starting to work on my BA that coming fall and crowds scared the bejesus out of John. So we settled on a small ceremony with only family. We didn’t want to go the way of a court house nor did we want a big church for only a handful of people. So a friend mentioned they had wedding chapels in the Pigeon Forge area and you could pick up your marriage licenses and get married in the same day. So that is what we did. We chose to only have our parents, John’s grandparents, my bother and sister-in-law, and her niece. Our wedding was intimate and perfect. Plus we must have done something right because this March we will celebrate 11 years of happiness. Sadly a feat that is hardly ever obtained by today’s married couples.
Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area is perfect for all size families, budgets, and tastes. It is also the perfect destination year round. In the spring time the place comes alive as the weather warms up and the mountains come to life with vivid green trees and wildflowers abound throughout. The summer offers summer fun with water parks, Dollywood, and temperatures that are a little more bearable that your typical southern destination. Fall will knock you out as the mountain forest is blanketed with hues of red, gold, and orange. The winter is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. This is also home to Dollywood. Dollywood is the brainchild of county music legend Dolly Parton. Also another reason why I liked this area. Though not a fan of country music, I absolutely adore Dolly with her Southern drawl and sass.
Dollywood is open from mid-March through the end of the year. Though not exactly a coaster enthusiast’s paradise, the park is still a big hit with the whole family. They offer rides and down home entertainment and even the occasional appearance by Dolly herself. Their newest wooden coaster has generated a buzz amongst coaster enthusiasts as one of the best wooden coasters in the country.
Year round sports fans will find the area to offer a variety of activities to keep you going. In the warmer months lace up your shoes and grab you camera and enjoy hiking in the lovely mountains and in the fall grab a sweater and come out and capture the beauty of the autumn trees. When the summer sun is bearing down on you, head out to the water and try white water rafting, guaranteed to give you a mega adrenalin rush, or just pop in an intertube and enjoying lazing down the river. In the winter grab your ski mask and hit the slopes at one of the areas premier ski slopes.
If your sporting adventures takes the form of indoor and in a shopping mall…then they have you covered as well. You won’t believe all the malls and shops here. Tangers, Belz, Z Buda, Pigeon Forge Outlet Mall, can all be found here. You can also find an abundance of small and welcoming shops offering everything from local made crafts, sports equipment, to fancy cowboy duds. While we were here I had to make sure I went to Kandlesticks. I always go when in Savannah and they have a location here as well. They make the most wonderful ribbon candles and you can even watch them being made. I also checked out the Mikasa and Pfaltzgraff outlets and found items here for my china patterns that I didn’t see at the store I registered at. My biggest find was a beautiful cocktail dress at the Liz Claiborne outlet that had been $180 for $15.
After you day of running around you will be happy to knows there is no shortage of dining options to be discovered. Everything from down home southern cuisine to new American cuisine and everything in between can be found along the highways, nestled in malls, and off the beaten path. Oh and don’t forget the BBQ. This is the south and we like BBQ here. Gatlinburg is even home to one of the newest Hard Rock Café’s.
If you like country music you will be in bumpkin heaven. Dollywood offers a variety of performances, and on an occasion even by the Queen of Country Music herself. There is also the Lee Greenwood Theater, Ronnie Millsap’s Keyboard Café, and Dolly’s Music Manson, Live from the Smokies, Eddie’s Heart and Soul Café, and Memories Theater. The Comedy Barn will keep you laughing throughout the night.
And don’t forget about the biggest attraction around…the Great Smoky Mountain National Parkway. More than 9 million folks come here every year to take in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Thus making it one of the most visited National Parks. It belongs to the Appalachian Mountain Chain which is the oldest in North America. Of the 520,000 acres, approximately half sits in Tennessee. And the other half sits in my home state of NC. You will find more species of plant life here than anywhere else in North America. There are some 1500 types of plants, 130 types of trees, 30 varieties of orchids and grasses. Wildlife also flourishes in the mountains. 60 different species call this habitat home as do 80 species of reptiles and 70 types of fish. The Smoky Mountain are home to several endangered species and some species can only be found within the park. There are an estimated 400-600 black bears roaming the park and can stop traffic quicker than Johnny Depp can stop females in their track. There are also more than a dozen waterfalls in the area.
So as you can see, the area is suited for starting out a new life as husband and wife. With all the beautiful places to get married and the boundless options for entertainment and dining, you just can’t go wrong. So next time you need a perfect getaway or looking to get married…the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area has it all. One visit and you know why this place is still beating in the heart of Dolly and all those who come to visit.