A Big Hello from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee!
By Kareng
@kareng (55044)
United States
November 9, 2021 4:52pm CST
Just popping in here to say hello! We have been here for a few days and only have a couple more days before heading back home.
The leaves are beautiful but I am a bit disappointed as my last memory of the Fall leaves here was when I was 18. The Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area was not commercialized way back then and there was much more land, trees, and hence, gorgeous Fall leaves.
I have posted a shot of the Fall leaves while we were driving around the other day. The leaves are pretty and much more vibrant than back home. I'm still glad we came and as usual, this is just one of our favorite vacation spots. There is a lot of things to do, but you can also entertain yourself by driving the scenic routes, going on hikes in the mountians, horseback riding or hiking to see some beautiful waterfalls.
Have you been to the Smoky Mountains and what is your favorite thing to do here?
Photo Credit: Photo Credit: ©2021 Karen Gros, All rights reserved
25 people like this
25 responses
@wolfgirl569 (95513)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Nov 21
Enjoy your trip. I have never been there
5 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95513)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Nov 21
@kareng If I can hit the lottery I might move closer to there 
3 people like this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
10 Nov 21
IfnI was there I would sit and smoke some herb all day and just enjoy my surroundings.
I would relax
And chill
And eat chocolate also.
4 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
10 Nov 21
There is a certain serenity here. It's funny--we came 3 other times in the last five years and still haven't walked in downtown Gatlinburg. It's so busy there you could compare the sidewalks to NYC. Nah, I'd rather stay close to nature. I'm sure the man upstairs is a more than a little disappointed in how this place turned out.
3 people like this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
10 Nov 21
@kareng
Man upstairs? Like who would that be?
3 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
22 Nov 21
@LadyDuck We are going back and forth here in the southern part of US. It was back in the 70's today. Forecast had a cold front coming in last night which didn't happen (glad of that!) but woke to cloudy sky and overcast. It finally burned off and the sun came out for a very nice afternoon. That being said I almost have all the limbs picked up from the hurricane. At least they are not everywhere now!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
10 Nov 21
We went to Dollywood when Pretty was seven or eight years old and stopped at Pigeon Forge on our way home again. It was beautiful country.
2 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
10 Nov 21
@DaddyEvil Yes, it is always interesting to visit different areas. I am hoping we make it up the East Coast next year. I also want to go out west! Texas, San Antonio is the fartherest I've been west.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
10 Nov 21
@kareng We did a lot of traveling when she was younger. I loved seeing different parts of the US.
2 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
9 Nov 21
Yes!! I planned this trip several months ago because my husband has never been here during Fall! I miss the old Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg that I remember from long ago. We have been several times with all the new and added sight seeing events (Titanic, etc.) it just seems to be hitting home more this trip.
3 people like this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
10 Nov 21
we have been many times, my favorite thing is to wander the national park trails!
3 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
18 Nov 21
Yes or a drive through the park. I had a checkup last week and nurse made a remark about how good my blood pressure was and joked that I enjoyed visiting them. I told her no, we just returned from the Smokey Mountains and I'm ready to go back! She laughed and said yeah, that is a better choice.
2 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
18 Nov 21
@DocAndersen Like really? Who likes to go to the doctor??
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
18 Nov 21
@kareng rofl i can see the smile on your face as you said that to her!
2 people like this
@kaylachan (57974)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Nov 21
I can't say I have been there, but then I don't travel. I don't mind hearing stories from those who do.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62328)
• United States
10 Nov 21
My favorite things in the Smokies are Chimneys picnic area (about four miles in on the Tennessee side along Newfound Gap Road) and the drive through Cades Cove. Oh, and the waterfalls. 
The over-commercialization is sad, especially when you get to Gatlinburg and it seems like every square inch is either a business or a failed business (especially that area down by Hillbilly Golf, full of the latter). But I still love it.
The over-commercialization is sad, especially when you get to Gatlinburg and it seems like every square inch is either a business or a failed business (especially that area down by Hillbilly Golf, full of the latter). But I still love it.2 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
10 Nov 21
I think tomorrow will be waterfall day. We just need one with not a long hike. My hubby won't make it far with the walking. Do you have any recommendations in that area that would be no more than 1/4 a mile to the Falls?
The commercialization is very sad. I just mentioned that in a comment above.
2 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
18 Nov 21
@FourWalls We stopped there but didn't do the nature trail because the sign said it was over a mile.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62328)
• United States
10 Nov 21
@kareng — Cataract Falls is behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center. It’s relatively flat, just a dozen steps to climb.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73603)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Nov 21
Sounds like you re having a good time and how lovely to see all those pretty autumn colors, I have never been in the Smokey Mountains,
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (94734)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 Nov 21
Thank you for sharing your wonderful time in the Smoky Mountains. I do not remember going there at at all in my lifetime.
2 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
9 Nov 21
I think you would remember it if you came. This was my parents favorite vacation destination so I have lots of memories here. We brought our girls here too and they all loved it as well. It is a shame that comercialization have ruined many areas though. Nature's beauty here has its own calling!
2 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
10 Nov 21
@Deepizzaguy I have never been past San Antonio, TX going west! That is another trip on the bucket list.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (94734)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Nov 21
@kareng When I was a young child I remember stories from my relatives going to Yellow stone park.
2 people like this
@RubyHawk (99423)
• Atlanta, Georgia
6 Dec 21
We went to pigeon forge a few years ago. We loved it. We saw a enactment of The Blues Brothers at oneof the theaters. And drove around the area sight seeing.The only bad thing some of my jewelry was stolen from our hotel room. It wasn’t terribly expensive but I loved it.
1 person likes this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
6 Dec 21
@RubyHawk The scenery is always amazing there! Love the sunsets! I'm never up early enough to catch the sunrise but I've seen some great photos of it.
I also love to go during the Christmas season. The towns all lit up in Christmas lights is pretty too.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156811)
• United States
10 Nov 21
We had planned a stop at Gatlinburg, etc. on our trip to Florida this year; but, as you know, that was cut short after one day. I'm glad you had a good time. Pigeon Forge is chock full of attractions, etc.; and we had only planned to stop there one day since it is so commercialized.
2 people like this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
18 Nov 21
Gatlinburg is also over commercialized. We like to head to the outlying areas like Wears Valley, Bryson City, Townsend. Cade's Cove is also nice but a lot of traffic through there. At least you are sitting for that one as you drive all through the park and stop at the spots you want to see (old churches, homesteads).
1 person likes this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
22 Nov 21
@LindaOHio That's always at the top of our "To Do" list!!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156811)
• United States
19 Nov 21
@kareng Those places sound like fun too.
1 person likes this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
22 Nov 21
@wilsongoddard I would bet that is true in my situation also.
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
18 Nov 21
@kareng I think that I love nature more than my husband does.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86811)
• United States
9 Nov 21
Hello lucky Karen!!
Thank you so much for the photo.
You know I love the colors.
It must be so beautiful there.
My nephew is in Tennessee now.
I have never been to the Smokys no, but my brother used to live there.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86811)
• United States
9 Nov 21
@kareng He is inside the city of Memphis at some snazzy hotel. He tells me it is total ghetto a bit further out though. But he is well equipped to handle whatever comes his way
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118520)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
It's been a few years since I've last been to Pigeon Forge. Very beautiful place. It's bounced back nicely since the big wildfire there many years ago.
I love the Smoky Mountains, and over the years I've managed to hike various sections of the Appalachian Trail. Someday, I hope to hike the entire trail in one trip (which would take about 6 months). Other than hiking the APT, my other favorite thing to do in the mountains is just sit on a rocker on the front porch of whatever cabin/home I happen to be staying in at the time, and just gaze out over the beautiful mountains.
1 person likes this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
28 Nov 21
@moffittjc We just need a winter house where it stays warm and and summer house where the weather is nice and beautiful! That would solve it all!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118520)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
@kareng It's always been a lifelong dream of mine to live somewhere up in the mountains in Tennessee or North Carolina. Except I'm like you now...I'm wondering if I would be miserable there in the wintertime. Maybe Florida isn't such a hellhole after all. lol
1 person likes this
I think so too!!
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
22 Nov 21
Lovely photo. I've never been to the Smokey Mountains. Thank you for sharing
1 person likes this
