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Pigeon Forge Readies Five Million Lights for Busy Winterfest Season

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 02:37:00 +0000

60 new displays on tap for four-month special event in Smoky Mountains resort town

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Nov. 1, 2012) – Now that there have been a few chilly nights, the mood is right for the Nov. 6 (Tuesday) launch of Pigeon Forge Winterfest.

This is the 23^rd celebration of a tourism season that once didn’t exist for Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains region. The last Winterfest season generated spending of $213.4 million.

The Pigeon Forge Winterfest Kickoff is in Patriot Park. The lead-up to that evening’s activities will be the city’s second annual Salute to Veterans Parade starting at 4:30 p.m. on the Parkway.

Festivities will conclude with the illumination of five million Winterfest lights throughout the city and a fireworks display at approximately 8 p.m. Pigeon Forge’s Fun Time Trolleys will offer free access to the Trolley Tour of Lights after the fireworks.

The city has added approximately 60 new Winterfest light displays that are scattered through town. One group is wildlife – bears, deer, foxes, elk, squirrels and eagles – that people see for real in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Patriot Park will bustle in between the parade and the illumination with a play area for kids, food vendors benefitting local charities and entertainment from Pigeon Forge High School and Middle School Dance Teams, the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus and singer James Rogers.

Rogers and Navy veteran Bob Kolb will share the role of grand marshal for the Salute to Veterans Parade. Kolb is a loyal volunteer at most Pigeon Forge special events and was a submariner during WWII.

Among the organizations expected to participate in the parade are the Pigeon Forge High School Marching Band, the Tennessee Army National Guard, the Disabled American Veterans and the Marine Corps League.

After the Winterfest Kickoff, businesses throughout the city offer special activities, theaters add a Christmas flair to their shows for two months and the city itself presents two major special events in January and February – Wilderness Wildlife Week and Saddle Up.

Pigeon Forge Winterfest continues through Feb. 28, 2013, offering winter activity throughout this gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Among the events on the calendar:

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 10-Dec. 30), with seasonal shows that include Dollywood’s Christmas on Ice and another four million holiday lights;
A gigantic fireworks display on Nov. 22 marking the end of the Titanic Museum Attraction’s centennial celebration, plus snowfall from the ship’s bow every Saturday from Thanksgiving weekend through Dec. 29;
Wilderness Wildlife Week (Jan. 12-19, 2013), a city-sponsored week of special programs about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and numerous other outdoor topics;
The second annual Pigeon Forge Ice Carving Competition at the Titanic Museum Attraction (Jan. 19, 2013), featuring celebrated ice sculptors working with 250-pound blocks of ice;
Saddle Up (Feb. 21-24), a city-sponsored celebration of cowboy poetry, western music and the American West, including entertainers Waddie Mitchell, the Quebe Sisters Band and Wylie & the Wild West.

Complete visitor information about Pigeon Forge is available online at www.MyPigeonForge.com or by calling 1-800-251-9100.

Contact:

Tom Adkinson, APR

tadkinson@bohanideas.com

615-341-8796

Mountain Vista Log Cabins Deal of the Day | Groupon Asheville

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:38:00 +0000

Great cabin special in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, via Groupon!

Mountain Vista Log Cabins Deal of the Day | Groupon Asheville

What You Get

Accommodations for four (Check the Fine Print & Details tabs for available cabins)

$255 for a three-night stay
$340 for a four-night stay

Amenities

Choose from 10 cabins
Great Smokies views
Nearby trout fishing
Private outdoor hot tub

Romance Dirty Dancing Style: Lake Lure & The Blue Ridge Foothills Sweepstakes

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:19:00 +0000

Channel your inner Baby and Johnny in breathtaking Lake Lure, the home of Dirty Dancing. Fall in love all over again as you relive the classic romance with dance lessons, an intimate plane ride, golf on the course featured in the movie, fine dining, lake-style lodging and so much more. Step out onto the front porch of Lake Lure & the Blue Ridge Foothills and experience a romantic getaway just like the movies.

This sweepstakes includes:

$500 gift card at The 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa to be used for overnight accommodations, dining and other amenities
Classic car cruise for two with Bennett Classic Auto Museum
Aerial tour for two of Rutherford County with Plane Werks
Round of golf for two, including cart, at Rumbling Bald Resort
Dinner for two at The Esmeralda Inn
Dance lessons for two with Mr. Keith Darby
Boat tour for two with Lake Lure Tours
Rutherford County Tourism gift basket
Plus a $500 Visa gift card to help you get here

Entry deadline February 29, 2012.

Enter To Win!

(one entry per email address)

TripAdvisor Rates Pigeon Forge High on List of ‘Destinations on the Rise’

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Great Smoky Mountains resort ranks #4, while Nashville tops list

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (January 2012) – TripAdvisor named Pigeon Forge, Tenn., No. 4 on its list of the top 15 U.S. destinations “on the rise for 2012.” Pigeon Forge is a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and host to more than 10 million visitors every year.

Tennessee music mecca, Nashville, topped the TripAdvisor list, followed by Austin, Texas, and Fort Myers, Fla. Pensacola, Fla., was in the fifth spot behind Pigeon Forge.

“These U.S. destinations have really piqued TripAdvisor travelers’ interest over the last year, making them great options to consider as thoughts turn to vacation planning for 2012,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.

Administrators at TripAdvisor, which says it is the world’s largest travel review website, compiled the list. Rankings were based on reviews and searches done by the site’s users.

In slots six through 10 were Louisville, Ky., Branson, Mo., Scottsdale, Ariz., Saint Augustine, Fla., and Charleston, S.C.

In slots 11 through 15 were Albuquerque, N.M., Wildwood, N.J., Asheville, N.C., Park City, Utah, and Santa Cruz, Calif.

“This kind of recognition is very exciting because it shows how interesting Pigeon Forge is to many types of travelers,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the city’s tourism department.

“One reason consumer interest remains high is how much change happens in Pigeon Forge. New attractions such as the Titanic Museum Attraction, the Great Smoky Mountains Lumberjack Feud and the Smoky Mountain Opry Show open frequently, while other businesses constantly expand. A big expansion in 2012 is Dollywood’s $20 million Wild Eagle roller coaster,” he continued.

Other recent praise for Pigeon Forge:

·     A TIME.com feature cited Pigeon Forge as one of its “9 Most Christmassy Towns in America.”

·     Positive consumer reviews in 2011 led to a Travelers’ Choice Award for the Inn at Christmas Place from TripAdvisor when the hotel was named one of the Top 25 Hotels in the U.S. It polled sixth on that list.

·      Pigeon Forge itself was named to the TripAdvisor list of the Top 10 Best Family Destinations, and the Inn at Christmas Place was named the top-reviewed family-friendly hotel in the city.

Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge is available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.

Ultimate Golf Vacation - Rumbling Bald Resort Sweepstakes

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:42:00 +0000

From Visit NC: Rumbling Bald Resort Sweepstakes, The Ultimate Vacation. Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Lure, Rumbling Bald Resort is North Carolina's premier mountain golf destination. With two highly rated courses and spectacular views of both Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Rumbling Bald has 36 holes of championship golf that you don't have to be a champion to enjoy.

Now, you can enter to win a great four-day golf vacation for eight people to this ultimate mountain golf resort, including premium accommodations, six rounds of golf, a Lake Lure Dinner Cruise, and more!

The winner will receive:

· A three-night stay for eight people at Premium Fairway Villa Condominiums, located on the Bald Mountain Golf Course at Rumbling Bald Resort

· Six rounds of golf per player for eight people at Rumbling Bald Resort

· Lake Lure Dinner Cruise for eight people

· Two dinners for eight people at the newly renovated Lakeview Restaurant

· $500 Visa gift card to get you here

Enter to win today! The sweepstakes ends October 31, 2011.

Restrictions apply.

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:15:00 +0000

Enter to win your own Great Smoky Mountains adventure filled with lush green fairways, breathtaking mountain views, cool flowing rivers and endless hiking trails. North Carolina heritage comes alive in the Great Smoky Mountains, home of the most visited national park in the United States. Surrounded by a swirling mist, the massive mountains hold a mystique and diversity of life that beckon travelers from near and far. Here you’ll find refreshing summertime temperatures, picturesque fall color and year-round adventure, exploration and learning.

In August, enter to win your own Great Smoky Mountains adventure filled with lush green fairways, breathtaking mountain views, cool flowing rivers and endless hiking trails. This sweepstakes includes:

A two-night stay at the Waynesville Inn, including a $100 resort credit for golf, dining or spa, as well as complimentary breakfast, free wireless Internet and parking
A creative learning vacation at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, valued at $1,000
A one-night stay at the Best Western River Escape Inn & Suites in Dillsboro
A two-night stay for up to four people at the Fryemont Inn in Bryson City, including breakfast
A two-night stay at Fontana Village Resort in Fontana Dam
A Smoky Mountain Railroad excursion departing from Bryson City in first-class style, including a delicious meal with personal attendant in a restored 1940s vintage dining car
Plus a $500 Visa gift card to help you get here!

Entry deadline August 31, 2011.

Enter To Win! from VisitNC.com

(one entry per email address)

Pigeon Forge Expands Lineup for July 4 Patriot Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 01:43:00 +0000

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (June 2011) – The bluegrass brother-sister duo The Roys and Mercury Records artist Randy Montana, whose latest hit is “1,000 Faces,” have been added to the entertainment lineup of Pigeon Forge’s July 4 Patriot Festival.

Restless Heart, a five-member band with some of the most enduring tunes in country and adult/contemporary music, headlines the multi-act celebration in Patriot Park. Admission is free.

Patriot Festival regularly draws tens of thousands of Independence Day celebrants. The towering ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park provide the visual backdrop for an afternoon and evening of music, which are followed by one of Tennessee’s major Fourth of July fireworks shows.

Other performers are Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier; The Return, a Beatles tribute band; the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus; and the cast from the Grand Majestic Theater, which will present a military salute.

Restless Heart, which formed in the early 1980s, has had four gold albums and six No. 1 country singles. Several of its songs crossed over into the Top 10 chart for adult/contemporary music.

Its No. 1 country singles are “The Bluest Eyes in Texas,” “That Rock Won’t Roll,” “I’ll Still Be Loving You,” “Why Does It Have To Be (Wrong or Right),” “Wheels” and “A Tender Lie.”

The City of Pigeon Forge presents the Patriot Festival. Activity begins at noon with a “kid’s karnival.” Entertainment starts at 1 p.m., and Restless Heart is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. The fireworks show is set for 9:45 p.m. Knoxville radio station WIVK-FM will broadcast music to accompany the fireworks.

Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge is available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.

Restless Heart To Headline Patriot Festival in Pigeon Forge for July 4

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 01:26:00 +0000

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (May 2011) – Restless Heart, a five-member band with some of the most enduring tunes in country and adult/contemporary music, will rock out at Patriot Festival, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.’s, Fourth of July celebration.

Patriot Festival regularly draws tens of thousands of Independence Day celebrants to Patriot Park. The towering ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park provide the visual backdrop for an afternoon and evening of music, which are followed by one of Tennessee’s major Fourth of July fireworks shows.

Restless Heart, which formed in the early 1980s, has had four gold albums and six No. 1 country singles. Several of its songs crossed over into the Top 10 chart for adult/contemporary music.

Its No. 1 country singles are “The Bluest Eyes in Texas,” “That Rock Won’t Roll,” “I’ll Still Be Loving You,” “Why Does It Have To Be (Wrong or Right),” “Wheels” and “A Tender Lie.”

The Return, a Beatles tribute band, will add a different musical style to Patriot Festival, as will local bluegrass group Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier. The Pigeon Forge Community Chorus also will perform.

The City of Pigeon Forge presents the Patriot Festival, and admission is free.

Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge is available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.

Gateway to the Smokies: Real Estate Buyers Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:10:00 +0000

Open publication - Free publishing - More bryson city

Great Smokys Cabin Rental

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Mon, 16 May 2011 22:13:00 +0000

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Visit the Blue Ridge Mountains for five days of celebrating everything wine. Featured events include “Uncork” the Festival, the Grand Wine Tasting, Fire on the Rock Chef’s Challenge, Wine Seminars, Cooking Classes and Winemaker Dinners throughout the village at Blowing Rock’s best restaurants. The festival also features a “Meet and Greet” with food critics, authors and wineries. Festival shows include Chuckleball, a musical sports revue at the Hayes Performing Arts Center and a Vintage Murder Mystery presented by Ensemble Stage. There’s also a gallery stroll, art competition, Bartender’s Brawl and “Dig Into Local,” sponsored by the NC Department of Agriculture. The Grand Wine Tasting takes place on Saturday under the main tent and showcases a wide variety of wines from North Carolina and from around the world.

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival at Blowing Rock - Blowing Rock, NC

Living History Days at Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center - Georgia Events

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:23:00 +0000

Join Foxfire in kicking off the celebration of its 45th anniversary in 2011, when The Foxfire Museum hosts two days of living heritage, with adults and children dressed in 1800s period clothing, showcasing the activities of daily life in the Southern Appalachian mountains from 100-200 years in the past.

Cooking simple food in a stone fireplace, crafting wood furniture with hand tools, blacksmithing in a coal-fired forge, one-room schoolhouse classes covering the Appalachian “three Rs” (Readin’, ‘Ritin’, and Religion), short church services, plenty of old-time kids’ games (everyone is invited to join in), live traditional music, and more — bringing the Foxfire Museum to life, thanks to the parents, children, and friends of the Rabun Christian Home Educators and other area volunteers and crafters reenacting the unsophisticated and strenuous lives of the hardy settlers that created our homes within these majestic mountains.

Learn More: 2011 Foxfire Living History Days at Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center - Georgia Events - Overview - Explore Georgia

Smoky Mountains Cabin Rentals

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:20:00 +0000

Properties in the Smokys Real Estate and Vacation Rentals in Dillsboro, North Carolina specializes in real estate and vacation rentals throughout Western North Carolina, including Dillsboro, Sylva, Bryson City, Whittier, Webster, Cullowhee, and Cashiers. Find your dream home or your vacation of a lifetime in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. They offer fully furnished units, fabulous accommodations, friendly staff, all within a safe and beautiful community of Dillsboro, North Carolina.Visit their website or watch this short video about Smoky Mountain Cabin Rentals http://www.propertiesinthesmokys.com

Planning Your Trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:54:00 +0000

The months of February, March and April are the most popular times of the year for people to start planning their trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway. But where's the best place to start? Read more: Planning Your Trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway

Reconnect Around North Carolina’s Fabulous Fireplaces - Romantic Retreats in NC - North Carolina Travel & Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:31:00 +0000

When the sun goes down, there’s no better place to be than by the light of a crackling fire. These fabulous destinations in North Carolina boast fireplaces as a central feature amid lush surroundings. From the mountains to the sea, pick one of these choice spots and grab a cup of hot cocoa, add family and friends, then claim your seat by the hearth. Read More: Reconnect Around North Carolina’s Fabulous Fireplaces

All This Snow And It's Not Even February!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Since mid-December, the Bryson City area has recorded between two and three feet of total snowfall; and much more in the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But even the incredible beauty loses its appeal after a while. Read More: All This Snow And It’s Not Even February

Bryson City Cabin Rentals VIDEO

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:23:00 +0000

Discover the serenity of the Great Smoky Mountains and enjoy your next vacation in one of our fully equipped cabins. Whether you are looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure, you will find it here. Choose from our one, two and three-bedroom cabins and larger vacation rentals located throughout the Bryson City, Cherokee and Nantahala areas of the North Carolina Smokies. Some of our cabins are pet friendly!Visit Bryson City Cabin Rentals Website

21st Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:16:00 +0000

January 8-15, 2011: Wilderness Wildlife Week, the ultimate Smoky Mountain experience, is a series of activities sure to connect Pigeon Forge visitors with the wide, wonderful world of the great outdoors.

Visitors will enjoy more than 100 experts sharing their knowledge of the outdoors in more than 175 seminars, lectures and hands-on workshops. Get up close to nature with your choice of more than 50 guided walks and hikes. Music lovers will enjoy tunes performed by authentic Smoky Mountain musicians at AppalachiaFest.

Wilderness Wildlife Week offers activities for all ages and attracts thousands of nature lovers to Pigeon Forge each year. The International Festivals & Events Association has recognized the event for its environmental and educational efforts. Visit this page again to learn more Wilderness Wildlife Week details as they develop.

NEW VIDEO: Hidden Creek Cabins in Bryson City

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 03:26:00 +0000

New Video Features Smoky Mountain Vacations and Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:42:00 +0000

New video about travel and real estate in the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains:

Find the Perfect Christmas Tree at a Choose and Cut Farm in the Mountains!

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:07:00 +0000

A great way to find the perfect Christmas tree this holiday season is through a Choose & Cut farm. Make it a family affair and enjoy a good old-fashioned tree hunt in the mountains. Generally, these tree farms are open starting the weekend before Thanksgiving, all the way through the holiday season. Here are some handy websites to help you search and find the tree farm closest to your mountain destination this holiday season:

North Carolina Christmas Tree Farms
Georgia Christmas Tree Farms
Tennessee Christmas Tree Farms
Virginia Christmas Tree Farms

The Most Spectacular Holiday Light and Sound Show in the South

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 23:24:00 +0000

Nestled amidst wooded landscape of Callaway Gardens, Fantasy In Lights is the Southeast's most spectacular holiday light and sound show with more than eight million twinkling lights celebrating the holiday season. This spectacular show has attracted almost two million visitors since it opened in 1992. Now in its 19th year, Fantasy In Lights has become an essential holiday tradition for many families, as much as a part of the season as caroling or attending "The Nutcracker." Visit once and you'll discover why.

Click here to read more

Cherohala Skyway - Mountain Scenic Drives

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:42:00 +0000

The Cherohala Skyway is a national scenic byway often compared to the Blue Ridge Parkway because of its scenic attractions and natural topography. The skyway serves as a connector between the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, thus the name Cherohala. The route is located in rural western Graham County and is designated as N.C. 143.
Read More: Cherohala Skyway - Mountain Scenic Drives - Scenic Drives - North Carolina Travel & Tourism

Autumn Color — Take Some Home With You

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:55:00 +0000

Every October, people come to the Smoky Mountains to view the brilliant colors of autumn. And many of them take a little of that color back home with them — in the form of a bright, golden pumpkin from a local farm. Check out the fall display of pumpkins and squash for sale at Darnell Farms, a family run business just east of Bryson City on Highway 19 at the Tuckaseigee River bridge.

Read More: Postcards From The Smokies » Autumn Color — Take Some Home With You

The Civil War in Georgia - Commemorating 150 Years

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Anne Shea) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:28:00 +0000

Georgia's official Civil War website was launched today in commemoration of the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Features of the site include an interactive map of museums, battlefields, landmarks, historic homes and other significant locations; calendar of events; a timeline of events that took place in Georgia between 1861 and 1865; a news section; links to educational resources and related Civil War sites, and more. The second phase of the site will include Civil War driving trails; stories and written observations from Georgians during the Civil War; a multimedia section for video and images and more.