Newspaper Page Text
PAGE10A
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2008
Head to Pigeon Forge for year-round fun
Whispering Pines makes perfect mountain get-away for family
BY ANGELA GARY
Relaxing on the spacious balcony
for a scenic view of the mountain-side.
Gathering in the family room to watch
a movie or for meal-time. Taking a slow
float along the “lazy river” or splashing
around in the pool.
Whispering Pines is the perfect place
to stay during a family vacation in Pigeon
Forge, Tenn. Our family spent a recent
long weekend at Whispering Pines and
left refreshed and relaxed and planning
a return visit.
Pigeon Forge is located in the heart of
the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. Millions of visitors each year
check out all of the natural beauty and
many attractions offered in the area. It
is a great destination for North Georgia
residents because of the short drive. It
is a also a perfect choice for family trips
because of the abundance of accom
modation options and the attractions that
will delight people of all ages.
We arrived on a Thursday and took
the winding path up to our home for the
weekend, Whispering Pines. We were
delighted with the spacious and luxuri
ous condo located in the middle of the
all action, yet far enough away from the
main road for some peace and quiet. Our
condo provided spectacular views and
plenty of room for the entire family. It
was huge, comfortable and beautifully
decorated.
Whispering Pines is located within
walking distance of the parkway. Special
features include a picnic area, washer/
dryer, fully furnished kitchen, gas log
fireplace, a fitness center, cable television
and high speed Internet. Visitors have the
option of one, two, three or four bedroom
condos.
For more information on Whispering
Pines, go to www.whisperingpinescon-
dos.com/b or call 1-800-429-4361. The
condos are managed by Resort Properties
Management, which also manages two
other properties in Pigeon Forge — Bear
Crossing and Cedar Lodge.
PLENTY TO DO
Located just a few hours drive away,
Pigeon Forge, Tenn., provides a won
derful year-round travel destination for
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Whispering Pines condos have
huge balconies with views of
the mountains or the park
way. Our condo provided a
great spot for the family to
gather and enjoy the moun
tain view.
North Georgia residents. It’s great for a
weekend-trip or a week-long adventure.
Musical shows, shopping galore, putt
putt and a theme park are just a few of
the things to fit into your schedule dur
ing a visit. Pigeon Forge is an affordable
family vacation destination that offers
something for all ages.
Black Bear Jamboree is a favorite show
for adults and children alike. The music
is wonderful, the dancing is amazing and
the animated bear characters provide a
commentary that ties it all together. The
show includes country, Broadway tunes
and patriotic and gospel selections. The
choreography and dancing are the best
you will find.
The dinner show begins with a
performance by the Black Bear
Jamboree All Star Band. They play
as the meal is performed. The coun
try feast includes creamy vegetable
soup, barbecue ribs, roasted chicken,
green beans, potatoes, corn on the
cob, rolls and chocolate mousse.
For more information, go to www.
blackbearjamboree.com or call
1-865-908-7469.
IN SEVIERVILLE
During our visit to the Great Smoky
Mountains, we also spent some time in
Sevierville, where we enjoyed visits to
The Smith Family Theater, RainForest
Adventure and Forbidden Caverns.
The Smith Family Theater is a wonder
ful family show that will delight guests
of all ages. Brothers Charlie and Jim
Smith, along with Charlie’s son, Charlie
Bob, include country, oldies, gospel and
hilarious impersonations as part of their
show. You might even see a great tribute
to Andy Griffith during their show. A
favorite is always the impersonations,
which includes everyone from Elvis to
Ray Charles to Bill Anderson to Willie
Nelson. It is amazing how much they
sound like the artists they are imperson
ating.
“We want you to act like you are in our
living room tonight,” Jim said to kick off
the show. “We’re relaxed and casual.”
The theater, which is opened year-
round, is located at traffic light one
on the parkway in Pigeon Forge.
For more information, call toll-free,
1-866-399-8100 or go to www.smith-
familytheater.com.
At RainForest Adventures, you will
see snapping turtles, alligators, cocka
toos, hedge hogs, porcupines, tarantulas
and more. Be sure and check out the
presentation from Jim Dykes. He gives
information on some of the animals and,
if you sit on the first few rows, you can
touch them.
For more information, go to www.
rfadventures.com.
Forbidden Caverns includes an enter
taining and educational tour past spar
kling formations, towering national
chimneys and a running stream within
the cavern. Forbidden Caverns has the
largest wall of rare cave onyx known to
exist, as well as many unique formations
that are still forming.
Forbidden Caverns is located at 455
Blowing Cave Road in Sevierville. For
more information, go to www.forbid-
dencavern.com or call 865-453-5972.
Angela Gary is an editor with
MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. She can be
reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
SMITH FAMILY PERFORMS
Jim Smith performs "Bread and Butter” to the delight of the
audience at The Smith Family Theater. His nephew, Charlie Bob
Smith, is also shown.
DOLLY UNVEILS NEW RIDE
Dolly Parton was at the recent grand opening weekend at
Dollywood to unveil the park's new ride, the River Battle fam
ily adventure ride. The water raft ride is equipped with soaker
guns. Nine eight-passenger rafts navigate the waters of a
500-foot channel in a battle that begins as passengers take aim
at each other with the soaker guns, as well as trying to hit 100
fun targets along the way.
Dolly Parton unveils new River Battle
ride as season opens at Dollywood
BY ANGELA GARY
The newest adventure for visitors
to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge is the
River Battle family adventure ride.
Dolly Parton was at the recent
grand opening weekend to unveil
the ride for the thousands of visitors
gathered in the newest area of the
park, Wilderness Pass.
Dolly, wearing a bright red raincoat
and carrying an umbrella, rolled out
before the crowd in one of the rafts.
“This is a great ride,” she said. “We
are very excited about it.”
The water raft ride is equipped
with soaker guns. Nine eight-pas
senger rafts navigate the waters of
a 500-foot channel in a battle that
begins as passengers take aim at each
other with the soaker guns, as well
as trying to hit 100 fun targets along
the way. Animated beavers, skunks,
otters, bears and other creatures talk
to passengers as they float along the
river. Some targets shoot back at
those aboard the raft.
“When I was a kid, me and my
brothers and sisters used to sneak
away and start up a river battle of our
own, but I never dreamed that kind
of childhood fun would end up creat-
ing a great ride like my new River
Battle,” Dolly said.
Dollywood has over 130 acres
of rides, entertainment, craftsmen,
shops and restaurants. Dollywood is
also home to five of the South’s larg
est festivals each year — the Festival
of Nations, KidFest, Dollywood’s
Barbeque and Bluegrass festi
val, National Gospel and Harvest
Celebration and Smoky Mountain
Christmas.
During our visit during grand open
ing weekend, we enjoyed visiting
the Celebrate Ireland area of the
park. Traditional music, arts and
crafts and food are found in this
area. We enjoyed lunch at O’Malleys
Place where a special Irish buffet
was offered. Corned beef and cab
bage, shepherd’s pie, garlic cheddar
mashed potatoes, sweet potato apple
mash and other Irish dishes were
among the selections.
Last year, 3 million people visited
the Dollywood, and the park won an
industry award for being “Park of the
Year.”
For more information, go to
www.dollywood.com or call
1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
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