Nashville to Gatlinburg - Our Excellent Adventure
bbshop
We like going anywhere we haven't been before - checking out the local hot spots and cuisine.
Jul 9, 2007
based on 7 votes
Traveled to Tenneesee to viisit with friends and attend a reunion - decided to build a week long vacation around this trip as neither my husband or I had ever really spent any time in the state.
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Nashville, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg
- Category: Recent trip
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Traveler type: Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Never been before, Theater
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Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Honeymooners, Singles, Families with small children, Families with teenagers, Large groups, Seniors, Students, Budget travelers, Active/adventure, Tourists
- Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Tags: Nashville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Amusement Park, Country Music, Bus Tour
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| These two crazy ladies put on one of the best shows in Nashville! It's supposed to be a tour of the city but you spend so much time just looking at them that you never see anything - and you know what - you don't care! The provide some history, do a little singing, hand out canned spray cheese and crackers and encourage the riders to bring along a cooler full of your favorite adult beverages!!! The bus, a large PINK schoolbus, has no bathroom but they do make one potty break at the Country Music Hall of Fame during the 2 hour tour. This "tour" is a MUST SEE if you are going to Nashville, but BOOK EARLY as they sell out months in advance! http://www.nashtrash.com/ |
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| Always a good time no matter who you go to see! This was one of the least expensive activities we did on our trip at $27-28 per ticket. You get two hours of entertainment at the show itself and there is usually entertainment outside the Opry before the show as well! Can't go to Nashville and not go to the Opry. We sat in the Mezzanine and had a great view! |
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3. Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
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Ave price:
$226
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We did NOT stay at this hotel.... it was VERY expensive... but all the locals that we talked to said that even if you aren't staying there - you have to go check it out - which we did. It's absolutely beautiful inside, almost like a tropical rainforest. You are surrounded by trees and flowers, there are bridges and balcony's right in the atrium of the hotel - for FREE this was a good side item to do! |
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4. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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| If you are a country music fan (like my husband) than I'm sure that you would enjoy learning all about the history of country music here. There is very little that is "interactive". Most of the museum is memorabilia under glass - Elvis's Caddy, Various Female music star's outfits, guitars, gold/platinum albums on the walls etc... for me, someone who doesn't follow country music all that much, I got burned out quickly, but the hubby liked it so it was all good. :) The cool thing about this place is the architecture, it's shaped like a set of piano keys, that ends in the shape of the fin of a caddy, there is a song on a staff down one end and some circular plates stacked up like old records.. very cool. |
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5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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Pick a hiking trail and set out for the day. We started at Rainbow Falls and hiked across to Grotto Falls a 7 mile round trip trek. The first 3.5 miles are pretty much up hill so be prepared... |
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| BRING YOUR WALLET - this was the most expensive meal I have ever eaten - everything is a la carte. The food was fabulous but really more of a special occasion place or a "we're on vacation and don't care what it costs". This came highly recommended by several friends, and the food was GREAT. However, I ordered the steak "special" and it was $49.00 - my bowl of soup was $12.95, the sweet potato on my plate was $5.95 and the glass of wine was $9.00 - my husband had a similarly priced meal. The other nice perk is that they have a shuttle service which will pick you up at your hotel and drive you back afterwards. We enjoyed our meal very much. |
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7. Black Mountain Hiking - Crossville, TN
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| Just outside of Crossville, TN (the midway point between Nashville & Gatlinburg) we did a 1.7 mile easy hike with a fabulous overlook of the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee Ridge and Valley Stream beyond. The trail head is VERY tricky to find and these directions leave a bit to be desired, we got into the general area and then asked a local for detailed directions - they ended up driving up there with us following them. |
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| We ended up here on a whim, we were supposed to go on an ATV ride in the mountains but that fell through. We got to the park at 3:30pm and if you get there after 3:00pm your ticket is good for the next day - keep that in mind. We pretty much rode all the rollercoasters twice, the flum type ride (got pretty wet) and one other one that I cannot describe other than to say it was FUN! Then we called it a day. They have a new coaster called Mystery Mine which cost them $17 million to build, it's fun but TOO SHORT - the best part is when the car you are sitting in goes completely vertical TWICE as you are lifted up the mine shaft... a fun day in PIgeon Forge for sure. |
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| Got this recommendation from another Trip Advisor member - the food was good and reasonably priced - we had the pulled pork BBQ and were very happy - our server was very attentive and friendly - they also had cloggers out in front of the restaurant to watch while you were waiting for your table. We would recommend! |
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Compliment bbshop
