Save on Dollywood Tickets with Money-Saving Lodging Packages

Dollywood is offering a great way to purchase your Dollywood tickets and Dollywood’s Splash Country tickets while saving on a variety of area hotels and lodging, including the family-favorite, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. These Dollywood Packages are available in a variety of combinations to fit any traveler's vacation and budget:

• Dollywood Smoky Mountain Splash & Play Combo Package
• Dollywood Vacation Package
• Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Adventure Package
• Dollywood & Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Vacation Package
• Dollywood’s Splash Country & Dixie Stampede Vacation Package
• Dollywood Park Combo & Dixie Stampede Vacation Package
  

These packages are not offered anywhere else but through Dollywood’s website, so make sure you book now and save.

Great Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary Events

The Great Smoky Mountains are celebrating their 75th year as one of America’s National Parks. After being established in 1934, the Smoky Mountains have become the most visited national park with over 9 million visitors annually. Located near the beautiful towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, the park easily provides vacationers with a mix outdoor fun and nearby entertainment, including Pigeon Forge’s Dixie Stampede and Dollywood.

The 800 square mile park - about 187,000 acres – has a lot to explore, which can be done in a variety of ways. Auto touring is a favorite for many, as travelers can see gorgeous views of the wilderness from Highway 441. There are also plenty of scenic stops and flowing creeks to stop at, which make auto touring a relaxing way to take in the beauty of the area. Hiking in the Smoky Mountains is also a favorite activity and with over 150 official hikes to choose from, there is enough to see and do in the Great Smoky Mountains that visitors come again and again to see more of the scenic area.

The 75th Anniversary Smoky Mountain Celebration is presenting several events and activities. Here’s what’s happening this spring:

Music of the Mountains: Scheduled for March 28th, this event celebrates the Appalachian heritage of this area and the music it has created. There are six performances scheduled throughout the day, with the event commencing at 6:30pm with a concert by Jimbo Whaley.

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage: This week-long event takes place April 22 – April 26. It is an educational event geared towards informing participants on the flora, fauna, and culture of the park. Headquartered at Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg, the event costs $20 for one day or $40 for two more days for adults. Students are $10 for one or more day and children 12 and under are free.

National Junior Ranger Day: This free event is scheduled for April 25 from 10am – 2pm. Children and their families can join in a variety of free hands-on activities that range from searching for salamanders to making dinner bells at a blacksmith shop. Historic toy making, weaving, wildflower searches, and other natural and cultural opportunities will be available.

Cosby in the Park: On May 16th, this free event will be open to the public from 10am – 4pm. This event spotlights the Cosby community, which is partially located in the Great Smoky Mountains. This event features old-time mountain music, storytelling, old-fashioned children's games, and traditional crafts.

Great Smoky Mountains Natioanl Park 75th Anniversary – Oconaluftee: Programs and exhibits will celebrate Smoky Mountain life from the Cherokee through park establishment on June 15. A ground breaking ceremony will symbolically initiate the construction of a new Oconaluftee Visitor Center and history cultural museum.

Battle of Burg Hill- Civil War Re-enactment: A Civil War Re-enactment and Living History Days of the historic Battle of Burg Hill, the only Civil War skirmish in Gatlinburg. Join hundreds of Civil War historian re-enactors camping and living as was done in 1865. Witness a battle between the Blue and Gray with infantry and canons. Learn the history and experience Civil War living first hand. Educational and entertaining for the entire family. This event is scheduled for June 19-21.

Dinner on the Grounds: Cliff Dwellers Gallery will host 'Dinner on the Grounds' as a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Park. Dinners will be based on a typical 1930's Sunday noon meal similar to one served at the Wonderland Hotel at that time. Dinner will be served on Sunday, July 5, 2009 from 11 am to 3 pm. The charge will be the 1930's price of 35 cents plus a donation to the Park ($5.00 suggested minimum). This is the last of three 'Dinner on the Grounds.' Celebrate our country's 4th of July & the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Art and Artists of the Great Smoky Mountains, Before and after the Creation of the Park: Art and Artists of the Great Smoky Mountains, before and after the Creation of the Park" is a feature exhibition of the East Tennessee Historical Society. Through historical works of art, the exhibition highlights the lives and artistic expression of artists both local and visiting who chose the Great Smoky Mountains as their subject. This exhibit begins July 20 and runs through October 4.

Stringtime in the Smokies: A musical celebration of Appalachian life with a variety of well-known performers appearing throughout the event. Featured music will include traditional, bluegrass, and Americana styles with an emphasis on bluegrass. Activities for youngsters are on-site, along with excellent festival foods. This event is scheduled for August 14 & 15.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary - Park Rededication: On September 2 a rededication of the park, reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic 1940 park dedication speech, will be enacted at the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap. Special invitations to attend the ceremony will be issued accompanied by live broadcasts at the parks gateway communities.

Mountain Life Festival: Join park staff and volunteers on September 19 as we celebrate the fall harvest. The Mountain Farm Museum will be alive with history as demonstrators provide visitors with a glimpse into the past as they make soap, apple cider, sorghum molasses, hominy, music and more.

97th Cherokee Indian Fair: Scheduled for October 6-10, the fair offers an opening parade, midway, fireworks, traditional Cherokee food and competitions that bring out the best of the Eastern Bands basket makers, carvers, quilters, gardeners and more.

Sawin' in the Smokies: Scheduled for October 17 & 18, this event will be a fall festival centered around a 10 event lumberjack and Chainsaw carving competition with auction. The lumberjack event will also be this years US national "Single Buck"(Cross-Cut saw) Championships. In addition, there will be storytellers, bluegrass music, and arts and crafts vendors. There will be pig catching contests for the children, along with pony rides, a mini petting zoo, and hayrides all weekend. Ample parking, restrooms, and concessions will be available. the event is being held in Wears Valley Tn,in a very nice old field, with the mountains, Cove Mountain in particular, towering above and all around.The chainsaw carvers will carve a "masterpiece" and have 2 seperate hour long "quick carves" with all work to be auctioned for charity.

Thanksgiving in the Mountains: Scheduled for November 23 - 29, Fontana Village will bring together all the food and activities that make Thanksgiving in the mountains what it is with cooking seminars by local chefs using locally grown and indigenous plants and meats, family fun and activities, arts & crafts, music and entertainment throughout the Village.

Festival of Christmas Past: 2009 will mark the 34th annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration, to be held Saturday, December 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center. The event, sponsored in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, is free to the public. The popular event is a celebration of Christmas and winter in the Smokies. Around Christmas time, people gathered in churches, homes, and schools, and many of them celebrated the holiday through music, storytelling, and crafts. The Festival of Christmas Past lets us pause and remember some of these traditions. The festival will include old-time mountain music and Old Harp singing, as well as demonstrations of traditional domestic skills such as the basketmaking, quilting, spinning, and apple butter making.

Holiday Homecoming: On Saturday, December 19, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a holiday homecoming at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and the Mountain Farm Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The visitor center will be decorated for the holiday season and will include an exhibit on Christmas in the mountains in the past. Hot cider and cookies will also be served. The Davis/Queen farmhouse at the Mountain Farm Museum will be open for visitors to walk through and park staff and volunteers will provide demonstrations and music.

For a complete schedule of 75th Anniversary Events, click here.

Dollywood Hosts Thrills in the Hills Event June 6-8

Roller coaster fans from across the country will converge on Dollywood this weekend for the theme park’s first-time Thrills in the Hills event set for June 6-8.

“Thrills in the Hills is a much-anticipated opportunity to see some very unique rides from a really up-close perspective that isn’t ordinarily available,” said Matthew Lambert, American Coaster Enthusiast member, “but everyone is really looking forward to enjoying the warm Southern hospitality that Dollywood is known for.”

Approximately 70 attendees will enjoy exclusive ride time and behind-the-scenes tours of the park’s coasters, including Thunderhead, twice named the best wooden coaster in the world by the Golden Tickets Awards, and Mystery Mine, Theme Park Insider’s 2007 best new themed attraction, as well as the Tennessee Tornado and Blazing Fury. Participants also will see two of Dollywood’s award-winning stage shows—the 2006 international Heartbeat Award winner Dreamland Drive-In and the 2007 winner, The Great American Country Show. The weekend’s itinerary also offers opportunities to visit Dollywood’s Splash Country and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner attraction.

“It’s an honor for Dollywood to host Thrills in the Hills and showcase all that our properties have to offer,” said Pete Owens, Dollywood Public Relations Manager. “We hope Thrills in the Hills is the first of many events of this type.”

Dollywood is a 150-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open nine months a year (March 21, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009), Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region.

Information & Image courtesy of Dollywood

Pigeon Forge Offers Unique Vacation Options for Visitors

This summer, make some Smoky Mountain Memories of your own.

Whether it's checking out Dollywood's new $5 million River Battle or tumbling down the side of a hill (on purpose) at Zorb, Pigeon Forge boasts some of the most unique and varied options for vacationing couples, families and seniors.

"Pigeon Forge has fundamental appeal on multiple levels. It's wonderful for families because of the variety of activities. It's great for people who really love the outdoors because our next door neighbor is the most visited national park in the country. It's fun for couples looking for a getaway because there are places you can hide out," said Tom Adkinson, spokesman for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. "Those three attributes alone, laid on top of the fact that it's accessible and convenient -- only 287 miles from Huntington, W.V. and all interstate highways until you get about 15 minutes from our door."

Most people know about the live entertainment that Pigeon Forge is known for, including more than 70 shows by Lee Greenwood this year and other performers in genres ranging from country to gospel to pop. A varied list of restaurants -- including seafood, steakhouses and hibachis -- grows from year to year. Lodging choices in Pigeon Forge are extraordinary, Adkinson offered, ranging from independent and chain hotels and motels to cabins, chalets and condos that feel private, but still maintain their accessibility to the attractions of the area.

The newest additions to the entertainment scene include family-friendly comedy shows at the Comedy Barn and an elaborate magic and illusion show called "Magic Beyond Belief." A favorite of families is a Biblical production called "The Miracle."

"This is one of the most elaborate shows you'll see anywhere in the country. It's staged in a 1,700 seat theater with a very large cast and 100 animals," Adkinson said. "It's the classic battle of good versus evil and the story of Christ."

A new segment at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede features a charging herd of Texas longhorn steers.

And, speaking of Dolly, Adkinson offered, the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee -- Dollywood -- has been growing and expanding nearly every year.

"This year, they have a new $5 million water adventure ride called 'River Battle,' in which the passengers have access to giant soaker guns they can battle with and pedestrians can get into the act as well," he said. "Last year, they added a $17.5 million roller coaster called 'Mystery Mine' that is one of the best in the country."

One of the most exciting additions to the Smoky Mountains is the New Zealand innovation called "Zorb." More details can be obtained at www.zorb.com/smoky.

"It's a silly Web site, but it's the only way to tell a silly story," Adkinson said. "Imagine a beach ball 11 feet in diameter and suspended inside is a beach ball six feet in diameter. If you climb into the inner ball through the tunnel, they'll push you over the side of the hill."

Never fear, though -- those brave enough to try it are either strapped into a harness called a "Zorbit" or enclosed with five gallons of warm water called a "Zydro." Even Adkinson has his "Zorbonaut" certification.

"It's funny to watch and funnier to do," he explained. "It's the only location in North America. You can't do this anywhere else without flying a long way."

If it's less physical challenges you're seeking and perhaps more mental, take the family to "WonderWorks," billed as "an amusement park for the mind." Featuring more than 150 interactive exhibits contained in 55,000 square feet of space, WonderWorks is easy to spot. It's upside-down.

"The building façade is upside-down and inside are all manner of activities. You can get in a simulator and try to land a space shuttle. You can experience an earthquake and a hurricane. You can ride a 360-degree bicycle that if you pedal fast enough will go completely over the bar," Adkinson explained.

Many Pigeon Forge Web sites recommend getting a free Value Card with discounts on lodging, entertainment, shopping, attractions and restaurants before visiting. Visit www.mypigeonforge.com to secure yours.

"One of the reasons we have 11 million visitors every year is because Pigeon Forge is a place of permanence -- you know you're going to enjoy these mountains, but it's also a place of change because we're evolving every year," Adkinson said.


Information courtesy of The Herald-Dispatch
Image courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

New Activities Spring into Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge is springing into a new season of fun. Consider these new activities the next time you visit:

After a soft opening over the winter, this is the first full season for Zorb Smoky Mountains, that peculiar humans-inside-a-giant-beachball-zooming-down-a-mountainside attraction. It’s the latest extreme sport imported from New Zealand and is the only Zorb site in North America.

Spin City, a high-tech roller skating center with a rink measuring 11,000 square feet, flashy lights and a booming sound system, is ready for its first tourism season. It updates the old question of “how low can you limbo on skates?” to “how low can you limbo on skates while the video camera captures your technique?”

Dollywood plans to board the first passengers on a $5 million water adventure ride called River Battle on March 21. As the willing-to-get-wet adventurers navigate a circular river, they aim powerful soaker guns at other rafts and at more than 100 targets along the way—and spectators have soaker guns, too. For the crowd that wants to stay dry, Dollywood’s special touch for spring is the annual Festival of Nations. This year, the theme is the “World of Dance,” and troupes of colorful folkdancers from Russia, Mexico, Ecuador, the Philippines, Spain and elsewhere will be in the spotlight.

Expected to draw major attention is “Rhythm of the Dance” featuring the stunning stepdancing of Ireland. Festival of Nations runs from March 21-May 5 and includes food, music, crafts and other arts as well as the colorful dancers.

Other entertainment news includes the return of Lee Greenwood, winner of multiple Country Music Association Awards, to the Smokies. He has booked 72 shows (36 dates) at the 600-seat Smith Family Theater. Dates are spread from April through December.

More new entertainers in town include a herd of powerful Texas longhorns, the centerpieces of a show’s new opening segment at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede.

A totally new show, “Swing Time,” plans to open in May. It’s a trip back in time to the Big Band era of the early 1940s in the Grand Majestic Theater (formerly the American Jukebox Theater).
“Pigeon Forge’s ever-changing choice of activities is one of its great appeals. Spring 2008 in Pigeon Forge is a fine change of pace for people who have been cooped up for the winter,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

For more information on Pigeon Forge businesses—hotels, theaters, campgrounds, attractions and restaurants—visit ReservePigeonForge.com.

Information courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

Rare Texas Longhorns Highlight Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede

For the first time in more than a decade, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner attraction introduces a new show segment, highlighted by a rare indoor stampede of Texas longhorn steers.

“I can’t imagine a better way to kick off my Dixie Stampede show than with a herd of amazing longhorns,” Parton said. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I know the audience is going to enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience as much as I do.”

In a feat rarely attempted in an indoor arena, Dixie Stampede treats audiences to a live and up-close experience with a herd of authentic Texas longhorns. Each steer weighs up to 1800 pounds and has a horn length of six to eight feet from tip to tip. Relying on the mystery and magic of the era’s popular folklore, Dixie Stampede opens the show and treats audiences to a dramatic depiction of settlers destined for the wild frontier. Highlights include a poignant appearance by a Native American medicine man who calls on the “Spirit of the Bird,” setting the stage for a spectacular aerialist suspended high above the arena, complete with new music and lighting created especially for the show-stopping performance.

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede is a unique dinner and show experience set in an 85,000-square-foot facility featuring 32 magnificent horses, dozens of cast members, ostrich races, illusions, music and more, all showcased in a friendly rivalry between the North and the South. With seating to accommodate 1,000 guests, the show is highlighted by a four-course meal. Pre-show entertainment includes a 30-minute bluegrass show performed by the house band in the facility’s Carriage Room.

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner and show operates in three locations: Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Branson, Mo.

Press Release and Image courtesy of Dixie Stampede

Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge Pleases Visitors

One of the most exciting dinner shows in the country is right in the middle of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We all want good food and good entertainment when we are on vacation, and Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show surely delivers! You’ll be whisked gently back in time when you are greeted by beautiful southern belles at the front door.

This action-packed show for all ages actually begins 50 minutes before dinner is served, so be sure to come early. You won’t want to miss the Carriage Room Opening Act. These talented entertainers will be sure to get your toes tapping. There is no extra cost for this memorable experience, so go ahead and snack on peanuts or popcorn from the concession stand. Don’t forget a cold drink in a boot-shaped mug. A boot-shaped mug? Sure! It's a great souvenir cup for the kids!

Immediately after the performance of Wild Oats, the doors of the 35,000-square foot arena will open. Enter in for the Dixie Stampede show! The vastness of the arena is rather impressive, and for a show that features so many animals, their presence isn’t noticed, until they appear. All you can smell is the delicious food, which is served shortly after being seated.

The four-course dinner at Dolly's Dixie Stampede begins with a deliciously rich and creamy soup, which you can enjoy as you are surrounded by the dazzling effects of the show’s opening. It’s hard to know where to direct your attention: the food or the show! The dinner is hearty and delicious, with some of the best chicken I’ve tasted in the area. The meal also includes a hickory-smoked barbecue pork loin, buttered corn on the cob, seasoned potatoes, a country biscuit, and coffee, Pepsi or tea with free refills. Vegetarian meals are also available on request. Dinner is made complete by dessert. Make sure you save room!

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show is definitely a lot of entertainment “bang for the buck,” so go ahead and “stampede” on in! Don’t forget to visit the gift shop on your way out and take home more than just a memory.

Information courtesy of American Chronicle

Pigeon Forge is Wintry Blast of Activities

Where in a single weekend can you enjoy millions of holiday lights, take in great shows, play mad scientist, and careen downhill inside a Zorb?

Tennessee's Pigeon Forge, on the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains, offers all the above and more. (But what's a Zorb you say? Stay tuned.)

With Winterfest's holiday productions in high gear, now's a great time to go. More than 5 million lights blaze throughout town with another 3.5 million at nearby Dollywood. This family-oriented place promises a variety of activities for all.

"Getting there is half the fun - with the beautiful drive, especially if you go through Maryville," said Barbara Eubanks from Boaz. "We usually go with friends and always find something in Pigeon Forge that appeals to everyone."

Soon after arrival, make reservations for the evening's Trolley Tour of Lights ($5) to see themed displays at Patriot Park then the "Twelve Days of Christmas," spaced along the Parkway's median at verse-singing intervals. The driver and guide will lead you in a spirited rendition of this old favorite as the trolley advances from one lighted exhibit to the next. Other displays depict nursery rhymes and a blacksmith forging snowflakes. Also, the one-hour ride offers a chance to scope out the main attraction venues and learn about local history.

For a mind-boggling upside-down adventure, visit WonderWorks. At this white-columned mansion, handsome in an eerie way, you can let your imagination run wild. To prepare yourself, try to get in the mind-sets of mad scientists from a mythical research lab in the Bermuda Triangle. Then proceed through the challenges of a gravity-defying chamber, an earthquake, and over-the-top bike ride. For relaxation, how about stretching out on a bed of 3,500 nails?
"This place brings out the kid in you," said Rich Benjamin, whose job it is to play here each day.
Evening visitors can take in the site's Hoot 'n' Holler dinner show, which combines a tasty Italian menu with a vaudeville-style show of music, choreography, magic tricks and homespun humor.

With so many shows in town, whittling down the choices requires strategy. First, decide on a category such as a musical, variety or dinner show. Then break that down further and follow your bliss. Now in its 11th year, "Country Tonite" presents both country hits and favorite Christmas songs. Other options include "Black Bear Jamboree," "Comedy Barn," "Smith Family Theater," "Memories" (which salutes Elvis and other musical legends), and the list goes on.

Dolly Parton's "Dixie Stampede" promises a finger-licking good time with its popular dinner and action-packed show. The award-winning "Smoky Mountain Christmas" puts the spotlight on heart and soul, and Dollywood's "Babes in Toyland" features a surprising finale. The talented cast's team of acrobats lend a "Cirque du Soleil" flavor to the production. Wandering through Dollywood's pedestrian village on a recent goose-down-jacket kind of evening, we experienced the season's first teasing snowflakes. But frosty air just made hot chocolate at Santa's Workshop more tempting.

"This place is not so much about Dolly Parton - it's about her mountain heritage, her values," said Trish McGee, introducing us to a sampler of the 130-acre park's myriad offerings.
Watching blacksmiths, glass blowers, wagon makers and wood carvers at work instills an appreciation for craftsmanship rare in today's high-tech climate. The park's magical light exhibits enhance a stroll past museums, eateries, and attractions.

Dollywood also offers exciting entertainment options. Not for the faint-hearted, the Mystery Mine Coaster, named best new attraction of 2007, features a ride through inky blackness with steep plunges, and The Thunderhead - voted the world's No. 1 wooden roller coaster in 2005 and 2006 - continues to offer its own brand of thrills.

"We enjoy the malls and Christmas shops, the off-the-beaten-path crafts stores, and the shows," Eubanks said, "but my absolutely must-go-to place is Pigeon River Pottery near the Old Mill. There, you can buy one-of-a-kind pieces and even watch pottery being made." Sooner or later, you'll gravitate to the picturesque Old Mill with its large water wheel, a site that demands a photo. Tour the mill, which dates to 1830, and buy a bag of corn meal, flour, grits or pancake mix to take home. Browse around Old Mill Square, and stop by Pottery House Cafe. Here, you can dip into hearty homemade soups and yummy sandwiches with breads made from the mill's stone-ground products. Your meal arrives on serving dishes crafted at the pottery next door.
For a family-style breakfast, lunch or dinner, head to the nearby Old Mill Restaurant. Specialties include sugar-cured ham, chicken and dumplings, fresh vegetables, biscuits, fritters and pecan pies.

If shopping's your favorite sport, Pigeon Forge offers several malls with some 300 outlet stores. At Walden's Landing, patrons can check out the nearby shops or work on their short game at Firehouse Golf.

Need a new Santa, caroler, or other item for the family holiday collection? Maybe an ornament designed for a special occasion? Then head for The Incredible Christmas Place at 2740 Parkway. "We work on building lifetime business relationships," said Carolyn Fairbank-Biggs, chief operating officer of the nation's second-largest Christmas retailer. "People come here to shop, hear the Singing Santa, and then return - year after year."

Also an incredible business success, the Yuletide shop has evolved from a small store, opened in 1986 by Marian and Hurshel Biggs, to occupy its own mall at Bell Tower Square. Just across the Parkway from the store, the owners opened The Inn at Christmas Place in June, a handsome base for guests. And it's not just beginning to look a lot like Christmas here, it always looks that way. Rooms and suites boast amenities galore plus holiday touches. The lobby's 25-foot cuckoo clock entertains visitors hourly with different holiday songs, and a lifesize Nativity scene overlooks the lobby. The hotel showcases original paintings by prominent area artists.
"We're striving to become a four-star property," said Keith Biggs, president of Christmas Place Properties.

If you're a repeat visitor (like 70 percent of folks in town), you'll want to know what else is new.
Enter the Zorb! The Zorb sounds like something from outer space and actually looks like that, too - a giant pearlescent orb. The concept originated in New Zealand, and Pigeon Forge boasts the only Zorb experience in North America.

Just what does a Zorb do? Nothing - except roll down a steep hill with you inside. Gravity provides the suspense, and you supply the screams. If you're a candidate for this unique adventure, visit the Zorb Smoky Mountains site, declare your intention, and choose between a dry run (Zorbit), where you're harnessed in place like an astronaut, or a free-floating wet ride (Zydro) comparable to something you might experience via roller coaster merged with water slide. Should you choose the wet run, you change into a sporty blue Zorb suit of shirt and shorts (which you keep), ascend the hill, and dive (or slither) through a small opening into a ball 11 feet tall. Then relinquish all control.

"Oh, man, this is cool," said Doug Jones from Birmingham, emerging from the Zorb after his wet and wild downhill ride. "My son would love this."

Information courtesy of The Huntsville Times

Getaway for Labor Day in the Smokies

If you’re looking to get away for Labor Day, consider the Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. These two beautiful cities are tucked into the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offer an exciting mix of indoor and outdoor activities. With a splendid selection of shopping, shows, attractions and outdoor adventures, a quick trip to the Smokies is the perfect way to enjoy your time away from work.

When you first arrive in Tennessee, you’ll notice the rolling mountains and blue skies that go on forever. You’ll also notice several signs pointing your way to shows like the Dixie Stampede, Country Tonite and Fiddlers Feast. Shows in Pigeon Forge are very popular, and with good reason. Whether you enjoy dinner and a show, a little bit of rock ‘n roll or a bit of country, there is a show to fit your style. New additions to the show line-up include Legends of China, Shaolin Kung Fu and Mulan. These Chinese productions have quickly made a name for them selves and continually amaze guests with their acrobatics, showmanship and quality productions.

Attractions in Pigeon Forge offer a mix of fast paced excitement and interesting exhibits. For those looking for speed this Labor Day, visit Lazerport Funcenter, NASCAR Speedpark and Speed Zone Go-Kart Tracks. Be sure to visit Dinosaur Walk Museum, Helicopter Whirl’d Adventures and RainForest Adventures for an inside peek into these exciting worlds. A more leisurely way to experience the area is by visiting Scenic Helicopter Tours. This Pigeon Forge attraction takes visitors up, up and away, where they soar above the clouds to beautiful areas such as Douglas Lake and the Foothills.

Gatlinburg is home to a myriad of Ripley’s Attractions, including Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium, Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini-Golf, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Aquarium and Ripley’s Moving Theater. These exceptional attractions offer a little bit of something for everyone, and something no one will want to miss. Other things to do in Gatlinburg include playing a round of golf at Bent Creek Golf Course and a thrilling white water rafting adventure, courtesy of Appalachian Outdoors.

With the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, you’ll certainly want to explore your beautiful surroundings. Several outdoor activities and scenic spots are at your doorstep, including Clingman’s Dome, Laurel Falls, Newfound Gap Overlook, Cades Cove and Grotto Falls. You can also go horseback riding in the Smokies and visit historic homesteads and mills.

Of course, when you get away for Labor Day it’s important to have a nice place to stay. With two great cities so close together, you’ll have your options wide open. Lodging in Pigeon Forge and lodging in Gatlinburg provide quality yet affordable facilities. There are motels, hotels, cabins and condominiums to choose from. Cove Mountain Cabins, Shular Inn, RiverStone Resort, Rocky Top Village Inn, Park Place Condominiums, Comfort Inn on the River and Quality Inn are just a few of the places to stay in the Smokies.

This Labor Day Weekend, treat your self to something a little bit country and a little bit city. With such a great combination of activities to choose from, you’ll be glad you visited the Gateway to the Smoky Mountains for your Labor Day Getaway!