By Rosalyn Queen
Now that we are in the woes of a hot summer, everyone is thinking of a nice vacation get away. This past week I found just the place to go.
My granddaughter,Holli got married last week and she chose to get married at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee? IT IS LOCATED IN THE Smoky Mountains and is adjacent to Gatlinburg and Sevierville. As we drove there I thought this is the place for couples with children to go, close to home and affordable.
You know I always encourage you to travel in West Virginia, especially for weekends but if you have done that and want to get away then here is a suggestion. First let’s talk about rooms. We stayed at Pigeon River Inn in Pigeon Forge. The cost was about $150 a night for a room with two beds and included a hot breakfast. It was very clean, had a balcony and a pool. It was within walking distance of many attractions. There is a trolley for getting around so you can leave the car at the motel. Dollywood is very close and a trip there is suggested. There are many museums and sporting activities such as rafting, golfing, hiking and touring the Smoky Mountains, where our family cited two bears in their front yard prior to our arrival. Between the three cities, you will never be able to partake of all the activities in one week. You know I have been all over the world and my childhood returns when I see a merry go round or a Ferris wheel. I think that the largest Ferris Wheel is located here in Pigeon Forge. I did not ride it but I understand that each seat is enclosed in Glass and is air conditioned, it really was the biggest one I have seen. There is plenty of good local food as well as chain restaurants .
Leaving from Clarksburg it is a six and one half hour drive. On our trip gas was about twenty cents cheaper than here. If I figure correctly this trip would cost less than half for a family of four than going to the Florida theme parks. You could enjoy a beautiful drive and not have to fight an airport.Believe me the kids will have a great time
By the way, call your local AAA for maps and brochures.
Just a post note. The wedding was beautiful. It was outdoors with the beautiful Smokies as a backdrop to the ceremony.
Our Appalachian Forests are beautiful. But the Smokies have a beauty of their own and I can just imagine how they look covered in snow.
A reminder that the Clarksburg Farmers Market has great vendors with wonderful produce. I just cannot get enough of those tomatoes. They are located in Tractor Supply parking lot every Saturday morning.
Take care, stay healthy and cool and until next week “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”