In North Georgia we are only two to three hours away from Pigeon Forge, TN. The beauty is that the drive north has very little traffic and the scenery is lovely. So, we decided to head north for a day trip to Dollywood!
No doubt you remember the tragic fires in the Great Smoky Mountains at the end of 2016. The fires caused evacuations and some of the attractions in the area were temporarily closed. A lot of people thought that the damage caused long term shut downs and permanent damage to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, but you can't keep a good town down! Both areas are up and running and heading into the Fall and Christmas seasons with beauty that only the mountains can provide. In fact, Dollywood is better than ever and has something brand new for Fall of 2017 - Great Pumpkin Luminights! There will be thousands of carved and illuminated pumpkins throughout Timber Canyon. This is the largest addition ever made to Dollywood's Fall Festival. The 2017 season dates are September 29-October 28. I can't wait to get some Candy Corn Cotton Candy and Pumpkin Funnel Cakes!! Best of all- if you have little ones that don't always enjoy the haunted houses and creepy monsters jumping out from every corner- this event is a Fall Festival with no scary surprises around. There is something for the whole family at Dollywood - including some of the biggest names in Southern gospel that will take to stages throughout the park during the festival.
Recently, Dolly Parton shared her plans about her upcoming seasonal events and revealed that she "loves the fall in the Great Smoky Mountains. It truly is one of my favorite times of year to come home. God's coloring book in full display with the Great Smoky Mountains painted in reds and golds." If you are looking for a great family friendly day trip (or overnighter), Dollywood is just a short drive from our Macaroni Kid Blue Ridge area. It is worth the drive and does not disappoint!
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