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TN Smoky Towns »
Cosby, TN NC Smoky Towns »
Ashville, NC |
To be perfectly honest, I'm only familiar with a few of the towns listed to the left. And of those, I'll speak plainly about them below. As for the rest, you'll have to explore them for yourself. If you're looking to visit, move, explore, or just trying to get to know the area a little better, click on the links to the left. They'll take you the Chamber of Commerce pages for those towns, and from there, you can get visitor information. Otherwise, read on for a brief overview of some of the Smoky Mountain gateway communities and surrounding towns. |
Pigeon Forge is the primary gateway community on the Tennessee side of the Smokys. If ever there was a town that screamed "TOURIST TRAP," it's Pigeon Forge, TN! Bears, injuns, and mountain stuff in every store... and there's hundreds of them. If one hits the strip in a car at the wrong time, a two mile jaunt can remind the most jaded driver of rush hour in any major metropolitan area.
And yet, the locals are some the nicest people around, and in the off-peak hours, Pigeon Forge has a small, southern town feel. Depending on the direction of travel, one is only minutes away from small town life in the Appalachians. With a backdrop like the Smokys, it's easy to understand how the people of Pigeon Forge can call it home.
Dollywood, The Comedy Barn, Dixie Stampede, Louise Mandrell Theater... it's all here. Of course, there's dining, lodging, tons of smaller attractions, and shopping. If one is seeking the Smoky "tourist experience," then Pigeon Forge is the place to get it.