Tennessee Aquarium (Huntsville, Gadsden, Madison: hotels, houses, live in)

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by mm42

Pigeon Forge is nothing but tourist trap sprawl. Gatlinburg is better simply because it is geographically constrained, but also is overrun with tourist kitsch.

The Smokies are a great place to visit. Gatlinburg is the most convenient to the park unless you want to camp in the park or hike up to Le Conte Lodge. We usually stay in a condo in Gatlinburg (stay as close to the park entrance as possible) or rent a house in the Townsend or Maggie Valley areas.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge make me sick to my stomach, literally. It is the tackiest, gaudiest tourist trap ever created. That said, the Smoky Mtns are wonderful. If you are a nature lover, there is a plethora of stuff to see/do.

[Southlander]

Gatlinburg just makes me mad. I had not been to Gat/Pig in a long time, and we drove through it last September on our way back from family reunion. All the gaudy "stuff" in Pigeon Forge was...interesting. I wouldn't mind going back to gawk - I usually love tacky tourist stuff!

But as far as the mountains...the Blue Ridge Mountains, IMHO, are more spectacular...if you know where to go. My family is from the Spruce Pine, NC area, so that's where we go for our mountain fix. If we can stand the family!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Gatlinburg just makes me mad. I had not been to Gat/Pig in a long time, and we drove through it last September on our way back from family reunion. All the gaudy "stuff" in Pigeon Forge was...interesting.

Originally Posted by rnc76

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge make me sick to my stomach, literally. It is the tackiest, gaudiest tourist trap ever created.

Originally Posted by mm42

Pigeon Forge is nothing but tourist trap sprawl. Gatlinburg is better simply because it is geographically constrained, but also is overrun with tourist kitsch.

Good info; I've never been out there. Sounds like it isn't worth it.

[caution]

We go down to the Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart when we want to see unruly kids and large people wearing tight-fitting, bright clothes with butt packs. That's about 20 minutes from our place.

[gsp4ever]

Originally Posted by Charles

Good info; I've never been out there. Sounds like it isn't worth it.

I think if you've never been there then it is worth going one time to see it. Many would consider it a tacky, tourist trap but there are literally thousands of people who love it and go there every year for vacations. I think it would be a shame to never go because of a few opinions on a message board of people who have probably been there but may have different tastes for whatever reason.

Charles, your kids would probably LOVE it. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are simply full of things for kids to see and do. It's an easy weekend trip and then you can see for yourself if you want to go back.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Charles

Good info; I've never been out there. Sounds like it isn't worth it.

I would take these reviews with grains of salt. Pigeon Forge has it's share of tacky, touristy attractions, but also has anything for anyone's taste. There's Dollywood Theme Park, which is actually surprisingly very tasteful and has many exciting thrill rides and is a beautiful theme park. There are so many countless things to do for fun in Pigeon Forge.
As for Gatlinburg, it is tucked away in the mountains and has some very cozy and quaint areas--with tons of things to do also. It's a beautiful area.
The one big negative I can't stand, and unfortunately goes along with any well-known and visited tourist area, are the huge crowds and traffic.

But if you have an opportunity, definitely visit and see what you think. I bet you'd be pleasantly surprised overall.

[Charles]

Sounds like I should check it out but have a plan B just in case, like Smoky Mountains park.

[zenjenn]

Charles, from where you live in Hampton Cove, Chattanooga is less than 2 hours, easy.

Absolutely! We haven't been to Chattanooga yet, but we've taken a couple road trips and we're usually passing Chattanooga around the 90 minute mark.

I have many friends who like the aquarium so much they are members, and take a trip to Chattanooga a few times a year.

[gsp4ever]

Originally Posted by Charles

Sounds like I should check it out but have a plan B just in case, like Smoky Mountains park.

Well, Great Smoky Mountains NP is *right* there (Gatlinburg is the gateway town) so you could technically consider it as plan B but really you could visit all (Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, GSMNP) in a long weekend. The park has no entrance fee. I think Dollywood would take a full day (especially with the admission $$ you pay) but I haven't been there in some number of years. Go to the tripadvisor website if you want to plan a trip.

Things to really plan for are the time change to Eastern (especially if you are driving after work one evening) and the traffic. Traffic can be crazy but there are some "back roads" that you can use.

[Huntsvegas29]

I love chattanooga.. When I go to the aquarium I usually make a weekend out of it. Chattanooga converted it's old rail station into a hotel Chattanooga Choo Choo where you can spend the night in one of the old trains...They have regular rooms as well with a couple decent restaraunts on site. Also, there is free public transit that runs from the hotel through downtown stopping at the aquarium.