I Drove Through Tennessee Mountain Towns: Gatlinburg And Pigeon Forge.
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- So in today’s video, we’re going to take a tour from downtown Knoxville, through the Great Smoky Mountains and into two very unique mountain towns - Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee.
As we leave downtown we’ll cross through some mountain passes on our way into Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It’s Saturday, November 9 at noon.
We were lucky, as the leaves seemed to be at their autumn peaks.
If I were to make a comparison to these mountain towns to other places I’ve been, I’d say Pigeon Forge is like Myrtle Beach South Carolina, but in the mountains. Pigeon Forge is basically a huge tourist trap destination.
All of Route 321 here in the far eastern corner of Tennessee crosses a big valley between mountain passes as you cross into western North Carolina and north Georgia along the Great Smoky Mountain ridges.
So we’re right in the middle of the mountains, but there’s a TON of stuff going on.
Pigeon Forge identifies as a vacation area more than a community. It’s also home to Dollywood, an amusement park founded by country crooner Dolly Parton. The place is packed full of restaurants, theme parks, mini golf, museums, shopping, arcades and other points of interest.
Now, to get to Gatlinburg, you can continue along Route 321 and you’d be there in 15 minutes. However, as you can see, traffic is a real pain. It was Veterans Day weekend, the height of fall colors, and happened to be a beautiful weekend, weather wise, with temps in the low 70s. So, everyone else wanted to get up here, too.
To avoid the crowd, we decided to take a detour over a small mountain pass into Gatlinburg, a drive that took about 15 minutes. But we were glad we did, as we came over the top of the ridge, which afforded a very unique perspective on what Gatlinburg looks like from the top of the ridge.
It may not look like it from here, but there’s a TON of people down there.
This is Gatlinburg proper. It’s not always this busy, but between June and December it is, especially on weekends. If Pigeon Forge 15 miles behind us was Myrtle Beach, this is definitely Bourbon Street. Although Gatlinburg is 1000% safer and cleaner than most Louisiana cities I’ve been to.
Gatlinburg might be many people’s favorite mountain town of all. It sits at the base of the road to the end of the Appalachian Mountains - about three hours from here is the end of the Appalachian Mountains and only 4 hours away is Atlanta.
Gatlinburg, like Pigeon Forge is only home to around 4,000 permanent residents.
There’s skiing nearby, too. Basically, if you can think of something fun you’d want to do, it’s here in Gatlinburg. Except surfing. There’s no ocean nearby.
Link to worst part of Knoxville video: • I Drove Through The Wo...
Link to downtown Knoxville tour video: • I Drove Through Knoxvi...
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I used to go to Gatlinburg so much that I learned every backroad and lived more like a local than a tourist. Further out there are restaurants and grocery stores with no tourists. The scenery is magnificent, always worth the trip.
If you've never been to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinbury TN. you've missed a lovely place and a place you'll never forget as long as you live. My wife and I went almost every year and I will never forget those days. Wonderful people and good placeds to eat and enjoy your self because you could travel the world over and never find a place like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge TN. I've traviled North , South. East and West but Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are the best. God Bless Tennessee.
From a life long hillbilly THANK YOU!!!!
Love driving up to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. Very touristy but so fun and beautiful.
When you go here every year it’s awesome to see this video. Good video
you're lucky to be able to visit this regularly.
I go every year as well! It's a really amazing sight to see
Myfith Chin same here, I go with my grandparents mostly yearly
I know this is old but I’m going to Tennessee March 3, I can’t wait it looks so beautiful!
The smokies are truly majestic! Glad I'm just twenty minutes away. You need videos of the falls, streams and picnic areas deep in the mountains.
yeah that would be nice. i've seen it - just wasn't recording back then!
hey where do u live j
@@jonathankrick7448 knoxville
@@JShirk-po8ln hey do u like the vols
@@jonathankrick7448 been hard lately but die hard Vols fan!
This background music is relaxing !! Great video, I rely on these to virtually visit places I'll never probably actually visit!
You aren't missing anything by not going to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, that's for sure. The National Park, on the other hand, is amazing.
It's funny, when I was a young girl in the later 60's, you weren't allowed to drive your car through Gatlinburg unless you lived there. You had to park in a lot and walk around. But it wasn't quite as big then as now. You've done a wonderful job here. You've made it look wonderful!
I'm glad you did a video of pigeon forge and Gatlinburg TN? Both are my favorite places to go? It's a 2 hour drive from where I live? Franklin NC.
hey im in raleigh we're neighbors?
As someone who I knew that was from these parts would say "I'm fixin' on havin' a hootenanny!"
Hee haaaaaaw
@@NickJohnson ...and a rootin' tootin' hooten!
I highly recommend visiting Cades Cove.
My favorite!
Beautiful. Was there about 5 years ago.
Awesome video! One of the best I´ve ever seen. Keep it up!
haha it wasnt that good come on now.
Love these towns. My family and i live in Raleigh NC but we vacation twice a year in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg once in the spring once in the fall. Been going now for 8 yrs straight
Thank you, this was beautiful - no one ever shows these towns!
I live in Tennessee and yes it’s always busy there
I learned the mountain towns that I used to visit every weekend in the 70s have changed for the worse. The only thing that remotely looks fam about Gat is the Space Needle. Trees used to come almost all the way to the street, now it is a giant pedway.
If you still want that quiet feel, consider the Townsend Tennessee entrance to the park instead. Comes into the park not far from Cades Cove.
I was there in July of 2019. I so enjoy going to Gatlinburg... One of my favorite places to visit! The air quality there is even different. Waiting to visit again sometime next year, Most High will...
it was soooo crowded the day i went. man o man.
Nick Johnson it’s always like that especially in the summer months.
It is ashamed what Pigeon Forge has become. However, I love the surround area, especially for motorcycling.
Wat do you mean? Why?
Nicole Bermudez too commercialized
Nicole Bermudez a beautiful mountain with junk joints on both sides
It looks hideous. Shame, but there's clearly a lot of beauty around.
Great video I have never heard of these two small towns what beautiful places to visit I’m in Washington State must go and visit East of Mississippi lots of history
Right next to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Don't go in the summer, usually between 9 to 11 million people visit. Spring and Fall are best.
Smoky Mountains National Park is a beautiful place. Gatlinburg is very expensive but my kids loved it there
Love videos like this, that is how I found Bar Harbor Maine. Good job Nick 👍
Theres a reason that we get over 11 million people a year to Gatlinburg and over 9 million a year to Pigeon Forge. 😊😊😊 ❤
What a nice video! Beautiful scenery....
Sure looks like they're packed in like sardines! It looks like you could have walked faster than driving in the car...so much for progress. I sure hope they left some trees standing! Thanks for sharing Nick!
it was packed!
Donna B the trees and foliage are coming back. I go every year and as of September 2019 you have to really look to see any damage.
@@NickJohnson I think you for not bashing TN like some other RUclips channel
Great to see the American flag flown so widely in Gatlinburg
I learned to not go there on a holiday weekend. Too many cars and too many people.
When you drove around Gatlinburg slowly...it's so beautiful, that's how you(people)should drive when you're giving city or town tour.
Indeed
I love this area,went on vacation there back in 2011,wanna go back soom
Driving through cross countries videos are simply great cause you get to see different places which you haven't seen. Amazing video Nick keep em coming.👍👍
I went to Dollywood and enjoyed it, but I want to visit Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg the next time. I also, want to rent a cabin in the mountains. I love Tennesse.
What beautiful towns & great sceneries views & lovely homes..Good video👍🏔️🏤🏫🏞️🏚️
I’m from Texas and i went 2 months ago to these magestic places and get in love 😍
Nicholas, what a great video!!! I haven't been to Gatlinburg since I was a small tot growing up in the worlds most despicable place, Memphis, Tennessee. I would suggest you cross the state line into Asheville, North Carolina. When I retired from Federal Express, I almost retired there. Once you get Louisiana into your soul, it is hard to ever think of leaving here. Memphis is like Johannesburg, South Africa, where I just came home from, a run down slum.
I have went to all those places. I was just in Asheville a month ago I love it there!
Love the Smokies. Townsend is very nice and absolutely love Cades Cove.
I need to see those too!
Nick Johnson if you like kayaking and tubing you can do all day rentals. If you like hiking Abrams fall trail in Cades Cove is gorgeous. Cades Coves has lots of wildlife deer and bear are observed frequently. Happy travels
Thanks for the post. I'm thinking of relocating from the Northeast to the Knoxville / Chattanooga area. Don't worry, I'm not a liberal...
Dennis, I just bought a condo in Sevierville. It's amazing. Beautiful. The people are so nice and respectful. Even the fast food employees are like this! Definably not a liberal area👍👍
Chattanooga born and raised. Glad you're not liberal.
Those two towns are a perfect example of how tourism and particularly in this case the over commercialization and traffic has destroyed something beautiful. Coming out of the National Park, you hit traffic and it goes for what seems like 30 miles.
Rod runs in September are super busy. Getting stuck in traffic has kept me from visiting as much as I did when I was younger. Tanger outlet mall is as far as I go. Cades Cove is packed too. We seen bear cubs the last couple times we went. Do not get close to them!
Gotta love that J walking dude crossing against the light hahaha. Like driving through that town isn't bad enough already.
hey when it's that crowded you just do what you want!
There is no jay walking laws in gatlinburg as long as you are in the crosswalks. Pedestrians have the right of way. If you are brave enough
Yes I live in TN and don’t like the state AT ALL, but those 2 places Pidgeon Forge and Gatlinburg are extremely gorgeous- like paintings on a postcard.
Yes
I love the towns. They are clean and beautiful. I also love the cars that drive across the streets. Great video
Are you high?
I always wait for your video and never disappointed. Thanks
Just FYI for any potential visitors...... At 6:53, to the right, you see Little Bear Winery. To the right of that sign is the Mountain Edge Grill sign. It's upstairs and we've NEVER had to wait. Good food!! I live in Knoxville and used to go up there all the time. But now there are so many people I don't get up there very often. But then again Knoxville is getting crowded too!😵💫
I used to go to the area quite often when I lived in Johnson City. It's definitely a nice vacation destination.
Im on JC right now. Not driving, waiting on someone, but i live in Jonesborough....
What's Johnson city like?
@@NickJohnson I was going to move to Knoxville or Marysville to be close to the GSM's but glad I choose the non-tourist Johnson city - very laid back town with all the amenities and no crime like it's surrounding towns or not as much - low cost of living
@@NickJohnson as a former native long islander, its not a city per se, reminds me of older downtowns on LI that are being revitalized. Im older now, my priorities have changed, but it has enough of everything I need i.e. shopping, restaurants, entertainment, on a smaller scale of what im typically used to. Im not sure if it's enough to appeal to a younger population, but im sure having ETSU in its midst helps the downtown in maintaining a youthful and diverse vibe. The people are friendly everywhere.
I liked it there. It had a pretty good mix of people and things to do for a place of it's size. I miss the cost of living for sure.
The Smokies Mts is favorite place to vacation (6 1/2 hr drive) , then I drove out to Estes Park,Co , Rocky Mt National Park and It was incredible!! The Smokies are just small hills to them
I love Estes Park
But tennesse is nicer..not so many tards
I love Gatlinburg and pigeon forge area we went on a few family vacations here and we loved it it feels great being in the mountains and having plenty of places to shop and eat and hike bike or zipline In the mountains.
To dang crowded. I like the towns, but every time I go, I can't wait to leave.
Great job man. Really well done. I don't know how much $ you save me from having to go visit a place to find out about it. I think your videos are replenishing America's gasoline reserves, lol.
One of my best friends growing up (Bobby smiley). His aunt lived in downtown Gatlinburg just one block from that lookout tower in the middle of town.
Another Gem Nick
I have been to BOTH Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. They're a couple of small towns that are infested with tourists! I ought to know. I've been one of those tourists. I went to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge on May 26, 1999, and again on May 10, 2002. I've been to Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg on May 18, 2001. Of course, I have to go through Sevierville, the seat of Sevier County, in order to go to these two tourist-infested mountain towns.
Love these places. Hatfield and McCoy is great.
Love the Smoky Mountains area. Pigeon Forge at Gatlinburg are very "touristy", but fun in small doses in between days of hiking in the mountains. Can't wait to go back in October. In all honesty, I don't think it would be as enjoyable in the summer due to the massive tourist traffic (human and auto), so I will continue to visit in the fall.
I was in Pigeon Forge a couple of years ago and went to the Dixie Stampede dinner theater. They do 3 shows a day at an average ticket price of $59 with a seating capacity of over 1100. They regularly sell out shows, so each day can bring in over $200,000. Of course there are souvenir photos, T shirts, ..... all of them costing extra.
did someone get stampeded?
I’ve been to Dixie Stampede but not in Pigeon Forge the one in Branson.
Hey Nick and mappy 😃😃
VAITHY! Hope you're well.
Thank you thank you very much Mr Nick Johnson
A very good presentation
map video music and narration. .wow good combination . thanks
Have you ever thought about wanting to set up a company here or in another town ..not big but many
in all over the state..thank you sir
Glad you liked it ;) hope you learned something!
Wow. So many people. Its like a big outdoor mall? Seems strange that so many would want to go there.
It's a cool place but tooooooo crowded most of the time
I am jumping over my head I have said the same thing you have said to others that Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are the versions of Myrtle Beach but in the mountains I have told so many friends that you would not believe that to come and visit that's the comparison I have gotten from this location I'm laughing like crazy
Haha awesome we are on the same page!!
Been there. Also been to Myrtle beach and New York city. Never had a desire to go back. Just not into crowds.
just got back from there I was cutting a right away for some new homes...thanks for sharing
Welcome
I was thinking of going there next Christmas but after your video I'll pass.
I've visited both several times even before moving to Knoxville area in 2019. Pigeon Forge has many attractions but each with it's own parking. It isn't pedestrian friendly.
Gatlinburg is build for walking. It is more compressed and has tons of stuff for all ages. Plus there is a tram bus if you get too worn-out to walk.
Both are family friendly.
Im gonna move to Tennessee now 😃
1:28
Its actually named for a forge that used to be in the area in the old days.
They called it the Pigeon River/Forge because pigeons always stopped here during their migration process.
If you were in Gatlinburg in mid-July, you might've witnessed a bar fight between a man and his son. Apparently the argument was about what the man named his son...
Was it a boy named Sue?
Lmao that's funny
We actually usually stay at the Best Western on the outskirts in Kodak/Seveirville, and then make our way into Pigeon Forge just to eat. We also take the back way into Gatlinburg as well. Great video...good use of music as well! 👍
Beautiful country
I was there two days ago it was 70 in February it was love and not packed
Not to sound rude but in the video you say that the Appalachian Mountains end in Georgia (at least that's where you pointed at), but don't they actually end in Alabama? Not that it's really important though. I lived in north Alabama and although the mountains aren't huge we still have pretty nice mountains. Nice video also, Gatlinburg is really beautiful but seems a bit crammed from the tourism.
I think they officially end in Georgia. Anyways yes it was really crowded and not fun for relaxing. And it's way out in the middle of the mountains too!
I think lookout mountain end in Alabama. Lookout mountain is in Tennessee Georgia and Alabama.
Dollywood is amazing I went in 2018 for my birthday in April and every since then made it a tradition to go every year to celebrate my birthday. Great job on this video keep up the good work and if you get a chance please do Fontana Lake NC on your travels.
For anyone thinking of visiting, here's some things to do in Gatlinburg: visit the Ripley's Aquarium, it's awesome. Then drive a little ways outside of Gatlinburg and go to the Smokey Mountains National Park (Elkmont has a nice campground and some beautiful stuff to see).
Avoid Pigeon Forge at all costs, it's a nightmare.
it can be crowded there for sure. when's the best time of year to visit pigeon forge Sam?
@@NickJohnson as a general rule of thumb, you want to visit any time when school is in session. Weekdays are better too, obviously.
The amount of traffic is actually creating a lot of problems for Pigeon Forge since they don't have the infrastructure to support it. They're planning to build several parking garages, alter the traffic lights and add a pedestrian bridge. There's also a lack of housing, which is problematic for all the businesses. No housing means no new employees.
My husband and I want to retire in East Tennessee. I am an Artist and my husband is a dog trainer. 🌻😎
1:58
Before Dolly Parton purchased just over 50% of the existing theme park, Silver Dollar City
was called Goldrush Junction.
Before that, it was called Rebel Railroad.
do you remember Porpoise Island?
I loved this area when visiting. If anyone lives in this area or near vicinity could you tell me if it’s a good and safe place to move?
I would love to leave Chicago and move here.
wild Nick you should travel a lot all over the place it's a pretty nice to do obviously because your need your RUclips channel is doing well which I'm glad it is that's great that help support with the money wise with the subscribers in the views by the way is having a RUclips channel of your only line of of work? If so that's pretty cool
it's just a hobby for now :)
@@NickJohnson cool what is your main line of work??
Hmm..... a vid where my home town was mentioned and a different vid of my fave place in the US?
Deaf gonna sub
where's your favorite place?
Nick Johnson either pigeon forge or gatlinburg. Go there every year
I was in Gatlinburg. In mid July. I'd just got in and my throat was dry, so I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew. In an old saloon, on a street of mud, at a corner table dealin' stud... wait, did that happen to me or to Johnny Cash?
Both!
If you ever go to pigeon forge go to magiquest it's awesome
Love Your Videos
My wife's childhood place to visit
Next time drive the Tail of the Dragon and just send it! Tell Mappy to hold on tight, though.
Wheeeeeee!
Wonderful viedo what was name of first song when the video started?
Beautiful place I’d live there
I know they just got dumped on too. So pretty.
Show the beautiful cabin homes and the park.
Of course the Great Smokie Mountain National Park is next door.
i thought you were drove on the left side hahaha
Dam. You went low busy day lol
You should come through Nashville
Please drive through Laurel Iowa next time.
ok!
Actually, the traffic is not as bad as when I was down there. Wish I was back there.
it was just a really nice day i guess!
Looks like a nice drive, except for the traffic. The south is like a different world, I get out as fast as I can.Yikes.
You mean you want to leave the south?
Nick Johnson I’m a yankee, I only go for visits.
Its called manners, I know I know its foreign to people up north.
Welcome to my area buddy. This is what I call the land of God, Guns, and Trump.
You aren't wrong even tho not everyone feels like that
Never go to Gatlinburg on a fall weekend...unless you like crowds and stop and go traffic.
I know i did once
That’s one of my favorite places
Very nice
Where are the coolest temps in the summer in TN? We are looking for a place to spend our summers out of the heat.
Tennessee is all around hot during the summer normally in the 80s and 90s. If you want to escape the heat during the summer you need to go up high in the mountains
@@tomp6685 well we are coming from 110 degree nevada summers. Where is high in the mountains there?
@@BJJandBS one thing to keep in mind is that the south is very humid so that can make it feel even hotter. All the towns in Eastern Tennessee are in the valleys around 1200 ft or so and that's not high enough to feel relief so what a lot of people do is that they will go hiking or have picnics in the areas that are above 5000 ft.
@@tomp6685 yes, the humidity will just about kill someone who is not used to it. It's like breathing underwater LOL
I’ve been to gatlinburg and pigeon force for vacation
Did you like it? Summers are brutal traffic wise. I haven't done Dollywood yet.
Did a business trip here it was very nice and different
I went there last summer!
Did you like it?
Yes, all the attractions I went to were awesome, and I liked hiking the smokies
I think poor planning of pedestrian traffic in downtown Gatlinburg adds alot to the gridlock. That main thoroughfare should be more segmented into shorter blocks and corners for pedestrians to cross the road instead of them barreling through all over the place.. if i was behind that white sedan at the end of the video, i wouldve lost my mind, you have the patience of a saint!