Vacations To Go

Dolly and Smoky

Day 1 Saturday, September 19th

  • 12:40 p.m. Depart:
    Depart: Spokane
  • Do:
    Do: Seats
  • 8:06 p.m. Arrive:
    Arrive: Atlanta
  • 10:50 p.m. Depart:
    Depart: Atlanta
  • 11:47 p.m. Arrive:
    Arrive: Knoxville, TN
  • Shuttle to hotel
  • Lodge:
    Lodge: Comfort Suites $139
    140 Cusick Rd, Alcoa, TN
    (2 Queens, AC, Fridge, Microwave

Day 2 Sunday, September 20th

  • Do:
    Do: Hot breakfast
  • 9:00 a.m.
    Shuttle back to airport to rent car
  • 10:00 a.m. Depart:
    Depart: Airport
  • (Go south on Hwy 129. Turn left on Hwy 35. Go left on Hwy 321.)
  • 25 min See:
    See: Blount County Historical Swinging Bridge
    Miles: 17.9
    17.9
  • 55 min
    (Continue on Hwy 321. Go straight ahead on Lamar Alexander Pkwy. It will becomeTownsend Entrance Rd. Go right on Laurel Creek Rd, then Cades Cove Loop Rd.)
    Miles: 19.4
    19.4
  • Cades Cove Visitor Center (9-5)
  • Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill
  • Becky Cable House
  • John P Cable Corn Crib
  • John P Cable Drive Thru Barn
  • (Continue the Cades Cove Loop Rd.)
  • 33 min
    Dan Lawson Cabin -right side
    Miles: 1.4
    1.4
  • 2 min
    Tipton Place-right side
    Miles: .6
    .6
  • 3 min
    Carter Shield Cabin
    Miles: .9
    .9
  • (Turn right on Laurel Creek Rd. Go left on Townsend Entrance Rd. It will become Lamar Alexander Pkwy. Go right on Hwy 321/73. turn right on McGill St. Turn right on Florence Dr. On the left side.)
  • 56 min
    Pigeon Forge
    Miles: 26.5
    26.5
  • Lodge:
    Lodge: Red Roof Inn & Suites Pigeon Forge Pkwy $159
    2826 Parkway
    (2 queens, breakfast, micro, fridge, AC)

Day 3 Monday, September 21st

  • 9:30 a.m. Depart:
    Depart: Hotel
  • (Turn righton Great Smoky Mountains Pkwy. Go left on Jake Thomas Rd. Turn right on Veterans Blvd/Hwy 449. Go left on McCarter Hollow Rd. Loope around into the parking lot.)
  • 10:00 a.m. See:
    See: Dollywood (10-9) $124.99/$114.99 Sr 2 day pass
    Flower and Food Festival
    Miles: 4.9
    4.9
  • 9:30 p.m. Depart:
    Depart: Park
  • (Go out of the parking lot and turn right on Dollywood Parks Blvd. Go left on McCarter Hollow Rd. Turn right on Veterans Blvd and left on Jake Thomas Rd. Go right on on Great Smoky Mtn Pkwy. At the light go left and and left again to the hotel.)
  • Red Roof Inn & Suites Pigeon Forge Pkwy $159
    2826 Parkway
    (2 queens, breakfast, micro, fridge, AC)

Day 4 Tuesday, September 22nd

  • 9:30 a.m. Depart:
    Depart: Hotel
  • (Turn righton Great Smoky Mountains Pkwy. Go left on Jake Thomas Rd. Turn right on Veterans Blvd/Hwy 449. Go left on McCarter Hollow Rd. Loope around into the parking lot.)
  • 10:00 a.m. See:
    See: Dollywood (10-9) $124.99/$114.99 Sr 2 day pass
    Flower and Food Festival
    Miles: 4.9
    4.9
  • Depart:
    Depart: Park
  • (Go out of the parking lot. Turn right on Dollywood Parks Blvd. Go left on McCarter Hollow Rd. Left again on Hwy 449. Go left on Hwy 321. Go right on Hwy 441. Park on the right side.)
  • 38 min Arrive:
    Arrive: Gatlinburg, TN
    Miles: 12.7
    12.7
  • See:
    See: Shops
  • Crusin The Past (10-9)
  • Mountain Mall (10-10)
  • Pepper Palace (10-8)
  • Papaw's Sweet Tooth (10-9:30)
  • God's World gift shop
  • Baskin Square Shopping Mall (10-9)
  • The Maples' Tree (9-9)
  • Carmelcorn (10-9)
  • Kilwins Ice Cream (9-9)
  • Gift Warehouse (9-10)
  • (Cross the street and go right.)
  • Goo Goo Chocolate (11-8)
  • Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen (10:30-9)
  • Sweet!-candy store (10-11)
  • (Turn around and the back the way you came.)
  • All American Souvenirs
  • Reagon Terrace Mall (8:30-9)
  • Byrd's Famou Cookies
  • Chocolate Monkey (10-10)
  • Tin Roof (10-10)
  • Old Smoky Candy Kitchen (9-9)
  • Ranger Bob's Trading Post (-10)
  • Buckboard Too (10-10)
  • (Go left/west on River Rd. Turn right on Long Branch Rd. On the right side.)
  • Lodge:
    Lodge: Econo Lodge Inn & Suites on the River
    (2 queens, river view, deluxe continental breakfast, micro, fridge)
    $73-one queen or $93- king with river view

Day 5 Wednesday, September 23rd

  • (Go left on Long Branch Rd. It will become Leconte St. Go right on Hwy 441. On the right side.)
  • 9:00 a.m. Depart:
    Depart: Gatlinburg
  • See:
    See: Sugarlands Visitor Center (9-5)
  • (Go right on Hwy 441.)
  • 6 min
    Carlos C Campbell Overlook-left side
    Miles: 2.5
    2.5
  • 5 min
    Chimneys Picnic Area-pit toilet
    Miles: 2.3
    2.3
  • 12 min
    Alum Cave Bluffs Restroom
    Miles: 4.8
    4.8
  • 7 min
    Morton Mountain Tunnel
    Miles: 3.4
    3.4
  • 3 min
    Newfound Gap Comfort Station
    Miles: .9
    .9
  • 4 min
    Luftee Overlook (right side)
    Miles: .8
    .8
  • 5 min
    Charles A Webb Overlook (right side)
    Miles: 2.3
    2.3
  • 9 min
    Kephart Prong Trail Trailhead-bridge over river
    Miles: 5.7
    5.7
  • 3 min
    Collins Creek Picnic Area-restroom
    Miles: 2.1
    2.1
  • 9 min
    Mingus Mill & Comfort Station (Apr-Oct) (right side)
    Short walk-Mingus Mill was built in 1886 on the Mingus family’s property. The mill was constructed primarily using wood from tulip trees. Mingus Mill was the largest grist mill in the Smoky Mountains. While most mills at the time used wooden wheels, Mingus Mill used a steel turbine to power its mill stones. This is part of the reason why Mingus Mill became so successful. At its peak, the mill served more than 200 local families. Local residents would bring their grains to the mill on Saturdays for the miller to grind. While they waited, the residents would chat with friends and family as well as trade their goods with one another. This made Mingus Mill a center of the community for both socializing and commerce. The mill remained in the family from its construction in 1886 until they sold it to the national park in 1930.
    Walk behind the mill to the Enloe Cemetery (black folk).
    Miles: 4.9
    4.9
  • 3 min
    Oconaluftee Visitor Center-Mountain Farm Museum (9-5)
    Miles: .8
    .8
  • (Continue on Hwy 441. At Cherokee will go right and become Hwy 19. On the right side in Bryson City.)
  • 25 min
    Bryson City Bakery (8-3)
    164 Main St
    Miles: 13.6
    13.6
  • Bryson City Outdoors (10-8)
    169 Main St
    Bryson City, NC 28713
  • (Go back on Hwy 19. It will become Hwy 441. It goes left on Cherokee. Turn right on Drama Rd. Take the 3rd exit at the roundabout. Go right on Ravensford Rd. Turn right on Hwy 441/Newfound Gap Rd. Turn right on the Blue Ridge Pkwy/Mountains to Sea Trail.)
  • 23 min
    Oconaluftee River Overlook (left side)
    Miles: 13.2
    13.2
  • 12 min
    Raven Fork Overlook (left side)
    Miles: .6
    .6
  • 4 min
    Sherrill Cove Tunnel
    Miles: 1.6
    1.6
  • 1 min
    Rattlesnake Mountain Tunnel
    Miles: .6
    .6
  • 7 min
    Big Witch Overlook (left side)
    Miles: 3.8
    3.8
  • 2 min
    Big Witch Tunnel
    Miles: .8
    .8
  • 8 min
    Jenkins Ridge Overlook (right side)
    Miles: .3
    .3
  • 3 min
    Bunches Bald Tunnel
    Miles: 1.5
    1.5
  • 1 min
    Lickstone Overlook (right side)
    Miles: .5
    .5
  • 1 min
    Lickstone Ridge Tunnel
    Miles: .2
    .2
  • 4 min
    Jonathan Creek Overlook (left side)
    Miles: 2.5
    2.5
  • (Turn right to circle around north on Hwy 19.)
  • 3 min
    Hilltop 12th Souvenirs
    Miles: 1.2
    1.2
  • 8 min
    Sunshine & Sugar Bakeshop
    Miles: 5.2
    5.2
  • 2 min
    A Day in the Valley (8-6)
    Miles: .5
    .5
  • (Continue on Hwy 19. Go right onto Hwy 74/Andrew Jackson Hwy. Enter I-40. Take exit 44 left on Hwy 74. Take the 2nd left on Old Haywood Rd.)
  • 30 min
    Asheville
    Miles: 27.2
    27.2
  • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
    1914 Old Haywood Rd
    ((King $106, 2 queens $118, breakfast, AC, micro, fridge)

Day 6 Thursday, September 24th

  • (Go back to I-40 and turn left. Take exit 50 left/north on Hwy 25. On the left side.)
  • 12 min See:
    See: Biltmore Mansion
    A Gardeners Place     (10-6)
    Bake Shop     (9:30-8)
    Biltmore Dairy Bar
    Bookbinders Shop     (10-11)
    Carriage House Shop     (10-11)
    Confectionery     (10-11)
    Conservatory     (9-5) Cafe
    Courtyard Market     (11-2:30)
    Gate House Shop     (10-6)
    Italian Garden     (9-5)
    Stable Cafe     (11-2:30)
    Toymaker's     (10-11)
    Walled Garden     (9-5)
    Miles: 7.5
    7.5
  • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
    1914 Old Haywood Rd
    ((King $106, 2 queens $118, breakfast, AC, micro, fridge)

Day 7 Friday, September 25th

  • (Go back to I-40 and turn left/east. Take exit 50 left/north on Hwy 25. Turn left on Approach Rd. and right on Bilmore Estate Dr. Turn left on Winery Rd.)
  • See:
    See: Antler Village (10-9)
  • Biltmore Estate-finish seeing this
  • Lodge:
    Lodge: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
    1914 Old Haywood Rd
    ((King $106, 2 queens $118, breakfast, AC, micro, fridge)

Day 8 Saturday, September 26th

  • 3:00 a.m. Depart:
    Depart: Asheville
  • (Go south on Old Haywood Rd. Rurn right and left to enter I-40 south. Take exit 46A on I-26. Take exit 40.)
  • 3:20 a.m. Arrive:
    Arrive: Asheville Regional Airport
  • 5:40 a.m. Depart:
    Depart: Ashville
  • Do:
    Do: Seats
  • 6:44 a.m. Arrive:
    Arrive: Atlanta
  • 9:44 a.m. Depart:
    Depart: Atlanta
  • Do:
    Do: Seats
  • 11:24 a.m. Arrive:
    Arrive: Spokane