Exploring Tennessee

Look Out, Tourist Trap Straight Ahead!

Holy Tourist trap!  I have found the ultimate tourist trap in Tennessee.  This was not what I was expecting when I went to Pigeon Forge.  The whole main drive of this town is one trap after another.  Don’t get me wrong, I had a good time. I was expecting more mountains and less attraction.

Titanic Museum 

This was the highlight of my weekend!  They did an amazing job with this museum.  You start with getting a boarding pass, the boarding pass has a passenger that you represent with your visit.  You will learn your fate by the end of the journey if your passenger survived.  This is definitely worth the money and you are given audio devices to listen to real life survivors tell their tale. You are only allowed to take photographs in certain areas as the families of the passengers own most of the relics and are just loaned to the museum.    It took us about an hour and half to make it through.  Great history and worth a visit!

 The Diner

This was a really fun blast from the past restaurant. All the staff are dressed straight from the 50’s.  The food is typically what you would find at a diner. I ordered chicken tenders with onion rings and they were delicious.  Super quick service and friendly.  I would definitely make this stop if you are hungry for some good food.

Old Mill

This is a good little tourist option to look at shops and grab a good cup of coffee.  There is a cute coffee place called Espresso Yourself.  It was a really great latte. They have a beautiful view of a water mill!  We got ice cream strolled around this area for awhile looking into the different shops.

The Island

 Is another place full of shops and places to eat. We headed here to check it out and see what this area was all about.  There was a huge ferris wheel to ride and the dancing fountains.  The perimeter of the fountains are lined with rocking chairs.  We spent almost an hour rocking in our chairs and enjoying the dancing water.  It was a nice change of pace to sit and relax here.

This was a great little weekend getaway that I really needed.  It isn’t what I was expecting and is definitely not a little quaint town.  It is the largest tourist trap in Tennessee and that is okay.  I have not been to Dollywood because my other adventure partner could not come on this trip.