At the Imagination Playhouse, the Penguin Players bring to life three classic children’s storybooks, including the inspiring Little Engine That Could. All three shows feature original sing-along songs written by Dolly. The forecast is calling for fun at the Imagination Cinema where the Cloudy with a Chance of Meat Balls™ 4D Experience fills the big screen.

During your Dollywood Pigeon Forge visit, keep a watch for the roving KidsFest characters:

Patches the Scarecrow his friends Piggy and Miss Penny.

Trapper and his best friend Baxter Bear.

Cas the legendary outdoorsman and Walker, the bluetick hound.

So bring your family out to Dollywood for KidsFest!

The unofficial result Tuesday was 590-482. The issue also lost in 2009 in Pigeon Forge.

Pastor Ronnie Reagan, who had become one of the most outspoken public faces of the opposition, was at the polls throughout the day and stayed to celebrate the results.

“I just thank the Lord everyone spoke out like they did,” he told The Mountain Press.

The paper said church groups appealed to old-line values, campaigning about the dangers of strong drink.

“I’ve just felt a good fellowship with these people throughout the day,” Reagan said.

Businesswoman Pam Ogle said she and the business community were shocked.

“There was so much weighing on this,” she said. “We just thought there was no way the voters would turn their backs on the potential for new jobs and revenue.

“It was a defining moment for the city of Pigeon Forge.”

Businessman Ken Maples said the city is losing revenue to Gatlinburg and Sevierville.

“I am extremely disappointed our residents would continue to give tax dollars away like that,” he said. “The city has to find new sources of revenue and this was a perfect revenue source. When the people get their taxes raised, when they get hit in the pocketbook, then we’ll get liquor by the drink.”

Discuss your reaction to this vote.

Beginning Friday, the park service will begin opening up a majority of its campgrounds and secondary roads for spring visitors. Half of the 10 campgrounds in Tennessee and North Carolina can be reserved online.

The Smoky Mountain Riding Stable opened up on March 4. A number of other riding horseback stables and camps will open in the weeks ahead.

Visitors can go to www.recreation.gov to reserve campgrounds, all group campsites, horse camps and picnic shelters.

Concession stores offering firewood, camping supplies, food and bike rentals will also open up on a staggered basis.

Copyright 2011 AP

What was once a very hard thing to get will soon be easily available to anyone over 21.

The distillery will have a grand opening celebration on Friday, July 2 and will offer free tours, free samples of moonshine to adults over 21, and moonshine for sale.

Ole Smoky Distillery is located at 903 Parkway, and will offer original unaged corn whiskey moonshine, apple pie moonshine, sweet tea moonshine, and peach moonshine. The facility will include a working still. Moonshine cherries will be available for purchase during the holiday season.  The Ole Smoky recipes are the product of the hard work and experience of local families who have made moonshine in the mountains for over a century. Dave Pickerell, who served as the Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark for over 15 years, assisted with the refinement of the recipes in order to ensure a superior mountain – made moonshine.

This was just pure genius to bring this to Tennessee.  Another cool thing is the moonshine will be distributed in Mason Jars.

Update: I went to the Distiller the other day. Right now when you go there they are allowing you 3 shots of Moonshine. They aren’t full shots but you get enough. They start you out with 2 clear shots of shine, and then give you a apple shine shot. You can’t buy the apple moonshine until sometime in October or November. It’s about 25.00 a jar. There is a 10% Local discount if you happen to live around Gatlinburg. The moonshine is 100 Proof, not quite as high as the illegal shine. Definately worth buying a few jars to have around the house when you entertain.

There are a lot of Attractions in the Smoky Mountains!  I’ll just go over a few of the popular ones.  In the future I’ll discuss them in a more detailed review.

Cooters Place – A very  popular tourist attractions of Gatlinburg Tennessee is Cooters Place.  This attraction is based on the television series “The Dukes of Hazzard” and has a museum and a shop.  Ben Jones is your host at this tribute to the way of life in Hazzard County (Ben Jones was the man who was a friend of the Duke boys). Gatlinburg Tn This attraction features photographs, artifacts, costumes and memorabilia from the TV series.

Fort Fun Family Center Attraction – Family fun can be found easily in Fort Family Fun Center. For example, you can play Laser Tag, Video Arcade Games, black light mini-golf, Bumper Cars, Hillbilly Shooting gallery, Gem Mining, and 2 Outdoor Mini-golf courses

Fort Fun also has the most realistic 3D films that are in the Smoky Mountains – is the only theater attraction in Gatlinburg 3-D movie theater. Children – and adults – will love the selection of special effects that include sharks, aliens, dinosaurs and more.

Gatlinburg Tram / Skyway Attraction – Enjoy a spectacular view over the Gatlinburg and the Smokies.  Have fun with the Skylift cable car, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg Guinness World Records Attraction –

Guests can enjoy world records from the amazing groups of Sports, Space, Animals, Food, Human Achievement and many more!

Guinness world records are brought to life through incredible displays, cool interactive games and trivia, themed galleries and video productions!

Hillbilly Golf Gatlinburg Attraction – After a strenuous day in the Smokies or on the streets of Gatlinburg, head for the hills for a relaxing time at Hillbilly Golf. It’s the world’s most unusual miniature golf course. Ride the Incline 300 feet straight up to the mountain top above the city. Two challenging 18-hole courses await you. Both are riddled with mountaineer hazards from outhouses to stills, rocky walls and lush native plants. It’s great fun and excitement for the whole family. A truly unique adventure you aren’t likely to forget

OberGatlinburg – Go karts, water rides, alpine slide, skating, ski resorts, winter skiing, snowboarding and more!  A must for the family

Fish in the Smokies Attraction – Have your own experienced guide – day or half day tours that will have you fishing for trout and the area under. Even if you’ve never fished before, there are at any time  help of expert guides.

Rafting in the Smokies Attraction – There are a number of Rafting companies down in the Smokies. You can select tubes of family fun, guided or not, for rafting, one or more persons and boat hire for beginners or experienced level rafting. You can enjoy a full day of whitewater rafting in  powerful waters of Ocoee, Nantahala and Pigeon rivers. Rafting in the Smokies offers a exciting experience that is unforgettable.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Attraction – not just an aquarium – it is more than a million gallons of world-class aquarium. You can see sharks and over 8,000 exotic sea creatures from around the world. Piranhas, Indo-Pacific fish, rays, octopus and more. And travel through the longest underwater tunnel aquarium in the world.  It is awesome looking at the sharks and fish swimming over you.

Ripley’s Believe it or not Museum – This museum has thousands of unique and rare items that have been collected by Robert Ripley and the team of Ripley archivists. All guaranteed real and mind boggling. Join us for your challenge to simply… Believe It or Not! It takes about 2 hrs to go thru.

Ripley’s Davy Crockett Golf – this mini-golf course of two 18-hole green. It was built to recreate the moment when a Tennessee hero named Davy Crockett roamed the mountains of Tennessee. The course has some of the most unique holes in the world with interactive exhibits and plenty of water.

Ripley’s Haunted Adventure – Take your time and walk through the original factory. There is a good chance you will see some of the old inhabitants of the Smoky Mountains. It is likely that – you’ll hear the screams, the smell of decay and feel the dark as  you work through twisting corridors.

Smoky Mountain Stables Attraction – Enjoy a guided horseback ride through the Smoky Mountains. Located within the National Park.

Smoky Mountain Winery Attraction- Visit on of the free attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. International courtesy visit and tasting of award-winning wines. Open every day of the year throughout the year.

Space Needle – Enjoy this observation tower of 342 feet with laser tag.

Star Cars Museum Attraction– This museum has more than thirty of the best Hollywood movie and television cars to create the configuration. Configuration is done using sound, lights and action! Many of the cars are the creations of George Barris, creator of TV’s most famous cars in Hollywood than anyone. More vehicles are added to keep abreast of current entertainment industry in Hollywood.

As you can see there is plenty to do in the Smoky Mountains!

Backpacking is a fun and refreshing activity that can be fun for the whole family.You may be near the Mountains or in your back yard! No matter where you are it can be a great experience. You may be a photographer, a nature love, or just trying to get away from busy hectic city life for a while. Backpacking is a hobby (sport) that can be awesome for anyone.

There is no greater place to get connected to earth more than taking an inspiring hike in the hills. My favorite place to hike is the Smoky Mountains.There are places to hike in every state and it is pretty easy to find info on-line these days.

Not only is hiking fun and refreshing it is also very good for you. I admit hiking can be very tough on your legs and back and I have almost not made a few of my hikes. So always be prepared and try to get into shape before you take on to big of a trail! Be sure to stretch before you go and take break often.

There are two types of backpacks, external and internal framed. Each pack has its own advantages and disadvantages. The internal frame is great for hiking through heavy vegetation because it is protected from being snagged.

A lot of people think that the external frame sits more comfortable on the back. It honestly really depends on how you built though. One thing that an external frame will do is trap more heat and sweat when your hiking.

The external frames are wider and allow for more space to hold things! They also sit further off the back giving more room for breathing, that’ll keep you cool. I always carry just a regular tech pack and I love the way it sits and feels!

It will soon be the perfect time to get into woods and watch nature bloom once again. Just watch those hungry waking beers! So grab you a new pack and reserve a cabin before they get sold out and head to the woods!.

Here are some are some great Hiking tips for you!

1. Try not to carry very much weight. Not only will it Hurt you and wear you out, it is dangerous. Try to find clothes that are light and will dry fast also! Try to stay away from cottons and try to wear Poly-prop or something like it.It is super light and dries out very quick. The best thing to do is go buy the lightest gear that you can get. When you are hiking always put the heavier weight up toward the top so that it balances out more! Be sure to carry enough to stay warm. I always carry a cotton top that doubles as a my pillow!

2. Carry a little med kit with you and be sure to carry a lightweight knife also. A multi-tool knife is the ticket. Also carry some fishing string and a hook if you are on a deep mountain hike. Nothing like fresh mountain fish over the fire.

3. Carry your water in the lightest thing you can. I prefer bottled water and there are a few companies making very light bottles for conserving the environment. You need to also carry a good amount of dried food. I like to go to Wally World and get the dried Fruit packs. They are full of Energy and don’t weigh very much.

4. Keeping you gear dry can be tough to do if you are on a long hike. I have heard of a few things that can be done to help keep the wet out. I have heard of lining the pack with plastic. It works ok but not the best solution. I knew this one guy that used Wax. He melted it all over his pack and said it worked great! I guess if you have an old pack or you think the purpose is more important than looks. They also sell some different kind of sealants that work great!

5. For cooking there are some great products out now that get the job done fast and easy! It is always safer not to build a fire if you don’t have to. But if you do here are a few tips. Bring Matches as well a lighter. You should not have a problem finding dry wood and leaves if you look in the right places. Try to find a cave or overhang if thing are wet. It really is hard to get wet wood going. What I always do is build a little pyramid around the fire with the wet wood; the heat dries it out over time. Remember to put out your fire completely before you leave you site! If you can’t find water rake a lot of dirt and cover it as well as you can.

6. Wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather. When it is very cold out it is essential to wear headgear. It will save you life! Most body heat is lost through the head, so keep it warm.

7. Be sure to wear some ankle supporting boots! Finding the right boot can be tricky. You want to make sure your foot fits nice and snug and not have too much room to play. I bought some waterproof boots awhile back and discovered that they were waterproof both ways. They didn’t breath at all, but they do keep the water out! So there is a fine balance in finding the right boot.

8. Always carry a map and compass they can save you life! A GPS device is great to carry and a cell phone as well. They make some great waterproof cases at Wally world very cheap. Be sure to study the area that you are going so you know what you are expecting. I have been hiking in the Smoky Mountains and was overwhelmed by how many miles of trees there were and how they all looked the same.

9. Always hike with someone else! Never hike alone and if you do let someone know where you’re hiking and when you’re coming back!

10. Carry some Parachute Cord! It can used for a few different things! Use it to dry your clothes or make a shelter with it!

11. Change you batteries in your flashlight! Go with the Lithium AA batteries! They weigh half as much than an alkaline and last about three times longer!

12. Instead of carrying any kind of Soda or sugar drinks switch over to some kind of pack that you mix with water! There are all kinds of great natural alternatives out there!

13. Get lost in the woods? Know where you are going before you get there! If dark fall on you it is best to find a cave or natural shelter build a fire and plan to camp! Wondering in the woods at night isn’t suggested! You may fall in a cave or off a cliff. Just wait to daybreak unless you got a full moon with plenty of light. Pretend to be an Indian! You are not lost it is the teepee that is lost. The next day if you can’t figure where you are at, try to find higher ground and see if you can a visual of the area! If you are very lost and have no idea where you went wrong? Find a creek and hike beside the creek going downhill. The odds of seeing people will greatly be increased! Plus you are near a food and water source! Keep that fire burning and stay dry! You may also try the a SOS signal with your fire! Smoke has save many lives! Good luck to you and I hope that some info here might save you life one day!

Planning your summer road trip will make you realize that there are so many things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You would most certainly want to experience all of them. The size of the park might pose as overwhelming, but the Smoky Mountain Heritage Driving Tour will surely help you discover the park at your own pace on a self-guided automobile tour. Take your time driving yourself around to seek out landmarks, mountain culture and heritage, the captivating aura of the neighborhoods and, of course, the history of the Smoky Mountains.

If you are looking for a unique way to wander around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then the English Mountain Llama Trek is perfect for you. The llama treks also allow you to move at your own timetable as you are welcome to arrange them for varying lengths of time. You have the option to choose a trekking trip with a picnic or even an overnight stay at one of the cabins and/or campgrounds affiliated with English Mountain Llama Trek. Children six years of age and older can join the treks as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

You can also spice up your summer road trip with an adventurous biking tour around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smoky Mountain Bicycle Tour offers guided and self-guided tours to everyone. Mountain and road bikes are offered for touring the mountains, the historical sights and other scenic areas in and around the park.

There are horseback riding opportunities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well. Walden Creek Stables’ Mountain Adventure Trail promises nothing but the best time. The ride takes about four hours and will take you through the valley, across the streams and to the top of the mountains where you can enjoy the most breathtaking views.

Note: During the summer months, the horseback rides are scheduled as early as 9 a.m. Should you wish to take the tour at an earlier time, arrangements can be made prior to your desired schedule.

Dare to challenge yourself physically on this summer road trip by conquering the bubbly and frothy whitewater. Raft yourself away with Rafting In The Smokies, which offers you the chance to experience the waters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a very scenic and exhilarating way, even if you have no prior rafting experience. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the summer.

After the very exhilarating whitewater rafting experience, tone the activities down and relax with the Smoky Mountain Angler, the oldest fly fishing guide and outfitter in Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountain Angler is authorized to give fly fishing guided services in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These services are offered to both professional fly fishermen and beginners.

The things you can do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park definitely spells out the words adventure and fun. You can bank it as one of the best summer vacations
any road trip planner will have in his or her lifetime!

“We are thrilled to death,” said Mike Sorrells, owner of Sorrell’s Marathon and Auto Repair in Jonathan Creek. “You do not know how much that road means to your well-being until it’s not there.”

The work on I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge will continue through the summer as crews complete stabilization efforts, but with both eastbound lanes and one westbound lane open, Western North Carolina’s main transportation artery is back in business.

The total cost for the repair project, initially slated for completion in February, is estimated to be $12.9 million, and according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the federal government will cover nearly 100 percent of the cost.

For business owners like Sorrells, though, there is no way to recover what was lost. They watched with horror as the timetable for the road opening was pushed back due to poor weather conditions.

“It looked like this thing was going to get opened in February, and it was like a blow to the stomach when we learned it wouldn’t be until late April,” Sorrells said.

The economic effects of the I-40 rockslide have been a source of attention ever since the road was closed. In March, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that it would hand out $1.4 million in loans to businesses affected by the slide, but the money was spread over the region from Asheville to Sevierville, Tenn.

Before the rockslide, about 19,000 vehicles a day traveled on the road, and almost half of them were trucks. Businesses that directly relied on the commercial traffic, like gas stations and hotels have been hardest hit by the closure.

Sorrells said he was forced to lay off weekend staff as his sales of gas and tires plummeted.

“We survived,” Sorrells said. “It was very difficult. You really saw the fall-off on the weekends.”

Lynn Collins, executive director of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority, said the road reopened just in time for the summer tourism season.

“We’re thrilled obviously,” Collins said. “We have a lot of special events, beginning with this weekend, and hopefully we’ll have a good attendance with the road being opened.”

Still, the authority’s numbers have been bleak during the closure. Occupancy tax numbers were down 25 percent in the month of January from 2009 and 7 percent to date for the year. The numbers of walk-in visitors at the Canton Visitor Center were even more stark, only half of what they were a year ago through March.

Collins said the low numbers in January and February were likely the result of the weather, the economy, and the road closure.

Until the road reopened, eastbound travelers were detoured to I-26 on a route that added 53 miles and nearly an hour of driving time. The detour was not enough to stop skiers from visiting Cataloochee Ski Area, which enjoyed a successful winter season this year.

“We had a good season and the folks from Knoxville were able to get to us,” said Tammy Brown, Cataloochee’s marketing director. “We found that by offering differing routes, folks were able to deal with it.”

Brown attributed Cataloochee’s success to a great winter of natural snow and ideal conditions for snowmaking. The fact that the ski area did so well showed that the closure of I-40 was not a death sentence for tourism-based businesses on its own.

Traffic was also up in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which experienced a 5 percent increase in visitors over last year, primarily because U.S. 441 through the park offered an alternative route across the mountains.

While the interstate opened officially on Sunday, the work to stabilize the rockslide area will continue through the summer as crews complete the installation of rock bolts and anchor mesh at five separate sites. Both eastbound lanes are open, but one westbound will remain closed for about three miles and westbound truck traffic is restricted.

By Giles Morris

But it’s not just the major cities on the east coast getting slammed… mountain destinations are being hit too. It sucks for people who live there but is awesome for vacationers looking to hit the slopes! Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials say Mt. LeConte got 14 inches new snow for a total depth of 27 inches. Ober Gatlinburg ski area is located pretty close to Mt. LeConte so you know they’re getting tons of snowfall too.

Ober Gatlinburg has eight skiing trails and three chairlifts. They also have a multi-tracked snow tubing slide that is great for kids and families.

Here are some pictures taken from Ober just a few days ago. If they don’t convince you to strap on those snowboard boots then I don’t know what will.

The group said in a news release that the projects it helps support include Parks as Classrooms, which provides hands-on learning opportunities for more than 18,000 area children.

You might not know Friends of the Smokies directly, but if you’ve visited the park I guarantee that you’ve seen benefits of their work. They have thousands of friends/donators – you’ll recognize some of them by the special license plates they have on their cars.

You cna find out more at FriendsOfTheSmokies.org