Hit the Road Jack...The Road to Gatlinburg

or Jill or Bob or Betty.  It's time for a family vacation that may let you avoid baggage fees or even plane tickets.  The Smoky Mountains feels like a distant retreat, so far from a typical day.  The reality is that Gatlinburg is centrally located, only a day's drive from 50% of the US population east of the Mississippi River.  Here's 9 major cities under 6 hour drive:
1.  Chattanooga, TN  71 miles, 1.25 hours
2.  Lexington, KY    211 miles, 3.5 hours
3.  Atlanta, GA        197 miles, 3.75 hours
4.  Charlotte, NC       200 miles, 4 hours
5.  Nashville, TN      223 miles, 4 hours
6.  Columbia, SC     228 miles, 4 hours
7.  Cincinnati, OH    291 miles, 4.5 hours
8.  Birmingham, AL  302 miles, 5 hours
9.  Raleigh, NC         325 miles, 5.5 hours
If you have a choice in cars, bring your jeep or SUV for climbing gravel mountain roads.  Leave your perfectly polished sports car in the garage.

Pigeon Forge: Wonder Works & 3 Other Fun Places for Teens

Your teens will have a blast in Pigeon Forge.  And the upside down building will make your whole family look twice and laugh while driving by WonderWorks.  Here's 4 fun places for your teen and entire family:

1.  Wonder Works amusement park

http://www.wonderworksonline.com/pigeon-forge/

Facts

What:  indoor amusement park- science edutainment plus rides - defy gravity, design a coaster, listen in the sound lab, bubble lab, space zone, bed of nails, rockwall, ropes challenge course
Cost:  $22.99 adult

2.  Titanic Attraction
http://titanicpigeonforge.com/
Facts
What:  world's largest Titanic museum attraction, 400 artifacts, movie exhibit
Cost:  $21.38 adult, $58.80 family pass (2 adults, 2 kids)

3.  Dollywood Splash Country Waterpark
http://www.dollywood.com/splashcountry_home.aspx
Facts
What:  30 acre waterpark, named "one of America's best waterparks" by The Travel Channel, slides and wave pool
Cost:  $49.40 adult daily, $86 season pass
Tip:  $10 discount pre-season online

4.  Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
http://pfgemmine.com/
Facts
What:  gem mining in wood flume, buy a mystery bucket and get your hands dirty and wet looking for gems
Where:  Pigeon Forge, next to the Three Bears General Store
Cost:  $15 starter gem bucket, $35 fossil bucket, $100 family bucket

Lightning Bug Lodge Amenities List

Lightning Bug Lodge is designed for gatherings; family reunions, girlfriend weekends, church retreats, and more.  With such celebrations in mind, we chose a large cabin (2,400 sq. ft.) with 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths, one on each floor. 

Because we appreciate nature and believe you will enjoy it too, we chose a unique location, ontop of a mountain, surrounded by woods.  It's an adventure driving up the mountain and we think it's worth it.

 

Besides the inspiring location, we hope you build memories indoors too.  I know that beating your spouse, uncle, or neighbor in a game of pool or foosball can build a fond memory too.  Here's the list of amenities for you:

Lots of Room

* Square feet:  2,400

* 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, sleeps 10

* One bedroom on each level

* Beds:  2 King, 1 Queen, 2 bunks (2 twin, + 1 full/1 twin)

* 4 flat parking spaces

Inspiring Location

* Wooded view

* Winter mountain view

* Quiet mountain top, semi-secluded
* All wood real log cabin

* 2 wrap around decks

Ample Entertainment

* Sega baseball game

* Regulation size Pool table

* Foosball

* Hot tub on deck

* Grill (gas)

* Swimming pool (resort)

* Tennis courts (resort)

* 5 tvs (1 big screen)

* 4 DVDs

* 1 VCR

* CD player

* Board Games & Books

* Grill

*Picnic table

Comfort

* Fireplace

* Heat and Air

* Rocking Chairs

* Gated resort with 24 hour security guard

* No pets allowed

* Non-smoking

Convenience

* Full kitchen

* Blender, coffee maker

* High chair

* Stainless steel appliances, dishwasher

* Full size washer and dryer
* Shagbark resort only 8 miles from Pigeon Forge