Looking for an excuse to break in the new Road Glide, Katia and I headed north on the Harley to enjoy some crisp October weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The leaves were turning, and the Florida heat remained insufferable. I’d ridden through Gatlinburg, Tennessee the year before and remembered wanting to spend more time there.
Gatlinburg lies at the north entrance of Smoky Mt. National Park and along with Pigeon Forge, is ground zero for what some refer to as the Red Neck Riviera. Dollywood, the amusement park created by singer Dolly Parton, is the area’s second main attraction, the first of course being the Smokies themselves.
Dollywood turned out to be a pleasant surprise and really a must-visit if in the area. Admittedly, I cringed at the thought of more than $200 bucks for parking and entrance for the two of us but got over the sting after a few hours of wandering the destination. Fortunately, the place was almost empty due to the recent hurricane (Helene) that undoubtedly canceled many visitor’s plans. In truth, four of the best roller coasters I’ve ever been on, well-managed attractions throughout, and some interesting history and presentations on Dolly’s career. Who knew?
The Gatlinburg strip also was a lot of fun and loaded with great food options. The ribs and chicken wings at Calhoun’s stood out. Plenty of cold beer everywhere and even a wild black bear at our hotel. Something for everybody kind of place, and everyone well behaved.
Of course, the area’s crown jewel is the National Park. Spent a day on the Harley carving the switchbacks on Rt. 441 to Cherokee, enjoying the mountain vistas and vibrant Fall colors. There’s a reason why the Smokie Mt. National Park is America’s most visited.
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