VACATION DETAILS

Just north of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is one big strip of motels, fast-food and family-style restaurants, outlet malls and theaters. The most popular draw in the area is Dollywood, the theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton, who hails from Sevierville.

Pigeon Forge is home to several other live-music theaters in addition to those at Dollywood. These venues are modeled on the theaters in Branson, Missouri, and play host to musical revues, variety shows and performances by headliners such as Louise Mandrell. Dixie Stampede, also owned by Parton, is an elaborate dinner show with rodeo acts, musical performers and trained animals.

Plenty of other family-oriented attractions can be found in town, including waterslides, bumper boats and go-kart tracks. An unusual attraction is Zorb, a giant ball (reminiscent of a hamster toy) into which people can climb and roll down a hilly course.

Special events take place throughout the year in Pigeon Forge, including a Storytelling Festival in February, the Festival of Nations at Dollywood in the spring, and the Celebrate Freedom Festival in August.

Should malls be more your idea of fun, you'll find more than 200 factory outlets in Pigeon Forge offering bargains on a variety of products. Some of the biggest malls to look for are the Belz Factory Outlet, Old Mill Village and Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet. Remember that some retailers manufacture clothing and goods especially for their outlets, so shop carefully. When purchasing fine luggage, handbags and accessories, be sure to check return policies.

Located 165 mi/265 km east of Nashville, Knoxville, Tennessee, is the largest city in eastern Tennessee and the third-largest in the state. Knoxville features a skyline of steel and glass skyscrapers.

You may want to begin your visit to Knoxville at Volunteer Landing, a complex of restaurants and other attractions downtown on the Tennessee River. It includes the Gateway Regional Visitor Center, which provides information about Knoxville attractions. Also part of Volunteer Landing, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame includes interactive exhibits and basketball memorabilia.