Ashley took me by surprise one year when (out of Uncle Jay's earshot) she asked me "Could you talk Uncle Jay into my next birthday trip being a railroad theme trip?"
I was taken aback a bit by this, given Ashley had no profound, burning interest in trains and railroads - until she laid the caveat on me: She and her friend wanted to ride a train ALONE TOGETHER to our travel destination.
Now having been a cop there was no way on God's green earth I would allow two 9 year old girls to take a 13 hour train ride alone together without an adult along. There are just too many kooks, weirdos, pedophiles and child traffickers out that there have declared open season on our children and two 9 year old girls alone together would make prime targets. I informed Ashley I doubted either her parents, Uncle Jay or her friend's parents would go for that idea.
"PLEEEEEAAAASE?" she begged. "You can talk Uncle Jay into it! You can talk Uncle Jay into anything!"
(Well, almost anything)
I knew there had to be a solution that would keep everyone happy. After making a couple calls to Amtrak I believed I'd found that solution. The two girls could travel on a 50% fare as long as they were in the company of an adult who'd paid full fare. I'd ride the train with them but sit in a separate car and act like I hadn't seen the two of them before in my life, allowing them to feel like they were traveling alone yet still be there in case of emergency. I pointed out to Ashley "Better we do it that way than have your parents and Uncle Jay tell you NO altogether!"
Amtrak's Carolinian ran round trip from NYC to Charlottesville, NC but didn't run down into Tennessee - our travel destination. Jay could drive the Beast down to Charlottesville, pick us up at the train station and we'd drive the additional 248 miles to Marysville, TN and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Carolinian / Photo credit: Amtrak
This was agreeable to everyone but I had my own caveat to lay on Ashley: She and her friend would have to earn the money for their train fare and any spending money on the train they wanted, themselves. (My fare was $47, theirs $23.50 apiece) I wanted Ashley to realize money doesn't grow on trees as well as to learn how to budget her money. The girls did a phenomenal job at both as it turned out, earning far more money than they needed.
Jay was extremely busy at the time so Ashley and I planned this trip itinerary together, including my teaching her how to find travel discounts for things she and her friend wanted to see and do and dining options.
As always you can pick and choose what you wish from the following itinerary and adapt them to your own itinerary, wants and needs, length of trip and budget.
ACOMMODATIONS
It seemed fitting that if this was to be a railroad themed trip that we stay in an actual railroad car - and I found a beauty in Maryville, TN in the Great Smokey Mountains. This would also give the girls a chance to see Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
One bedroom with a pull out couch for the girls, full kitchen, BBQ facilities, a nice deck to sit on and a swing by the pond, no one around us. And the best part? $1692 for 9 nights or $188 per night.
And our hosts were fantastic.
Here's a list of 13 train car accommodations across the country if you're interested.
We based our stay in Maryville (pronounced Mar-vul) but we'll be visiting nearby cities like Chattanooga, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, etc. so you can base your accommodations in those cities to take advantage of accommodations discounts.
Hotel & Cabin Discounts in the Smoky Mountains Area
Day 2 - Maryville
The following morning Jay and I were up before the girls, having a cup of coffee.
If I had any reservations about our train car accommodations it was that we'd all be sharing one bathroom.
I debated about including this story, but it's the humorous SNAFU's while traveling that tend to make the most lasting memories.
The girls got up and stumbled half awake into the bathroom. Suddenly we heard an ear piercing shriek, followed by Ashley shouting "GEEZE, UNCLE JAY! PUT THE SEAT DOWN! WERE YA BORN IN A BARN?!! BRITT JUST FELL IN!"
Me:
The expression on Jay's face was a priceless Kodak Moment.
"WERE YA BORN IN A BARN?!!"
Yup, welcome to traveling with three females, buddy.
I had a feeling it was going to be an interesting week.
Once you're up and firing on all cylinders, drive into Maryville to explore the town. I was relieved to see Maryville was larger than the towns we'd encountered in the Catskills, although still a smaller town you can easily walk to explore.
We weren't fussy about where we had breakfast and just stopped at a Shoney's we saw. 1021 W Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, Tennessee. The food and service was good and the prices reasonable. $$
Here's a peek at Marysville.
When the girls discovered Maryville had a mall they wanted to go shopping. Jay and I made ourselves comfortable in the food court with the biggest cup of coffee we could find and let 'em have at shopping until lunch time.
A note about the restaurants listed in this itinerary: When planning our trip I made Ashley hunt for deals and discounts to stay within our travel budget. She chose (for the most part) the restaurants presented in this itinerary, based on those deals and discounts she found. I have to say she did a pretty good job!
Afternoon: Have lunch at Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, 2129 E Broadway Ave, Maryville.
Margarita's is a festive little Mexican restaurant that is family owned and run. They cater to families - to the degree that kids eat for FREE.
In addition, Groupon had (and still has) a $10 For $20 Worth Of Authentic Mexican Cuisine deal at Margarita's - so our lunch ended up costing us next to nothing! The bill for all 4 of us was less than $20.
The food and service were both good. Prices are very reasonable even without the discounts we used.
Monday Closed
Tuesday11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Visit the Sam Houston Historical School, 3650 Old Sam Houston School Rd. Maryville, TN.
This place was interesting. When you first arrive, you are seated in a small room at a table to watch a LONG 3 hour video. They tell you that you can leave at any time. We watched the video for maybe half an hour. It was pretty interesting. The girls had never heard of Sam Houston, so his story was all new to them.
Sam Houston had a challenging childhood, left home at 16 and lived on an island with Cherokee Indians for three years, we had no idea he was an alcoholic, bipolar, married three times (1 was a woman from the reservation that he didn’t officially marry).
He was BFF with Andrew Jackson, learned how to lance and drain his own war wounds, & of course, as we know was an incredibly brave soldier, leader, rebel-rouser & later the father of eight amazing kids.
There's a lot to see museum-wise in that same video room and an adjoining room. After that, we could walk outside to see the beautifully landscaped grounds and schoolhouse. When the girls learned what going to school was like back then they decided maybe their school wasn't so bad.
ADMISSION:
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Ages 0-5 - FREE
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Ages 6-12 - $3.00/person
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Ages 13+ - $5.00/person
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Field Trip Participants (students and chaperones) - $3.00/person
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No charge for bus drivers
HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Evening: You can eat at a restaurant or do what we did - pick up the makings of dinner at a grocery store and have a cookout at our train car, then relax after dinner. The girls liked swinging in the swing by the pond and playing with our hosts dogs.
(We'd make many of our own meals not only to stay in budget but because we prefer home cooked to restaurant food.)
Day 3 - Gatlinburg &Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Morning: Have breakfast at your accommodations or at Calloway's Tennessee Kitchen, 2128 East Broadway Ave., Maryville.
The visitor center features knowledgable rangers, maps, restrooms, animal exhibits, informative museum, and a free movie. Stop here to stretch your legs, get your bearings, and speak with experts about your itinerary.
The Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park is fee-free year-round. No entrance fee or pass is required.
However, a parking pass is required
Calloway's Tennessee Kitchen is a family-owned restaurant in East Tennessee serving freshly made food highlighting local and regional ingredients.
They have a fairly extensive breakfast menu.
Head into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Start with a visit to the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Sugarlands Visitors Center
if you're going to park for over 15 minutes. A daily parking pass costs $5. Purchase your parking tag before arriving at your trailhead. There are parking tag kiosks within the park where you can purchase your parking tag.
Shuttle services in Great Smoky Mountains National Park provide convenient transportation to popular destinations, helping visitors avoid parking hassles.
Overview of Shuttle Services
Shuttle Providers
What sets the Great Smoky National Park aside from other national parks is the number of waterfalls it has due to ample rainfall and an elevation gradient. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the park. Countless injuries have resulted from people swimming, climbing around waterfalls, and riding inner tubes in park waters. So please familiarize yourself with park water safety.
Due to the park's popularity, many well-known waterfall hikes such as Abrams, Grotto, Laurel, and Rainbow falls are highly trafficked trails, often with limited parking and crowded paths. Together, these waterfall hikes see more than 200,000 visitors each year.
Our advice? Take the trail less traveled. The Smokies has waterfalls in nearly every river and stream in the park and venturing out to the less-visited areas will give you a more relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Unlike many of the other national parks, the Smokies hiking trails are not loop trails, they are out and back trails of varying difficulty. So be prepared when hiking - water, sun protection, etc.
You can see a list of the trails here.
Be sure you check trail closures before heading out on your hike. Bears are plentiful in the Smokies and the park will often close trails where bears are active.
Make sure to download a park trail map
I recommend downloading the NPS app that will show you everything about every national park.
You can also pick up a park map at any visitor center.
We hiked the Laurel Falls Trail - 2.6 miles roundtrip through a mixed hardwood forest to an 80-foot waterfall. Enjoy a few views of the mountain
landscape before arriving at the waterfall. PLEASE NOTE: Laurel Falls Trail is expected to close starting in mid-December for 18 months for restoration work.
We didn't want to OD the girls on the park and hiking, being they're not overly fond of hiking so we chose a short hike that would allow them to see part of the park without losing interest in it.
But if you wish to spend the entire day in the park, by all means do so!
Afternoon: Have a packed picnic lunch on the trail or head to Calhoun's, 1004 Parkway, #101 Suite 101, Gatlinburg, TN.
Calhoun's is a local, fresh, casual dining establishment specializing in hickory smoked BBQ, hand-cut steaks and seafood, and fresh ground hamburgers. They also have a kids menu, and free parking with receipt.
Money $aving Tip: Fill up on your favorite burger and fries, starting at just $7.50 ALL day! - Dine-In Only
Every Monday @ The Original, Bearden Hill, Turkey Creek, and Maryville locations.
After lunch we took the girls to Anakeesta Mountaintop Adventure Park, 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN.
Anakeesta Tree House
This immersive mountaintop park with a theme-park vibe offers rides, attractions, and dining. Explore the 50-foot-high Treetop Skywalk, race down the mountain coaster, tackle a dueling zip line, or let kids enjoy the Treehouse Adventure play area. Don’t miss the Astra Lumina light show, available year-round.
Note: This park tends to be more crowded, and lines to get up and down the mountain can be long.
General Admission
All day access to the park and major features including:
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Unlimited Chondola and Ridge Rambler rides
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AnaVista Observation Tower
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Treetop Skywalk
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Vista Gardens
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TreeVenture Challenge Course
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Treehouse Adventure Play Area
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BirdVenture
Pricing
Adult (Ages 12-59): $37.99
Children (Ages 4-11): $22.99
Seniors (Ages 60 +): $27.99
3 and under: FREE
Money $aving Tip: Knock $4.81 off each adult admission ticket using this offer.
If you sign up for Anakeesta's newsletter they will send discounts, special promotions, etc. directly to you.
We ate dinner in the park so that we could see the Astra Lumina light show. $17.99 per person ticket add on.
Astra Lumina is a walk through the woods, through 9 unique zones of astral energy in which the stars appear to come to you. It was actually pretty cool! We all enjoyed it and it gave the girls something to do that evening that was relatively inexpensive and didn't involve having to travel anywhere.
You can buy tickets for the park and Astra Lumina online before your visit to the park.
Return to your accommodations for the rest of the evening.
Day 4 - Townsend
Morning: Have fantastic coffee and light breakfast fare at Town's End Coffee Company, 7249 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Townsend,TN.
Photo credit: Town's End Coffee Company
A cozy mountain coffee house and gift shop serving espressos, cold brew coffee, tea and light brunch of various breakfast sandwiches. $$
Sunday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
After breakfast visit the Little River Railroad Museum, 7747 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN.
The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company is a non-profit corporation founded in 1982 to preserve the heritage of the Little River Lumber Company and the Little River Railroad.
For many years, Native Americans and pioneers depended on the Little River and its surrounding forests to survive. After the Cherokee were forcefully removed in the 1830’s, the upper region of the Little River was inhabited by self-sufficient farmers. Later, the forests of the Smokies attracted logging companies such as the Little River Railroad & Lumber Company to the area.
The museum is a hands-on exhibit experience for kids. They can even ring a train bell.
The museum contains a history of the railroad, lumbering exhibits, a Shay engine, logging equipment and more.
The museum is housed in the old depot.
Admission is FREE but donations are appreciated.
Monday-Saturday
10 am to 5 pm
Sunday
1 PM to 5 PM
Afternoon: The girls wanted pizza so Ashley had planned on lunch at Slice Pizza Bakery, 117 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg.
Slice Pizza Bakery in downtown Gatlinburg serves up oversized New York-style pizza slices, strombolis, calzones, and more—all hot, fresh, and perfect after a day in the Smokies. Located inside Arcade City, it’s a casual, family-friendly stop for lunch in the heart of town.
Those slices were about the size of half a pizza! Drawback: They only serve cheese or cheese and pepperoni pizzas. But the girls prefer cheese and pepperoni so...
Money $aving Tip: $2 off coupon here good until 12- 31- 25, Tip from Ashley: "Ask for separate checks!
That way we got $8 off instead of $2!" (My discount-diva-in-training learns quickly! LOL)
Following t=, we took the girls to Cades Cove and back into Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Townsend. We like to get them out in nature and away from screens but we constantly have to come up with inventive ways to do this and actually get them to enjoy being out in nature.
Ashley decided horseback was the way to do this. Head for Davy Crockett Riding Stables, 505 Old Cades Cove Road, Townsend.
Rates
Half hour $28
One hour $40
Hour and a half $58
Two hours $76
Half day $225
Plus Tax
We took the 2 hour ride which was plenty. Enough to get saddlesore.
With our discounts we paid $296 for the 4 of us.
Reservations are required during the off season but it's best to make reservations during the summer months as well.
Money $aving Tip: We took advantage of a $2 off per person discount on our ride. This coupon will be valid until 12-31-25.
Evening: We returned to Maryville and stopped at a grocery store to pick up items with which to cook our own dinner and have a leisurely dinner on the train car deck.
Day 5 - Chattanooga
Morning: In keeping with our railroad theme, for breakfast we thought Track's End Restaurant sounded interesting. 3435 Amnicola Hwy., Chattanooga.
The restaurant serves comfort food 24 hours a day, and has an extensive menu, daily specials and breakfast anytime.
The place did remind me of the old days restaurants one typically found in train stations with counter service, tables and booths.
All of the menu items have railroad term names. What astonished us was the size of the portions!
I ordered the Railroader omelet at left. What came out was a 4 egg omelet that could've fed all 4 of us. Jay's and the girls' portions were every bit as huge.
The pancakes were so big they filled the entire plate.
Jay ordered the Locomotive at left. Not even he could finish all the food on his plate.
The food wasn't exceptional but it was tasty enough. We didn't have any complaints with it.
Price: $
Go to the Incline Railway, ST. ELMO STATION (Bottom station) 3917 St. Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga, TN
Photo credit: The Incline
The Incline Railway takes you to the top of historic Lookout Mountain.
The Incline Railway has daily departures from the lower or upper stations. Tickets are available for purchase at either the station or online.
Adult round trip ticket $22
Child (3-12) round trip ticket $10
Adult 1 way ticket $15
Child 1 way ticket $7
At the bottom Incline station in St. Elmo, you will find a great collection of unique shops, restaurants, and attractions.
Some of the things you’ll find include microbrewery tours, fresh flowers, homemade candle-making, unique coffee, an indoor climbing wall, outdoor local dining, hand-dipped ice cream, nostalgic clothing, and relaxation with a massage.
At the top of Lookout Mountain there are separately priced attractions. The one worth paying to see is Ruby Falls, an underground waterfall in Ruby Cave.
Descend 260 feet on a glass-front elevator into historic Lookout Mountain to see the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States. You have to see this waterfall to believe it. It looks like something off the set of the movie, Avatar. Even the girls were impressed.
Purchase your tickets online as early as possible because this is a timed entry attraction and time slots sell out really fast especially during the summer!
Take the cave walk to the waterfall tour.
Adults $28.95
Child (4-12) $18.95
Senior (65+, ID required) - $27.95
Child, age three and younger - Free
Participants should be comfortable walking, standing, and keeping pace with the group for up to 90 minutes.
Money $aving Tips: Topsaving is offering 4 different discounts for Ruby Falls - 20% off admission, Annual Pass starting from $25.95, Enjoy Lantern Tour Tickets For $39.95 While The Offer Lasts, and Cave Walk Tickets Starting From $15.95. No expiration dates are listed.
We paid $15.95 per ticket, saving us $32 on the Ruby Falls Cave Walk.
You also want to bring a bunch of quarters along for the large binoculars at the top of Lookout Mountain.
You can bring your own binoculars of course, to save your quarters but what we discovered is that kids want to use the large binoculars.
(We made the girls spend their own spending money to do this!)
Afternoon: Have lunch atop Lookout Mountain in a castle built in 1929, now called the Castle Cafe.
Enjoy a seasonal menu for a casual breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and lighter fare.
Local craft beer + hard seltzer from Chattanooga craft breweries on eight taps.
Fair-trade certified coffee, roasted locally, and hot cocoa!
The girls were surprisingly stoked to be able to eat in a castle.
While you're in downtown Chattanooga, you can also explore the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel complex if you like and time allows.
This is an old railroad depot that was converted into a hotel - an entire complex, actually!
You can picnic on the Great Lawn, catch a live show at the Comedy Catch, visit its bars, shop or experience the taste of classic cocktails and gourmet French-Belgian cuisine served up with a nod to Appalachia in The Hotel Chalet’s high end restaurant Elsie’s Daughter.
You can discover the sights of Chattanooga on a trolley. An experienced guide will take you on a leisurely ride through some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Ready for the ultimate one-of-a-kind escape
experience? Runaway Train Transport takes place on an actual (simulated runaway) train car that you only have an hour to escape from. All aboard for the Escape Experience!
Kid or not, you’ll feel like one in the uniquely curated CoinOp Arcade. Try your hand at new and old arcade games, classic and even a few newer game consoles. There is fun and games for all ages.
Map of the complex...
You can stay in the luxury boutique hotel or even book a railroad car to stay in!
(Off season rates start at $300 per night)
If you're going to stay at the hotel or in one of the railroad cars, be sure to check out the Offers page before booking.
Photo credit: Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel
It costs you nothing to go in and explore the depot-turned-hotel and complex and it's actually kind of interesting with some good photo ops.
Day 6 - Chattanooga
Given Chattanooga is nearly a 2 hour drive from Maryville we decided to take the Beast to Chattanooga and lay overnight there in an RV park. Driving those hairpin curvy mountain roads in a 35 foot+ RV is no picnic and Jay saw no sense in driving 2 hours back to Maryville only to turn around the next morning and drive 2 hours back to Chattanooga. But you have to do what suits you and your budget.
I will fill you in on the RV park we stayed in though as they also offer tent camping, and have both glamping safari tents and cabins for rent in case one of those options would be useful to you.
We stayed in Raccoon Caverns & Campground, 319 West Hills Dr., Chattanooga.
It's a beautiful park with any amenity you'd need. We paid $57 to park the Beast overnight with full hookups.
Hours
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Monday: 9 AM to 5 PM
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Tuesday: 9 AM to 5 PM
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Wednesday: 9 AM to 5 PM
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Thursday: 9 AM to 5 PM
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Friday: 9 AM to 5 PM
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Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM
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Sunday: 9 AM to 5 PM
Incidentally, any guest of this campground gets a 15% discount to seeing the Caverns if that's something that would interest you.
Morning: Have breakfast at Ruby Sunshine, 405 Market St, Chattanooga. We chose this restaurant due to the fact Ruby Sunshine brings the unique flavors and hospitality of New Orleans to their all-day brunch. They use fresh and local ingredients whenever possible.
Thoroughly enjoyed breakfast at Ruby's. Extensive menu, good food, good service, reasonable pricing.
Money $aving Trip: Groupon currently has an offer for Ruby's.
Take a cruise of the Tennessee River on the paddlewheeler, The Southern Belle, 151 Riverfront Parkway, Chattanooga. You'll travel all the way to Lookout Mountain, under the bridges and past the Bluff view Art District.
Photo credit: Southern Belle
Adult Ages 13+ $ 34.99
Child Ages 3-12 $ 24.99
Infant Ages 0-2 $ 5.99
Money $aving Tip:
We saved 30% ($36) on our sightseeing cruise using the above deal at Tranpen. Tranpen still shows this deal on their website.
Afternoon: After our cruise we visited Coolidge Park, 150 River St., Chattanooga. Situated at Northshore's waterfront, Coolidge Park is a marvelous destination that inspires visitors with its restored 100-year-old carousel, interactive play fountain, and the Outdoor Chattanooga Center. This park is a hub of diverse activities, including concerts, festivals, and other special events. The park also provides ample open space, making it a perfect spot for people to relax and rejuvenate.
Photo credit: City of Chattanooga
The 1894 Dentzel antique carousel provides a delightful old-fashioned experience with 52 hand-carved animals, a calliope band organ, and ornate gold leaf benches.
No admission to the park and a carousel ride is only $1! The carousel is operational 7 days a week from 11 am to 7 pm.
There's also an Interactive Play Fountain: A water fountain with animal statues that shoot water out and the Outdoor Chattanooga Center: A hub for concerts, festivals, and other special events.
Evening: Tipped off to OPA by a local, 249 River Street, Chattanooga. Very close to Coolridge Park. ORA is by reservation only and we were lucky enough to snag a last minute reservation. (Reservations are usually made 2-3 weeks in advance!)
Some of the best Greek food we've ever had! From the classic moussaka, saganaki, pastitsio, spanakopita, souvlaki, fresh Greek salads and their specialties, every dish of food and dessert is made using only the best ingredients. Their Dolmades are to die for!
Rather than individual menu entree prices, OPA charges for a 4 course meal + drinks. $95 per adult,
$45 for kids 13 - 20 (yes, 20!)
Children under 2 FREE
Everything about the meal was fantastic.
Dolmades - Stuffed grape leaves
Money $aving Tip: We took 10% ($28) off our meal using the OPA coupon below from Pinpoint Perks.
After dinner return to Maryville.
Day 7 - Pigeon Forge
Morning: Have breakfast at one of the favorite restaurants in Pigeon Forge - Old Mill, 175 Old Mill Avenue, Pigeon Forge.
Big thumbs up on the Old Mill! Food and service excellent. For breakfast you get banana nut muffins, biscuits & the house jelly, pepper gravy, house ground yellow grits and a small orange juice with your meal at no additional charge.
Portions of homestyle cooking are LARGE. You won't leave hungry, that's for sure!
HOURS
Sunday - Thursday 8 am - 9 pm
Friday & Satureday 8 am - 9:30 pm
Money $aving Tips: Sign up to save 15% on your first order and enjoy special offers, recipes and more when you join. (Click on the red 15% off button at the bottom of their website)
Our first stop given my fascination with Titanic and now Ashley's as well (...read Titanic Weekend) was the Titanic Museum, 2134 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
Fantastic! We all loved this interactive museum! No, I didn't see anything of Johanna's in there but loved it just the same.
The interactive exhibits included:
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Receive a boarding pass of an actual Titanic passenger/crew member
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View $4.5 million + of Titanic artifacts
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Walk the $1 million exact replica of Titanic’s Grand Staircase
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Feel 28-degree water
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Shovel “coal” in Titanic’s Boiler Room
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Learn how to send an SOS distress signal
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Experience the Sloping Decks of the ship’s stern as she descended
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Sit in an actual-size lifeboat and hear true passenger stories
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Discover your passenger’s fate in the Titanic Memorial Room
I do have to say this was the most interactive Titanic museum, attraction or even I've ever been in. That deck slanting was disconcerting to say the least! You can almost imagine the sheer terror those passengers went through when that happened. The Grand Staircase replica was designed from the original Harland & Wolff blueprints for Titanic's Grand Staircase so that was pretty impressive too.
This museum was worth every penny of the admission price.
The cost of admission to the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge typically ranges from $35 to $40 for adults. Here are some additional details:
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Children (ages 5-11): Often priced around $15-$20.
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Kids under 4: Usually free.
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Seniors (ages 60+): Typically around $30-$35.
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Military Personnel: Discounts available, often matching the senior rate or offering a similar reduction.
Prices may vary slightly based on seasonality and promotions, so it's advisable to check the official museum website for the most current pricing and any available online-only discounts.
Money $aving Tip: Titanic Pigeon Forge Discount Tickets -$3 Off!!
Now for the weird and quirky: Tour the Alcatraz East Crime Museum: 2757 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
Explore American history from a different perspective in five unique galleries that burrow deep into criminal profiles, the penal system, victim’s stories, crime prevention, forensic science, law enforcement and our justice system. The museum is 25,000 square feet, spread over 2 floors and includes over 100 interactives.
One of the galleries was about crime scene investigation, which Ashley absolutely loved, having an interest in law enforcement as a career. It taught how to solve crime through the use of forensic science, such as ballistics, DNA and blood analysis, fingerprinting, and facial reconstruction.
General Admission:
Adults(13-60): 30.95
Seniors(61+): $23.95
Children(8-12): $16.95
Law/Military*: $21.95
General Admission w/ Top Detective Challenge:
This ticket includes admission into Alcatraz East with over 100 interactive exhibits & our Top Detective Challenge guide book. You have been tasked with finding the missing keys to John Dillinger’s Essex. While exploring the Museum you will answer a series of questions containing clues; these answers will help you solve the case. *This activity is fun for all ages!
Money $aving Tips: Check out their Deals & Steals page
Coupon for $2 off admission to Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Afternoon: Have lunch at Local Goat, 2167 Parkway, Pigeon Forge.
Photo credit: Goats On the Roof
Local Goat New American Restaurant serves scratch-made foods specializing in locally sourced menu items. They offer a wide array of appetizers, jumbo wings, awesome salads, premium steaks, chops, fall-off-the-bone ribs and outstanding desserts as well as a wide array local craft beers on tap, an extensive list of whiskies, and handcrafted signature drinks.
Local Goat is locally owned and conveniently located in the heart of Pigeon Forge at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains with picturesque views of Mount LeConte and the surrounding mountains - between traffic lights one and two, right past the Titanic Museum Attraction and across from Mountain Valley Winery.
Money $aving Tip: 10% off retail purchase
The goat thing is coincidence, I swear...next stop Goats On the Roof, 1341 Wears Valley Road • Pigeon Forge, TN.
What is Goats On the Roof? you're wondering. It's the goat-feeding-est, goat-coaster-est, gem-mining-est, fudge-eating-est, ice-cream-licking-est, cool-gift-shopping-est attraction in Pigeon Forge.
The concept of having goats on a roof dates back to the 1970s, when Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Door County, Wisconsin was known for its roof-munching inhabitants.
Goats On the Roof is like a smaller amusement park that includes even a Goat Coaster!
The Coaster at Goats on the Roof is an exciting journey through the hills of Tennessee at speeds just under 30mph and with a view that can’t be seen anywhere else in town. Whether you enjoy riding alone or pairing up – it doesn’t matter since the sleds are designed to comfortably carry one or two people. Each sled is equipped with hand brakes so you can go slow if you are a little nervous, or let it rip if you are a speed demon. It's a winding, twisting 4,875-foot, 7 minute journey to the bottom.
All Rides Just $15 per person (13 and up) plus tax
$12 per person (3-12 years of age) plus tax
Obviously, one of the top activities to enjoy at Goats on the Roof is feeding the goats themselves! The goat habitat on the roof of the attraction is connected to the downstairs area by their special “goat cycle” which allows visitors to transport goat feed up to the roof. Then, all that is left to do is to enjoy the excitement of all of the goats chowing down on their snack!
You can also play Jurassic Tymes Mini Golf - 18 or 36 holes.
Money $aving Tip: At one of the other attractions outside of Goats On the Roof (I forget which attraction) they gave us a $5 off per rider coupon for the Goat Coaster. So watch for this as you go around Pigeon Forge.
Evening: Early dinner at Alamo Steakhouse: 3050 Parkway, Pigeon Forge.
We had tickets to see a magic show after dinner, Illusionation - The Magic of Jason Hudy.: 2135 Parkway Pigeon Forge, TN. One paying adult can get one child 4-11 in FREE so we could get both girls in free. Therefore, the total cost of our tickets was only $70 plus tax for all four of us.
The show was absolutely amazing and left us all wondering How did he do that?!!
Believe in the Magic is great for all ages, from the young to the young at heart. Audiences cite Illusionation as one of the most interactive shows on the Parkway, with the right mix of unbelievable magic and touching moments that make this show unique in the Smokies.
After the show, return to Maryville and your accommodations.
Day 8 - Bryson City
Morning: We had breakfast in the RV but you do whatever suits you as far as breakfast is concerned. Make your own or go to a restaurant.
After breakfast make the 2 hour drive to Bryson City, NC and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, 45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, NC.
All day: This will be an all day attraction/activity.
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad offers a variety of different activities/packages suited to both adults and kids.
Ashley chose the KidZip train.
Photos credit: Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
For kids 4–12 years old, ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in an open air car viewing the Nantahala Gorge, enjoying lunch, and then exploring in a scenic wooded adventure setting within view of parents. With a continuous cable system, there is no clipping and unclipping for the participants. Participants 4–6 years old must have a paying adult accompany them on the course.
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Minimum Age: 4 years old, Adult escort required on course for children 6 years old and under.
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Weight Requirements: 225 lbs. maximum.
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Clothing: Closed Toe Shoes Required.
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Equipment Furnished: Helmet, Harness, gloves.
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Storage will be provided for personal belongings while you are ziplining.
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Your party will be shuttled back to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad parking lot at the end of your adventure.
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Allow a full day for the train and zipline trip.
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Trips go rain or shine.
Note that KidZip is a seasonal summer activity so ticket sales aren't currently available on its website.
Money $aving Tips:
Hotsbuy has a coupon for 20% off Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Also watch the GSMR website for specials and deals. At the time we booked they had a Family Ticket Offer: For every adult ticket purchased you got 1 free child's ticket, ages 2-12. So the girls rode the train and ziplined for free.
2 cautions: The website won't let you book tickets without tacking on a $10 parking fee which isn't needed. They will send you to a parking lot that is a good 5 to 6 block walk to your departure point.
Secondly, the food isn't great or even close to great and for what you pay, this is inexcusable. We didn't eat most of ours. I found this was a common complaint among customers regardless of which train excursion they took. GSMR won't allow you to bring your own food aboard, citing "passenger safety". I'll let you read between the lines on that one.
We'd had a big breakfast so lunch being inedible didn't phase us all that much and what we did was have late lunch/early dinner after the excursion was over. Nevertheless, the girls had a great time and since we'd only paid for 2 adult tickets...
Evening: Have dinner at River's End, 13077 US-19, Bryson City, NC.
Photo credit: River's End
You'll pass this restaurant on your GSMR train ride and probably not even realize it. Perched right on the edge of the river this place has one of the best dining views in the area. Every table has a view of the river!
The food was delicious. Jay had the Ribeye ($29), I had the Blackened Trout with Sherpa Rice ($26), and the girls had (what else?) a large pizza - $16.
Open 7 days a week from 11 am to 8 pm.
After our late lunch/early dinner we went to explore the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Museum, 100 Greenlee St, Bryson City, NC.
Great Smoky Mountain Trains is more than an ordinary museum. With its collection of 7,000 Lionel™ engines, cars and accessories, impressive operating layout, children’s activity center, and gift/toy shop, Smoky Mountain Trains has something for everyone.
Complimentary admission to the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum with any train ticket purchase! Otherwise, admission is just $9 for ages 12 and up, $5 for ages 3-11 years, under 3 FREE. (We already had our complimentary admission via the KidZip train trip.)
The model train layout is quite large and very detailed. In the kids activity center, younger children can play with a toy train setup.
After touring the museum, head back to your accommodations for the evening.
Day 9
Our last day in TN and the girls were sad to know our trip was ending.
I had to feign illness for a chance to stay behind and prepare for Ashley's surprise birthday party while Jay took the girls to Gatlinburg to Ripley's Aquarium.
I'd brought along the decorations we'd need:
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Railroad themed plastic disposable tablecloth
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Disposable dinnerware
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Some decorations
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Party favors
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Cake ingredients and topper
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Table centerpiece
I'd made a corrugated cardboard train centerpiece when I had my party business so used that as a table centerpiece and mounted a photo of Ashley on chipboard, glued to look like she was engineering the train.
The 'coal' is aquarium filter charcoal. I used this as the table centerpiece.
A friend of mine who's a cake decorator taught me how to make the railroad cake.
Dinner was trained themed as well.
The second photo above is of Train Station Funeral Potatoes - so named because in some parts of the U.S. at somber occasions they're called Funeral Potatoes. This version is a cowboy inspired spin, based on Yellowstone’s signature euphemism for when someone’s next stop is six feet under.
Here's the recipe:
Ingredients
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1 (30-oz) package hash brown potatoes, defrosted if frozen
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2 Tbsp dried onion flakes
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1 tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp kosher salt
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1 (10½-oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
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2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
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1 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
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1 Tbsp butter
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1 bag (minus the few you “had” to eat while making this recipe) Baked Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream potato chips, crushed
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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Combine the hashbrowns, onion flakes, garlic powder, salt, mushroom soup, and Greek yogurt or sour cream along with 1½ cups of cheddar cheese in a large mixing bowl.
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Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with butter. Pour the potato mixture into the pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the top is bubbling and starting to brown.
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Remove from the oven, top with the remaining ½ cup of cheese then the crushed potato chips and bake for 15 minutes more. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
The other dishes are BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, mini Caesar salads in cups, pasta salad with wheels, deviled eggs with bacon and birthday cake.
We managed to completely surprise Ashley. She never caught on to her surprise party. A few months back when I'd taken my bike in for a repair, I'd noticed Ashley eyeing up a Trek mountain bike and had mentioned it to Jay.
We'd bought it for her for her birthday, keeping it hidden under a tarp in the 'garage' of the RV.
She and Britt spent the rest of the evening biking around the property.
Day 10
Say goodbye to the Smoky Mountains and head for home.
Discounts & Deals
When planning your trip here are some tips and tricks for you.
WHAT TO DO GUIDE
Throughout Gatlinburg, you will most likely find the What-To-Do guide located in racks of various businesses. This Smoky Mountains guide features a coupon section with some Gatlinburg coupons. Their website also offers printable restaurant coupons, which changes frequently, so be sure to check out the available coupons for restaurants through the link below.
Smoky Mountain Navigator is a vacation guide and free Gatlinburg coupon book that can be ordered and directly sent to you. It also has a page that features all sorts of printable Gatlinburg restaurant coupons, such as the popular Flapjack's coupon and more! Definitely check out Smoky Mountain Navigator for some great printable Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge restaurant coupons.
The Best Read Guide is another guide to the Smoky Mountains that can be ordered and you can easily print Gatlinburg coupons directly from their website. They offer numerous coupons for Gatlinburg attractions, shows, restaurants, lodging, and more.
Also check sites like Groupon.
We took advantage of a few discounts and deals. Some are now expired, some are still valid...but I'll advise you of all of them so you can watch for them to repeat.
ITINERARY - DAY 1
NYC to Marysville
We had to be up before the sun in order to board our train to head to Charlotte, NC. Once the Carolinian personnel confirmed the girls were traveling with me, true to my word I headed for another car and they were on their own.
(They didn't know I had the conductor keeping an eye on them occasionally but that's okay.)
Jay had left the day before, having a 9 hour drive ahead of him alone so deciding he'd break the trip into 2 days and stay overnight somewhere in the Beast.
Although the video below was made by a gentleman traveling on the Carolinian from Greensboro to NYC, it will give you an idea of what our train ride was like.
Thirteen hours later Jay met us at the Charlottesville depot and the four of us continued the 248 mile drive to Marysville, rolling in to our train car accommodations around midnight.
As exhausted as we all were, we all fell into the next best thing to a coma. Not even the girls engaged in their usual hour's worth of whispering and giggling before they fell asleep. Much to Jay's relief.