Days 6 & 7 - KOA Pigeon Forge Campground - Great Smoky Mountain National Park, NC/TN

jeannietamburo
Apr 7, 2025
2 min read

After waking up to a gentle drizzle, we made our way to our new campsite in Pigeon Forge, TN. Pigeon Forge, is a sprawling highway of souvenir shops and amusement parks and is home to Dollywood. Our campground had every RV essential imaginable. After setting up camp, refreshing ourselves, and tidying up the RV, we even indulged in a little laundry session - not a bad deal at a KOA! Our next adventure? Checking out Gatlinburg, TN!

We hopped in an Uber for a quick 10-mile jaunt and enjoyed some drinks and apps at Burro’s while taking in the view of the main street. This town is basically a tourist destination centered around a main drag that’s situated on a hill. We grabbed dinner at Cherokee Steakhouse because Steve says nothing says camping like a medium-rare NY Strip. We then went for a stroll, noticing a peculiarly high concentration of white-bearded men. When we spotted a trio of them huddled together, we knew something was up. Turns out we stumbled upon a Santa Claus convention! 🎅 #Santasonparade - Are hashtags “in” or “out"?

Despite the intermittent rain the day before, we awoke to a full-on downpour (our condolences to anyone stuck in tents). Determined to make the best of it, we thought, what better time to visit the Cades Cove part of the Smokies? This small town from the 1800s was purchased when the area became a National Park, leaving behind homes and businesses. We embarked on the 12-mile tour, taking in the sights of wild turkeys and deer frolicking in the fields. And yes, we even witnessed a wild turkey nonchalantly crossing the road in front of our RV. 🦃 Why, you ask? Who knows, maybe he was just trying to get to the other side in style.

Just when we thought this trip though the Smokies was going to be just a wild turkey chase, we stumbled upon a mama black bear and her adorable cubs snuggled up in a tree! Steve ditched his bear spray in favor of binoculars, while I had my trusty camera ready. Slowly but surely, mama descended backwards down the tree, patiently waiting for her little ones to follow suit. Safe distance? ✓ RV within reach? ✓ As they wandered off into the distance, we knew this was the peak of our Smokies adventure! 🐻📸🌲

Because we weren’t in a touristy mood, we opted to explore Sevierville, TN. Their downtown area is cute and we ended up dining at a spot with fantastic food and service called Pinchy’s Lobster. It’s a fun spot with outside seating.

Next Stop Red Bay, AL for our awning fix and a visit with the ladies who keep Wolf Trap Animal Rescue (WTAR) flush with rescue pups and cats #RoadTripVibes