THE COMEDY BARN THEATER - A PIGEON FORGE ICON

     What is an icon? Simply put, an icon is something of quality that has been around for a long time. It's value has stood the test of time. In the comedy field it is very unique to have something become an icon, but that is what the Comedy Barn Theater has done delivering good clean comedy to the millions of people who have visited the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee for over 20 years.

     The big red and yellow barn on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge houses the cast of characters who perform at the Comedy Barn, and the barn itself has also become an iconic structure. It has been in the same location and looked the same since David Fee and Jim Hedrick expanded the building after great success in their first year in 1995.

     But it's the laughter that has kept the Comedy Barn Theater rocking for over 20 years. The laughter that the Comedy Barn performers draw out of audiences night after night, show after show. Of course you go into the show expecting to be entertained and to laugh. But the lengths that the performers go  to to get you to laugh is amazing. They tell jokes and sing and dance - of course you expect that. But you don't expect audience members to be on stage singing, dancing, telling jokes, becoming human xylophones and entertaining. But it happens.

     Nor do you expect to see the high level of animal performances that will not only make you laugh out loud, but will amaze you with their abilities to leap, ride and almost fly across the stage. The laughter makes the Barn and it keeps people coming back year after year.

     The Comedy Barn Theater is one of many live entertainment venues available during your Smoky Mountain vacation. You can see hillbillies fighting it out at the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, and you can see sophisticated musical song-and-dance ranging from Broadway to Thriller, all at the Smoky Mountain Opry. Also at the Opry Darren Romeo will amaze you with live feats of magic and grand-scale illusions at his Magic and Beyond show.

     So come over for a laugh, enjoy a great meal, watch hillbillies entertain and be amazed by magic, all during your Smoky Mountain vacation to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg or Sevierville, Tennessee. Get coupons and information for your trip at www.bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/.

THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS OFFERS QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT, TOP NOTCH ACCOMMODATIONS AND GREAT EATS

A Smoky Mountain vacation covers all of the bases for a fun, memorable and exciting vacation. You have a wide variety of accommodations from hotels and motels to chalets, condos and mountaintop cabins. Entertainment value is top notch with long-standing productions like Country Tonite, Comedy Barn and Dixie Stampede, to newer productions like Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud and the Soul of Motown. And don't worry about eating as your choices are as varied as the amount of wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Traditional barbecue, Italian, Chinese, Hamburgers or grade-a prime steak, you can get it all in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

Putting things together to do is part of the fun of planning a trip to the Smokies. So if you start with a place to stay and you choose to stay in Gatlinburg, the Crossroads Inn & Suites is a hotel that offers a place where the mountains and comfort meet. Crossroads is on the Parkway and they offer updated rooms with King, Queen and Suite options. Other options include in-room Jacuzzi tubs and gas fireplaces, an exercise room, a pool, a free hot breakfast and beautiful mountain views.

One evening plan a trip down the mountain to Pigeon Forge where you can enjoy an evening of great food and entertainment. One of the great Italian restaurants in the area is Johnny Carino's located on the Parkway in the heart of Pigeon Forge. They offer traditional Italian food like Veal and Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti and Homemade Meatballs and 16-Layer Lasagna. There are signature pastas, on-going specialties, pizza, calzones and salads, all accompanied by a great wine list of Italian and California options.

Pigeon Forge has a wide selection of entertainment options and one of the fan-favorites is the Soul of Motown show at the Grand Majestic Theater. This production features a live band and singers who rock-out the great hits of Motown. You get music from older groups like the Drifters and the Platters, modern Motown sounds from the O'Jays and Earth, Wind and Fire, and the Motown legends including The Temptations, Four Tops, Jackson 5 and Smoky Robinson. You will be singing along and dancing in the aisles at this feel good live show.

There are many packaging options for accommodations, entertainment and dining in the Smokies and you can check out options at www.bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/. The Best Read Guide site can provide information, maps and coupons on attractions, shows, dining, shopping and lodging. Enjoy your vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee!

HIT THE ROAD TO THE SMOKIES AND REFUEL AT LOGAN'S ROADHOUSE

     The Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee offer so many fun and exciting options to couples, families and groups going on vacation, and if you can schedule a trip before or after the summer or fall season, you can take advantage all of the options that the mountains present, the attractions and the shopping and dining with smaller crowds and less traffic.

     Dolly Parton kicks off the Dollywood season with the 31st Annual Dolly's Homecoming Parade that goes up the Pigeon Forge Parkway the first Friday in May. Yes, Dolly is the Grand Marshall and her smile, good nature and welcoming spirit make you glad that you are standing on the side of the road in Pigeon Forge. Her parade is a grand event with marching bands, floats, appearances by area theater entertainers, Shriners, equestrian clubs and more. Speaking of Shriner's, they have their own FunFest Parade Saturday morning on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge. You can also drive over to the Smoky Mountain Antique Toy & Pedal Car Show at Country Cascades, or join in the Annual Yellow Mustang Registry Cruise In at the Diner in Sevierville.

     There is always good shopping at either the malls, like Tanger Outlet, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community outside of Gatlinburg, or the hundreds of unique shops throughout the Smoky Mountain cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Kodak. The same goes for dining, with hundreds of options for restaurants and types of food.

     For example, Logan's Roadhouse offers down-to-earth food like burgers and ribs, plus your choice of beers, ales, wines and cocktails. There is always something new cooking at Logan's along with their signature steaks, American food options,seafood, salads and desserts.

     So do you need any more reasons to visit the Smokies? Book your trip now and for additional information, maps and coupons click on www.bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/ and let the Best Read Guide magazine help you plan your Smoky Mountain adventure.