GRAND MAJESTIC THEATER OFFERS 3 ENTERTAINING SHOWS

The Grand Majestic Theater located on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, TN, offers 3 different live, dinner shows. You can hear jukebox hits from the '50's and '60's at Hit Parade, a concert-style tribute to Motown legends at Soul of Motown, or enjoy some foot stompin' fun for the whole family at the Hazzard County Hoedown.

Start with the Hit Parade's energetic, non-stop action as they sing and dance to the greatest hits of the first two decades of rock 'n' roll. Poodle skirts, saddle shoes, tight chinos and even beads and paisley shirts are the costumes that represent the different eras of music and fun. You will remember the words and the music and the singers will have you clapping along or up and dancing in the aisles.

Hazzard County Hoedown features your favorite characters from the Dukes of Hazzard, but with a little mountain flair. The Boars Nest is the place for foot-stompin' music, dancin', humor and down home family fun. See the show or enjoy dinner and the show.

And for top-notch Motown music see the Soul of Motown. You will hear music from legends like Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson, The Drifters and The Platters. There is plenty of more recent renditions from Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and The Jackson 5. The Ladies of Soul are also well represented with tunes from Aretha Franklin, The Supremes and Gladys Knight.

You can save money by buying a Combo Deal and you can get coupons and find out about other Smoky Mountain shows or attractions, shopping, dining and accommodations, by clicking on the ""Visit Best Read Guide Smoky Mountains" link at the top of the blog page.

FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE SMOKIES AND GREAT PLACES TO STAY

The Tennessee Smoky Mountains are a great place to visit and vacation with great places to stay and many fun things to do. Summertime opens up scores of outdoor activities like hiking, whitewater rafting, tubing, ziplining, horseback riding, ATV rides, exploring caves, miniature golf and go-kart racing, just to name a few activities.

When the night falls you can continue playing outside, ride the Alpine Coaster, or catch a live show. T.G. Sheppard is making an appearance at Country Tonite and the Hatfield & McCoy's are filling up the concrete pool for a brand-new show. The Smoky Mountain cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville offer broad options for dining with unique restaurants in addition to well known chain restaurants offering steaks, seafood, Italian dishes, Oriental food, Cuban food and of course, Bar-B-Que, one of Tennessee's best known and best loved dishes.

For your lodging choices you can choose from cabins, chalets, motels, RV Parks, campgrounds or hotels. And one of the most decorated hotels in the area is the Comfort Inn Apple Valley. The Comfort Inn is located on the Parkway on the boundary line between Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, with top quality restaurants like the Applewood Grill and Applewood Restaurants, within walking distance. You are also close to major attractions like WonderWorks, The Titanic Museum, Hatfield & McCoys Dinner Feud and the Smoky Mountain Opry.

Enjoy genuine Southern Hospitality at the Comfort Inn Apple Valley and during your Smoky Mountain vacation. Check out more vacation options and get maps, coupons and more information at the Best Read Guide site at www.bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN ALPINE COASTER - THE ORIGINAL SMOKIES COASTER

     The original Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster is located on Wears Valley Road in Pigeon Forge, TN. This is also the longest coaster ride in the Smokies which challenges you to "ride the hill and feel the thrill".

     You begin your journey at the bottom of the hill where you load-up on the coaster. You can ride single or double. The coaster rides on steel rails and you are pulled to the top of the hill, then gravity takes over. You can fly down the track or control  your speed with the handbrakes. You will drop over 360 feet and can hit speeds of 27 miles per hour! The track has curves, dips, circles and straight-a-ways to give you a thrilling ride down a mile of track.

     You can ride the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster at night too. The track is lit up with colored lights and the night ride has a completely different feel than the daytime ride. You must do both!

     After your ride you can browse the gift shop and purchase your souvenir picture or a hat, T-shirt or other goodies. Find out more about the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster and other Smoky Mountain attractions at the Best Read Guide site at www.bestreadguidesmokymountains.com, where you can also get directions and coupons for attractions, restaurants, accommodations, theaters and shopping.

HOW ABOUT A GATLINBURG, TN ADVENTURE?

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a grand place for a vacation, a couple's weekend, family reunion, wedding or a base for a Smoky Mountain adventure. Establish your base camp at the Greystone Lodge on the River, across the street from Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.

Gatlinburg has a lot to offer whether you are interested in staying in an historic hotel, a mountainside cabin or a newly renovated hotel like the Greystone Lodge, you can find a quality place to suite your needs. Many of the hotels in town, including the Greystone Lodge, are located downtown allowing visitors to walk the main street to shop, eat or play in the attractions. Gatlinburg is a fun town to stroll up and down the sidewalks along the main street - Highway 411 - as the unique shops, restaurants and many attractions line the road. You can window shop, check out the Hollywood Star Cars, and be tempted with ice cream, caramel corn, and the tempting smells of sausage and onions on the grill and the entree of the day from the varied restaurants along the road.

Now if you are really feeling adventurous, roll down the Spur - the 5-mile stretch of highway between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge - and catch great live entertainment at the Smoky Mountain Opry. Their show features music and dancing of all genres performed by top-notch singers, dancers and musicians. They are assisted with a
live band, special effects including laser lights, pyro, giant video screens, dazzling costumes and high-flying musicians. This is a show you must see!

Catch a great meal at Red Lobster featuring fresh fish, shrimp and lobster dinners, pasta dishes and seasonal specials. The Red Lobster is located on the Parkway less than a mile from the Smoky Mountain Opry.

Begin your Smoky Mountain Adventure at the Best Read Guide website where you will find live show, hotel, restaurant and attraction information and coupons, maps, area information and more. You can also link to the Best Read Guide or Smoky Mountain Lodging Guide Facebook pages for more information and to win tickets and gift cards by participating in the weekly contests. Get to the site by clicking on the following link - www.bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/, and enjoy your adventure!

ADVENTURE AWAITS IN THE SMOKIES AT HARPOON HARRY'S CRAB HOUSE

Enclosed Patio

     There are many fun, interesting and tasty adventures to pursue in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Trying different foods and restaurants is a delightful and delicious way to explore the Smoky Mountains from the culinary side. So book your hotel, cabin or condo on the Smoky Mountains Lodging Guide at http://smokymountainslodgingguide.com/, and then start your appetite adventure!

Unique carvings

     You have many restaurant options in Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, and one of those - Harpoon Harry's Crab House - is located in the heart of Pigeon Forge at Traffic Light 2B. The owners of Smuggler's Cove in Punta Gorda, Florida, upgraded their decor with antique trucks, huge carvings, hand-polished wooden bars, stone walls, old pictures from the National Park, different designs throughout the interior, an enclosed porch that can be opened up in good weather, and a sushi bar. All of this stunning decor is the setting for a fun, exciting and adventurous food, beverage, retail and entertainment operation. But it is the food that is the star and the delicious menu is served in beautiful presentations that enhance the flavor of the food.

Sushi platters

Crab Bucket

     As you would expect, Harpoon Harry's offers fresh and delicious seafood like oysters, shrimp, scallops grouper and buckets of King, Jonah, Dungeness and Snow Crab with sausage, corn, onion and red potatoes. But they also serve-up several pasta dishes - like Shrimp Cavatappi - and steaks, tenderloin tips, sliced pork and sandwich favorites like cheeseburgers and grilled chicken, plus Lobster Rolls, Oyster Po'Boys and Soft Shell Crab Hoagies.

1926 Chevy Truck Bar

     Harpoon Harry's Crab House rocks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with live music, and you can always get a good meal from their Late Night Menu, which includes Sushi! Their bar pours over 100 kinds of whiskey which you can enjoy in the main floor restaurant, or in the Truck Bar upstairs. That's where you find the 1926 Chevy Truck that serves as the bar. And as a remembrance of your appetite adventure, you can take home Harpoon Harry's merchandise.

     To find out more about other eating encounters in the Smokies, check out the Best Read Guide Dining page at www.bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/dining.html.

STAY CLOSE TO PIGEON FORGE FUN & ATTRACTIONS AT EAGLE'S RIDGE RESORT

     Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is known as the center of fun in the Smokies and there are plenty of activities to back-up that claim. The last weekend in May brings Memorial Day activities as many of the Smoky Mountain businesses open for the season, especially the outdoor attractions. This year you have the Oak Ridge boys in concert at Country Tonite, a classic car Cruise In at The Diner in Sevierville and Smokies Baseball games in Kodak, right off of I-40.

And its these fun things that bring couples, families and groups to the Great Smoky Mountains. The great weather makes it very enjoyable to enjoy horseback riding, ziplining, whitewater rafting, hiking in the National Park and tubing on the Little River in Townsend. There are always plenty of indoor activities like visiting Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, playing Laser Tag, testing your wits at MagiQuest or challenging yourself at the many tests of mental and physical skill at WonderWorks.

Staying in a cabin is a lot of fun and a good way for families and groups to connect and spend time together. Eagle's Ridge Resort in Pigeon forge offers cabins of all sizes, a clubhouse and swimming pool, privacy yet quick access to restaurants, shopping, shows and attractions. They offer a Smokies Fun Pass which gives a free ticket for each night booked to a long list of area activities. This includes the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, Darren Romeo's Magic Beyond Belief, Comedy Barn, the Smith Morning Variety Show, Country Tonite, WonderWorks, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Lazerport, Ripley's Old McDonald's Farm Mini-Golf and Smoky Mountain Opry.

So head for the center of fun in the Smokies, book your cabin with Eagle's Ridge and get coupons and more information at the Best Read Guide site at bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/.