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.

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/.

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!

SPRING ROD RUN DRIVES INTO PIGEON FORGE

You know its spring in the Smokies when you can hear the blast of dual pipes from a beautifully restored muscle car making its way gracefully down the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, TN. The Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run brings in the finest examples of four-wheeled artistry and dedication with hundreds of highly-polished American cars and trucks on display along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

The Spring Rod Run also ushers in another season of fun in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee where you can enjoy indoor attractions and top quality shows like the Impossibilities Show in Gatlinburg, Country Tonite and Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge. And there are many more great live entertainment theaters in the Smokies.

If you are looking for outdoor activities, the Smokies have an abundance of traditional fun and eco-tourism and extreme outdoor attractions. There is ziplining, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, rope courses, ATV trail rides, tubing, hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains and zooming down the mountain on an Alpine Coaster. And of course there are go-kart tracks, miniature golf courses, petting zoos, and the newest attractions in the area, trampoline parks!

Spring in the Smokies is also a good time to explore the Spirits Trail that will lead you to moonshine distillers, home made wine makers, cider brewers and whiskey distillers. The Smokies are home to the original, illegal moonshine makers, but now that it is legal Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Kodak are now popular areas to see how the distilling process is done and to get a free 'taste' and take home a few jugs and moonshine and wine souvenirs.

Accommodations are varied and plentiful in the Smokies but making reservations is recommended. In Gatlinburg one of the hotels that has been providing convenient, clean rooms and a great experience is the Best Western Twin Islands, right on the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg. There are plenty of dining opportunities near by like Blaine's Bar & Grill, a long-standing Gatlinburg dining tradition.

So drive into the Smokies for great springtime fun and adventures and get your road map for coupons and information at  www.bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/.