The temps are dropping a little and not much rain if any in the forecast, so this Labor Day weekend is looking alright!  I’m giving some thought to doing a little horseback riding in Gatlinburg with my sons while mom goes and jacks up the credit card! I would much rather ride through the hills than fight the crowds but that’s just me.

From shopping the sidewalk sales at Belz Outlet mall to a sweet drive over to Cherokee to watch crafts-people at work, there’s plenty to do in the Smokies!

Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? Well, you might  just get that way if you visit Pigeon Forge around Labor Day weekend! The Christmas Place will be having a tent sale and this might be a great time to pick up some bargains. Drive a little further into Pigeon Forge and hit all the sales going on outside of Belz. This event starts on Thursday the 1st of Sept. and runs all the way through Monday the 5th.

If you want to take in some free, educational fun for the family, take a ride up to Cherokee on that Saturday the 3rd of Sept.  Watch these fascinating artisans work their magic all day long for free! Using the same techniques their ancestors have used for hundreds of years, you can watch our Cherokee neighbors weave baskets, do woodwork, sculpting and more. Traditional Cherokee food will be available and you can buy some of the same  unique crafts that you watched being finished.

Below are the phone numbers and dates for all of these activities so give them a call if you need more info. have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend!

Thurs. September 1st through Monday the 5th
LABOR DAY SIDEWALK SALE
Belz Outlets
865-453-7316

Sat. September 3rd through Monday the 5th
LABOR DAY TENT SALE
The Christmas Place
www.christmasplace.com
1-800-445-3396 or
865-453-0415

Sat. September 3rd Only
FREE Day long event
QUALLA ARTS OPEN AIR
INDIAN MARKET
Watch authentic Cherokee artwork in action!
828-497-3103 ext:203

Every year at this time mother nature sets the stage and puts on one of the best shows in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville absolutely free!  Just like clockwork,  cars bearing license plates from all around the country start making their way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to see this awesome display of natural colors. This area is perfect for the many people that enjoy viewing, photographing or just being out among the colorful backdrop of Autumn. With over 100 different species of trees living throughout these mountains, the array of colors is phenomenal!

Since the shows are free, what about seeing them like you never have before?  I know a place conveniently  located right across from Tanger Outlet Mall at Five Oaks that will let you see the mountains while taking a horseback ride or zip line tour.  Adventure Park at Five Oaks sits on a gorgeous,  seventy acre nature park complete with a mountain lake! While the riding stables have been there for quite a while, the zip lines are just several months old. If you’ve never tried zip-lining or horseback riding, this weekend would be a perfect time to start!  Weather forecasters are saying that temps will be in the upper 70s to low 80s and no rain for the foreseeable future so gather up some family and friends and make your way to traffic light 13.1 in Sevierville for a day that will truly be; picture-perfect!

When you are ready to view the Great Smoky Mountains in a totally different way you really should consider visiting one of the area stables like; Sevierville riding stables at  traffic light 13.1 across from Tanger at Five oaks. With over 60 horses available, you will not have to stand in line or be put on a list to ride these magnificent beasts,  just show up with some comfortable, casual wear on and hit the trails!

Your trip will be worry free as your four legged friend knows exactly where to go as he or she follows the lead guide along the path they know so well. Just sit back and enjoy the ride and the view as you pass a mountain lake, the remnants of an old moonshine still and more along this serene trail as it takes you, if only for a brief time, away from everyday life.http://fantasticpigeonforge.com/dollywood-and-other-things-to-do/wp-admin/post-new.php

There are Gatlinburg riding stables and even Pigeon Forge riding stables depending on what’s most convenient in relation to your cabin, condo or hotel. But whatever you do on your next vacation to the Smokies, be sure to make horseback riding at one of these stables a priority as it will rejuvenate you and get you ready to take care of business on your return trip home.

Oh, and don’t forget the camera!

With our nation’s economy causing a struggle for many,  the “American Spirit” is alive and well. Americans are great at adjusting to change and figuring out ways to to still enjoy life, sometimes especially in hard times. Living in the Pigeon Forge area I notice that folks always find a way to give themselves a little R&R when necessary and sometimes it is very necessary to just break away for a while.

Because we are in peak season in the Great Smoky Mountains, you will notice many opportunities to have some cheap family fun in Pigeon Forge, whether you look in the local coupon books or online. Having coupons readily available is definitely one way to have a cheap vacation and at the same time enjoy some real quality Pigeon Forge attractions.

As far as I’m concerned, when I am out having fun I want to get the most for my money at all times  and I prefer outdoor fun because most of my time is spent indoors working. One of my favorite thing to do is visit the riding stables around Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville and now I have anew favorite activity with all the Smoky Mountain ziplines to choose from. This is a real fun thing to do if you’ve necer tried it! I was a little reluctant at first but after watching others zipping down through the trees I just had to try it and I’m glad I did. They gave us a briefing on the ground, made sure our harnesses were good to go and before I knew it I was among those that can say they took a zipline tour!

Well here are the printable Pigeon Forge coupons that can save you money in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville on; go karts, lasertag, minigolf, ice cream 4D theaters, ziplines and horseback riding. So go have some well deserved fun for yourself and your family and even get back home with some cash (one of the hardest things for me personally to do)