Arrive today in Pigeon Forge, TN for a three-night stay at a local hotel.  Tonight, join in on some Feudin’, Feastin’ Family Fun at the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud!  Become a part of the longest running family feud in history at the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner & Show.  Help them solve their differences mountain style.  Whether you’re city folk or country cousins you’ll love the singing, dancing, jaw dropping stunts and the side-splitting comedy! (D)

This morning meet your local guide for a tour of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Travel the scenic mountain road around the famous “Loop” by way of the high-rising Chimney Tops.  Once on top of the mountain, enjoy a Newfound Gap which marks the Tennessee, North Carolina State line.  You will have opportunities for photos at scenic stops along the way.  At an elevation of 5,048 feet, Newfound Gap is the lowest drivable pass through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Half lies in Tennessee and half in North Carolina.

See the Rockefeller Memorial, which honors a $5 million donation from the Rockefeller Foundation to help complete land acquisitions to bring about the reality of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The Appalachian Trail crosses over Newfound Gap Road and straddles the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee for most of its length through the park.

Returning to Pigeon Forge, enjoy free time and lunch on your own at The Island.  The Island boasts 23 acres of entertainment with over 80 shops, restaurants and attractions.  The Island Show Fountains are programmed to music and lights year- round and you can purchase a ticket to ride “The Wheel” which is 200 feet tall.  There truly is something for everyone to enjoy at The Island.

The afternoon also includes a tour & tasting at Ole Smoky Moonshine Museum & Distillery.  As you approach the entrance, you can detect the distinct smell of their grains cooking and fermenting.  You’ll see authentic working moonshine stills and experience the process from beginning to end.  Their distillers will take the time to visit with you and answer any questions about the history and lore of moonshining in East Tennessee.  Enjoy a sample of their classic moonshine including Original Unaged Corn Whiskey, White Lightnin’ and Moonshine Cherries.

Tonight, enjoy Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Show.  This show is filled with friendly North and South competitions, thrilling horse-riding stunts, spectacular special effects, phenomenal musical productions plus a mouth-watering four-course feast complete with a delicious dessert!  Also, Stampede’s SKEETER & NUGGET™ show delivers a huge helping of family-friendly comedy at every show!  As Dolly says, “It’s the most fun place to eat in the Smokies.” (B,D)

This morning, enjoy a guided tour of Cades Cove.  Journey along an 11-mile, one-lane looping road into remote Cades Cove.  This hidden valley is framed by picturesque mountain peaks and was hunted by the Cherokee for centuries.  Many of the original structures from this historic community of almost 300 people still stand today.  Here you are literally walking through history.

After your tour, depart for Townsend and enjoy lunch at the Apple Valley Café with the finest comfort food the Smokies have to offer.  Taste some the best smoked barbecue, home-made chicken salad or real fried-apple pies you’ve ever had!  With the addition of the Beer Garden, there’s never been a better reason to drop by the burger bar and sip a local brew.

Following lunch, visit the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center celebrating East Tennessee’s rich cultural legacy and the vibrant history of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Through engaging exhibits, interactive programs, live demonstrations, and immersive festivals, you’ll traverse the myriad traditions of Townsend and Tuckaleechee Cove.

The remainder of the day will be spent at the Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival, a summertime spectacle now in its 9^th year. Several professional balloonists light up the evening sky with a beautiful balloon glow.  The sky will be filled with a spectrum of color like never before, against a backdrop of a breathtaking Tennessee sunset.  There will be live entertainment, craft demonstrations and vendors, a food truck court, beer tent, and a 20-minute laser light show this evening.

Not only can you enjoy the Balloon Festival, but you will also enjoy the Sip TN Wine Fest this evening.  Experience, a wine-lover’s paradise set against the stunning backdrop of hot air balloons and Smoky Mountain views.  Sample world-class wines, meads, and hard ciders from 12+ Tennessee wineries, meet the makers behind the bottles, and purchase your favorite bottles to take home.  Dinner will be on your own this evening at the festival. (B,L)

After breakfast depart for home. (B)