Smoke’n In The Smokies

Beat the heat and head for the Smoky Mountains. We have a fantastic tour that includes two river cruises, two railroads, a trip on the Lost Sea, dinner in the Mayor’s home in Chattanooga, an unbelievable aquarium, Ruby Falls, Rock City Gardens and the observation deck of Sunsphere. You’re going to love it! Tour includes four breakfasts, one lunch and five dinners, Y’all Come! We will be departing Wood bridge at 6:15 a.m. and Manassas at 7:00 a.m. Return time is approximately 8:30 p.m.
The Itinerary
DAY ONE: FRIDAY JULY 26
Settle in your seats for the morning drive thru the Shenandoah Valley as we make our way to Pigeon Forge where you will enjoy the incredible scenery. beautiful surroundings and hospitality of the Hampton Inn & Suites in Kodak, TN. We will not unload the baggage beneath the coach tonight so be sure and have your personal duffle with your overnight necessities to handle in and out of the hotel at this stop. This evening we are going to attend Dolly Parton’s Stampede. This is one of the most popular dinner shows in Pigeon Forge. The thrilling show is full of sets, music and special effects, 32 beautiful horses and a cast of top-notch performers. You’ll witness amazing horse-riding stunts and tricks in addition to foot stomping music by Dolly herself! As a friendly rivalry between the North and the South unfolds, you’ll be treated to a fabulous four-course feast featuring creamy vegetable soup, homemade biscuits, a whole rotisserie chicken, hickory smoked barbecued pork loin, corn on the cob, herb basted potato and The Stampede’s specialty dessert.
DAY TWO, SATURDAY, JULY 27
A buffet breakfast will be enjoyed before we depart Pigeon Forge for our next destination, Sweet water, TN Here, we are going to explore one of the underground wonders known as The Lost Sea, America’s largest underground lake. Your Lost Sea adventure begins with a guided tour of the caverns. This involves a ¾ mile round-trip walk on wide sloping pathways. While touring the caverns and underground lake our guides will tell of the cavern’s exciting and colorful history. They will also explain the fascinating geological development of the immense cavern rooms and rare formations. At the bottom of the cave, you will take a boat ride on The Sea, America’s Largest Underground Lake. Following our visit, we will make a fastfood stop to get something for lunch and bring back to bus to eat on-the-fly. It is a short drive to Chattanooga where overnight lodging for the next two nights will be at the Read House in the downtown area of the city. Your baggage will be delivered to your room where you can enjoy a brief downtime before you are to report to the lobby to depart for a delightful evening. First on the agenda is to experience your buffet dinner at the historical elegance of the Mayor’s Mansion Inn Bed and Breakfast. This 11-room bed and breakfast mansion inn was built in 1889. This will be followed by a sunset cruise aboard the Southern Bell Riverboat as we drift along the Tennessee River seeing Chattanooga’s riverfront as the city turns on its lights for the night. Following our evening on the river, we will return to the Read House for the night.
DAY THREE, SUNDAY, JULY 28
Enjoy breakfast. Be aboard the coach this morning as we depart on a three-hour guided tour of Chattanooga. This city is steeped in a rich history based on its legacy as a major railroad hub, access to the Tennessee River and location at the junction of four major interstates. It has received national recognition for the inspiring renaissance of its historic downtown and for its beautiful riverfront development. Our tour will concentrate of its history during the Civil War visiting the National Cemetery and Chickamauga. We will then proceed to the famous Rock City Gardens. Only 6 miles from downtown Chattanooga, Rock City is a true marvel of nature featuring massive ancient rock formations, gardens with over 400 native plant species, and breathtaking “See Seven States” panoramic views. Take an unforgettable journey along the Enchanted Trail where each step reveals natural beauty and wonders along the woodland path. Before we turn you lose to explore, we will enjoy a chicken tenders lunch with the trimmings at the Big Rock Grill. We will return to the hotel for some downtime. This evening we have a unique opportunity that allows you to enjoy not only a railroad excursion trip but also fine dining enroute with a three-course dining experience served onboard restored dining cars. food all prepared and served in historic dining cars. A meal on the Dinner Train is like stepping back in time and the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion! You will be returned to the hotel.
DAY FOUR, MONDAY, JULY 29
Enjoy Breakfast. This morning we are off to Lookout Mountain rising 2,000 feet above sea level and overlooking Chattanooga. The views are as amazing as the attractions that call this mountain home. We are going to start our adventure on a round trip ride on the Incline Railroad known as “America’s Most Amazing Mile.” The Incline’s trolley-style cars descends through the natural beauty surrounding historic Lookout Mountain at a breathtaking 72.7% grade – straight down! Sit back, try to relax and enjoy the scenic views of the mountains and views from the observation windows on the train as well as the panoramic views from the observation tower at The Incline’s top station.
We return down the mountain aboard the Incline to find our bus waiting to take us to another fascinating work of nature – Ruby Falls. We will journey deep inside historic Lookout Mountain to see the tallest underground cave waterfall open to the public in the United States! We will descend 260 feet by glass-front elevator to see ancient cave formations along the cavern trail to the thundering waterfall. The round trip walk from the elevator takes one hour to see this breathtaking site and be amazed at the thunder of the Falls. We will then make a fast food stop on our way to Knoxville, TN and overnight at the Hampton Inn Downtown. After some downtime, it is time to depart for a delightful dinner cruise on the Upper Tennessee River aboard the Volunteer Princess.
DAY FIVE, TUESDAY, JULY 30
Enjoy breakfast. This morning we will visit Sun sphere. Built for the 1982 World’s Fair, the Sun sphere is a one-of-a-kind structure.The 4th Floor Observation Deck offers a breathtaking 360-degree view stretching from downtown to the Great Smoky Mountains including World’s