Alcatraz East Crime Museum Presents True Crimes Utilizing Rare Artifacts

There's something about crime that keeps us intrigued. For anyone who has ever had a interest in the mob, unsolved mysteries, and criminal proceedings, the Alcatraz East Crime Museum is a must see when visiting Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This is defiantly one of those attractions draws you in, and keeps you stunned and curious as to what awaits around the corner.

We enjoyed the exhibit space on Pirates that explores the flags used, and history of the escapades. There was also an exhibit on the Old West that revealed details on the life of Billy, The Kid and others like Jesse James, who lived outside the law. Throughout the exhibits you'll find artifacts that include the Pocket Army Revolver owned by Allan Parmer, who was married to Jesse's sister, Susan.

We live in Morgan County, Indiana, which is where John Dillinger once lived, and actually robbed a local grocery store. So, it was interesting to see the exhibit on mobsters, and the death mask of Dillinger himself. The details described by both sides of the law are fascinating. There are newspaper clipping and Public Enemy poster featuring many mobsters you will recognize.

Did You Know? The origins of NASCAR can be traced back to bootlegging - you can learn more about this history and more at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum. And, if you'd like to try some free samples of moonshine visit the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery that has a location right behind the AE Museum at The Island. They also have locations in Gatlinburg too, and they offer free concerts with artists like Monroeville!

We are in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, so there are many moon-shining tales to be told. Learn about the law and lawless who brewed shine by moon light, and the extraordinary skills of the drivers running the loads during prohibition. These drivers, like NASCAR legend, Junior Johnson, became famous for their skills on and off the track. - Oh, Johnson is a partner in "Midnight Moon" moonshine today, and they use his family recipe to craft the shine.

Remember, the Alcatraz East Crime Museum has a huge collection of artifacts on so many aspects of crime. It's so diverse, and wide ranging you'll spend hours moving from one exhibit to another. It was a strange feeling to see the headlines on the serial killing from my youth. Some of the exhibits stir memories of where we were when these events happened.

There are moving exhibits to Missing Persons like Nancy Halloway, and to the victims and heroes of 9/11. This is one off those moments when you just pause, and take a moment of silence in their honor.

This museum is more than just a achieve of historic relics. Whether it is Bronco that O.J. Simpson drove or postcards written by Charles Manson - each piece within the Alcatraz East Crime Museum has a story to tell. There are so many tales to be told that you'll find yourself discovering new stories each time you visit.

Plan Your Visit To Alcatraz East

Alcatraz East is located at the entrance to The Island, at 2757 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, near the Margaritaville Hotel and Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen. For ticket information and current exhibits visit their website at www.alcatrazeast.com.

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Join Us As We Rediscover The Great Smoky Mountains

The warmth and hospitality found in Gatlinburg, and region of the Great Smoky Mountains makes you feel like a friend returning home. And, the region is thriving, and welcomes you to rediscover their giving spirit, the natural beauty, and heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains!

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Catch Monroeville At The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distilleries

While visiting friends in Gatlinburg recently we discovered the foot stomping, and spirited tunes played by Monroeville at The Holler at the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery. They play at two locations, so you can catch them in Pigeon Forge at The Island, or in Gatlinburg throughout October.

Monroeville’s blending of traditional acoustic instruments creates lively, toe-tapping grooves that put a smile on your face. Ask anyone who was there at The Holler in Gatlinburg and they'll tell you they had a great time when the guys took the stage. Young and old, everyone loved their music, which was evident by the children dancing alongside their parents. Capturing the spirit of the moment was an older gentleman who had on white tap shoes, and danced his heart out throughout the evening.

What a great location for free concerts - you can sample a tasty selection of moonshine at the Old Smoky Mountain Distillery, and hang around for the show. Be warned - move your feet - lose your seat. We watched from above, and when Monroeville paused for break and a couple left someone was right there to claim the empty rocking chairs.

It was amazing to learn of the local connection Monroeville has with our home state of Indiana - they took their name in honor of Bill Monroe. Bluegrass fans know that they'll find some of the best music around at the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, Bean Blossom Blues Festival, and others held at the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground in Brown County, Indiana.

We’ve seen bands at the Bill Monroe Music Park, and with Monroeville’s soulful melodies led by GRAMMY® nominated producer and engineer, Matt Munsey,  would rock the park with their unique Bluegrass style. They love the music. Listen to their music online, and you can tell whether they're playing country and bluegrass or laying down the blues - the music is what matters. And, that's what the world needs more of - music that is natural, and comes from the heart that reaches beyond boundaries and unites us!


Learn More And Order Monroeville’s Albums 

Visit the Monroeville website to learn more about the band, upcoming concert dates and locations, as well as order their albums. Or, check out their Face Book and YouTube pages.

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Getaways At The Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg

Located on River Road, the Hilton Garden Inn is just around the corner from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This made it easy to plan our visit to the park while enjoying a hearty breakfast cooked the way we like it at the Garden Grille. It was a buffet, and all you can eat - there was plenty of good food to pick from - more than we could eat.

The Hilton Garden Inn has a spacious lobby, so there was plenty of room to eat breakfast and talk with folks in town for the Fall Rod Run Car Show in Pigeon Forge. We all agreed that the staff at the Hilton Garden Inn were very helpful, especially when it came to directions to avoid traffic. If you've been here during peak seasons you know traffic can be challenging. They also have complimentary parking!

One suggestion the Hilton staff had was using the Trolley that is just a short walk away. They were right - it is an affordable way to get around Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. And, the Trolley makes is easy to get around to area festivals like the Fall Rod Run Car Show, and visit some of the exciting attractions like WonderWorks, Ober Gatlinburg, and Dollywood. 

After visiting Dollywood, and other sites it was nice to come back and relax in our cozy room. There are 118 spacious guest rooms and suites with amenities that include complimentary WiFi access, a refrigerator that is great for snacks and drinks, along with a microwave, and coffeemaker. The Gatlinburg Convention Center is within walking distance, and for those in town on business there is an over-sized work desk with a comfortable chair, in addition to a 24-hour Business Center.

Did You Know? - Hilton Garden Inn is the first in LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Certified hotel in Tennessee, which means it has several environmentally friendly features like the indoor chemical-free saltwater pool and whirlpool.

Another advantage to staying at the Hilton Garden Inn is we could walk to local restaurants like The Park Grill. If you want a taste of the Great Smoky Mountains, The Park Grill is the ideal place for locally sourced selections like their fresh Fresh Mountain Rainbow Trout or Hickory Grilled Moonshine Chicken. Speaking of moonshine, after dinner we walked a few blocks to the Old Smoky Mountain Distillery to sample some moonshine, and we enjoyed a free concert featuring Monroeville. 

Our stay at the Hilton Garden Inn was memorable, they have a wonderful staff, and with perfect location in Gatlinburg, we were able to enjoy everything we wanted to see on this trip. We look forward to coming back soon because there's so much more than we imagined to experience in the Gatlinburg, and the Great Smoky Mountains!

Plan Your Stay At The Hilton Garden Inn in Gatlinburg, TN

With the Hilton Honors program you can also save with a Guaranteed Discount on your trip. Members can enjoy late check-out, and earn points on other trips or airline and rail miles. To explore rates and current packages available at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gatlinburg visit their website. 

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Five Reasons To Visit WonderWorks

WonderWorks is one of those places that is fun for everyone. We spent hours exploring this Indoor Amusement Park in Pigeon Forge. There are activities  that spark your creativity, some that make you laugh, and others that make you curious to figure out how they do that. Really, what a better way to engage our imaginations than to give us a place where not everything is as it appears - or - is it? When it comes to reasons to visit WonderWorks we have a long list, and have  selected our top five:

1. Everywhere you turn you'll discover something unexpected and interesting to experience. One example is the art you'll find like the Parrot portrait that test your perception of the world around you.

2. There are so many things to do around every corner. You can try wall climbing, climb to new height, or lying on a Bed of Nails. How about trying to create the biggest bubble? You can do that and so much more at WonderWorks.

(Credits: WonderWorks)

3. There's always something new to see and do at WonderWorks because they have changing exhibits. And, in early October, WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge will present a new NASA exhibit that let's your imaginations take off to the stars. The exhibit will feature scaled models of spacecraft and a virtual reality experience of NASA’s new rocket, the Space Launch System, and much more. 

4. They make science interesting! They take Forensic Science and present it in a way that makes us want to stop and learn more. From the science behind finger printing to reconstruction of a face, WonderWorks makes learning a hands-on experience that is hard to forget.

5. It's just fun! Where else will you find a giant Wonder Brite or Pac Man game? They have a place to play games with tokens and get a bit to eat. There's also space for parties. And there is a all new show called Wonders of Magic with magician, Terry Evanswood. 

We hope you have as much fun as we did!

 Plan Your Visit To WonderWorks 

WonderWorks has several locations, including one in Orlando, Panama City Beach, Myrtle Beach, Syracuse and West Nyack, NY. To explore locations, current exhibits, activities, shows, and buy your ticket to WonderWorks visit their website.

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Enjoy Music, Crafts, And Fun At The Tennessee Fall Homecoming

The Tennessee Fall Homecoming is known as one of the largest and most authentic music, folk, and craft festivals in the nation. Expect up to 400 nationally and regionally known musicians and singers to perform throughout this exciting festival.

There's much more than music to be enjoyed at the Homecoming in Tennessee - the Museum of Appalachia’s mission is to preserve and pass along the Appalachian heritage to younger generations, and with that said, there will be numerous demonstrations of old-time skills like molasses-making and rail-splitting, spinning and sheep herding, and much more during the festivities.

The Tennessee Fall Homecoming includes a large craft show with artisans selling pottery, baskets, wood carvings, musical instruments, honey, quilts, artwork, and countless other hand-made wares. Authors and musicians offer their books and CDs, and food vendors serve up traditional Appalachian “vittles”—from a full meal of cornbread and beans to special treats like fruit cobblers and homemade ice cream.

The Student Heritage Day at the Museum of Appalachia for students will be held in Early-Oct, with interactive music and activities geared toward youngsters. Homecoming visitors can also tour the extensive village-farm museum encompassing some three dozen authentic log structures, exhibit buildings filled with Appalachian artifacts, gardens surrounded by split rail fences, and a variety of farm animals in a picturesque setting. Unique, locally hand-crafted items are available in the gift shop, and a small café provides country meals, pinto beans and cornbread, and home-style desserts.

The Tennessee Fall Homecoming is a exciting event for those who love mountain, bluegrass, gospel, folk, and old country music, and, it is one event not to miss this fall!

Plan Your Trip To The Tennessee Fall Homecoming

For more information on Homecoming and other events at the Museum, call 865-494-7680 or visit the website: www.museumofappalachia.org.

Discover local events, attractions and more to experience in Anderson County, TN visit the Anderson County Tourism Council at http://www.yallcome.org/.

To explore getaway options visit the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development at http://www.tnvacation.com or call 1-800-462-8366.



Photo Credits: Museum of Appalachia

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Free Concerts, And The Great Pumpkin LumiNights Await At Dollywood's Harvest

Get ready for a festive month of concerts and fun at Dollywood's Harvest Festival that includes the the Great Pumpkin LumiNights from September 29th - October 28th.

Gather family and friends for an exciting month long music fest featuring the soulful tunes of Southern Gospel Performers at The Valley Theater and Showstreet Palace Theater this season at Dollywood.

Along with Gospel performances, Dollywood is also hosting the Great Pumpkin LumiNights that will light up the evening with colorful lights.

There will be a Glow Maze, Glow Face Painting, and Harvey the Pumpkin will be greeting guests all with his friends. There will also be Master Carvers offering a few creative tips for carving your pumpkins at the Volunteer Supply Company each day from 1 – 9 p.m.

Plus, you can sample some tasty treats like Candy Corn Cotton Candy, Caramel Apple Sundaes and Pumpkin Funnel Cakes.

It’s a wonderful time of the year to visit Dollywood for entertainment and fun at the Harvest Festival!

Plan Your Trip To Dollywood

To explore current ticket specials, festive event schedules, lodging options and advice on planning your visit to Dollywood visit their website or call 1-865-365-1900.

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Enjoy Tastings And Free Concerts At Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery

Bourbon has become a popular spirit being distilled across the country, and like wineries, they offer entertaining and educational tours. We've toured the Evan Williams Distillery in Louisville and sampled their variety of Kentucky Bourbon. And on our recent trip to Tennessee we discovered the first licensed distillery in the state, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery.

Did You Know? - The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg, at the "The Holler", is the most visited distillery America!

The Holler has a great location along the Parkway in Gatlinburg - just around the corner from the Hilton Garden Inn, where we stayed. It's close to all the attractions like the Ober Gatlinburg, shops, and dining options, and there's actually another location just down the street from The Holler that offers more tasty flavors of moonshine to sample - and there are so many of them. Plus, there's another location at The Island in Pigeon Forge, and each location of the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery has its own unique style and samples to try. 

What makes Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg a must see on your trip is the experience. Their staff is treated like family and it shows in the way you're greeted - with the warmth and hospitality of the Smoky's.

On the day of our visit the first thing we noticed was the smell of the moonshine fermenting. Everything is right there - you can see the corn mash - and the air is filled with an earthy scent. Take a tour of the distillery, and you'll learn this spirit was created from corn by the light of the moon - Moonshine - which allowed them to see anyone coming, and avoid being caught by the local law. In fact, you could say that the family recipe used to create Ole Smoky Moonshine is as old as the hills.

After your tour you can sample some of the Ole Smoky Moonshine. This is the fun part. The friendly and knowledgeable folks, like Red, who are in charge of your moonshine tastings are defiantly  entertaining. We were all laughing as he shared the history of moonshine, a few tips for recipes, along with some hilarious jokes.

We couldn't believe how many different flavors of moonshine there were to sample. There's the Original and Blue Flame that were some of our favorites. They’ve also created some splendid moonshine with fruit like their Apple Pie Moonshine that is delicious as well as Mulberry, and Peach, which is popular in Georgia. We also loved the Mountain Java that is perfect for adding to coffee, and Some Beach Moonshine - a smooth coconut shine, and perfect for mixed drinks or on the rocks. And, there is a Mango Habanero Whiskey that has a kick. 

If you check out the Ole Smoky Moonshine website you'll find recipes for mixing up all kinds of delicious drinks like a Moonshine Margarita, or Mocha Almond that includes: 

    3 oz. Ole Smoky® Mountain Java Moonshine

    .5 oz. Half & Half

    1 oz. Amaretto 

Mix up in a glass, pour over ice, and enjoy! (There are some great recipes for the holidays too!) 

Along with all the flavors moonshine and whiskey you can also bring home a taste of the Great Smoky Mountains by selecting from a assortment of tasty jams, sauces, peppers, or try some Smoky Mountain Taffy Logs. 

From sampling moonshine to free concerts with artists like Monroeville, you're certain to have a memorable time when you visit the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg!

Plan Your Tasting Adventure At The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery In Gatlinburg

The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery at The Holler is located at 903 Parkway in Gatlinburg. It won't be hard to find because you can smell the moonshine fermenting as you come around the corner. To explore their extensive collection of moonshine and whiskey available visit the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery website. For a tasty selection of recipes to try for your next party use this link. Ole Smoky Moonshine is sold across the nation and beyond, so look for it in your local liquor store as well if you cannot make the trip down to their Smoky Mountains Tennessee locations.

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