Pigeon Forge KOA

Bush's bean factory has a nice café for a lunch and a museum that even your nephew will like. Its not big and wont take a lot of time to do. Take a day trip into Knoxville to the museums there and have an "urban" day. Take a hike up to Clingman's Dome. Dollywood is open all that week from 11am to 9pm. Townsend has The Appalachian Heritage Center and Cades Cove is near by in the park. Pigeon Forge has a Hard Rock Café restaurant that is great with a lot of memorabilia. The Old Mill restaurant is right by where the KOA is. The parking lot of the Smokies Stadium is decked out with a drive through light show at night, plus its near the Bass Pro Shop store and the Russel Stover outlet store. Also the Smoky Mountain Knife Works is up on that end of the strip.

There is so much to do all you have to do is go out and stop into things that look interesting. Google Maps is very helpful for getting around. Traffic will be heavy during that time too so bring lots of patience. If you have any other questions please ask.

Cool thanks for the tips! Ill definitely add the bean factory and the heritage center to the list

Townsend is a nice quiet place to explore, and wouldn't miss Cades Cove. Also, not sure when the road to Clingman's Dome is closed for the winter. Lots of good hiking around Cades Cove though, and if a simple trail is desired, the trail behind the Sugarland Visitor center may be good for the 11 year old if he is not up for a lot of hiking.

I have to add Ober Gatlinburg to the list. Think your nephew would like a day of snow tubing? They have a great tubing hill and you being from Houston area he may just like to play in the snow for a bit of fun.

Fort Worth (dallas)

but yea, snow tubing would be fun for me as well! Ill look that one up and put it on the list too thanks!

I knew that.........lol.

There's a nice 8 mile Arts and Craft drive out of Gatlinburg to get you away from the throngs and asian trinkets.. starts a traffic light #3 in Gatlinburg.

http://www.gatlinburgcrafts.com

The Little River Road from Sugarland to Townsend is beautiful. Then, from Townsend to Cades Cove is 7 miles of more beauty.

its just me wrote:
The Little River Road from Sugarland to Townsend is beautiful. Then, from Townsend to Cades Cove is 7 miles of more beauty.

Absolutely. The Sugarland Visitor Center is nice, and the road is beautiful. And, as stated above, once at Townsend, you only have 7 miles of really nice driving to Cades Cove.

Thanks for the tips folks!

Ill add the visitor center to the list as well, looks like a real cool drive from Townsend!