pict ‘i ian Aly i al la | pa i “Leaf-Peeper Headquarters” For Great Smoky Mountains (NAPSA)—Cooler tempera- tures appearto trigger two chemi- cal reactions. One is in hardwood trees, causing colorful landscape changes and theotheris in travelers’ brains, generating the urge to go see thosetrees. Where To Go One popular spot to do so is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the largest wilderness tract in the eastern U.S. (800 square miles) and America’s most visited national park (9 million people a year). It’s a target for many of those travelers, and the resort town of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., becomes “Leaf-Peeper Headquarters.” “Mother Nature puts on her show, and Pigeon Forge provides lodging, restaurants, family attractions, shopping, theater entertainment and its own autumn decorations,” said Leon Downey, thecity’s executive director of tourism. Pigeon Forge is in the valley of the Little Pigeon River, and businesses throughout town build decorative displays with hay bales, mums, gourds, pumpkins and sunflowers for HarvestFest during the height of fall color season. The Dollywood themepark celebrates the season with its National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration, and Dollywood’s steam locomotive offers special train rides into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. What To Watch More than a dozen theaters, some seating up to 1,500, offer more than 20 showsfor entertainment after nightfall when a day’s leaf-peeping is done. Country and gospel music are plentiful, magicians spring their surprises in two theaters, family-friendly comedy reigns at another and there’s even a murder-mystery theater. Fantastic foliage is just part of the fun found on a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. Where To Eat Visitors never need go hungry in Pigeon Forge. True Southern country cooking is featured at the Old Mill Restaurant and Mama’s Farmhouse, barbecueis plentiful and a new restaurant—the Partridge and Pear—offers a hint of Christmas feasts every month of the year. WhatTo See One of the most spectacular sights is visible from Pigeon Forge’s central street, the Parkway, when the golden glow of a Tennessee sunset bathes the westfacing slope of Mt. LeConte. It’s a popular hiking destination; Cling- mans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee at 6,643 feet, is reach- able by car. Whether on Mt. LeConte, Clingmans Dome or any other Smoky Mountainsridge, there’s a variety of color. Maples turn red and orange; sourwoods turn pink; sumacs turn red; tulip poplars turn yellow; and beech trees turn yellow. How To Learn More Full visitor information is available online at MyPigeon Forge.com and toll-free at (800) 251-9100. Tennessee’s fall foliage hotline is (800) 697-4200.
