News from PigeonForge.com

This section is dedicated to you, our readers! Feel free to email us any of your fun stories from your vacation in Pigeon Forge. Send us photos, memories, travel tips, anything that you would like to tell us about your experience in the Smokies. Every week we will highlight reader's comments in this article. Thanks for all the feedback. We love to hear from you.

Question of the Week, "Do you have a special tradition (a secret spot, or a restaurant you have to eat at) for your vacation to Pigeon Forge?"

Last week's question, "Have you ever seen a bear in the Smokies? If so, where did you see it?"

Terry says, "Yes, we have seen many bears over the years we have been coming to the Smokies. But I guess the best time was when we were out in Cades Cove. We came up on a bear jam and my wife would always jump out with her camera to get pictures in case the bear disappeared before we got to it. Well, this time she jumped out and then right back into the van, because the bear was right there at the door. Really a close up view and yes, she got the picture, too, after getting the door closed."

Linda writes, "Our group of 5 were on a girl's trip to the Smokies, my 2 daughters, my sister, my neice, and myself. We were staying in a cabin on Baskins Creek Road. Being from Louisiana, we were cooking our great Cajun Food. We had the windows in the kitchen and the back door open. After eating, we went into the hot tub. My sister stayed on the steps next to the hot tub. She was the first to see the mama bear & her 2 cubs just a mere broomstick away from her. They sniffed around a little bit and went on their way. What a thrill it was for us. Lucky for us mama bear stayed her distance."

Jim says, "Talk about timely questions. We just got back from the Smokey's and while hiking to the chimneys, we saw a mother and a very small cub on the trail. I was surprised at how small the mother and cub were. We also saw a bear feeding in the trees on the rainbow falls trail."

Kimberly writes, "On my family's very first trip to the Smokies, we were driving into the entrance to the park from the Wears Valley side. There was a small line of traffic so we were going about 10 miles an hour. All of a sudden, to our left, a small bear cub came tumbling down one of the side of the small hills!! Right on the heels of the baby was the mother bear coming to protect her cub! We were so excited, we could barely breathe! Not knowing if we were in immediate danger, all of the cars stopped and waited to see what would happen. The mother calmly gathered her baby, and they both went about their business leaving all of us free to enjoy our drive though the mountains! An exciting and unforgettable beginning to a wonderful, never-ending love affair with the Smokies and their inhabitants!!"