Dolly Parton comes home to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee this weekend to open an exciting new season of her namesake Dollywood theme park. Dolly’s popular annual Homecoming Parade will fill downtown Pigeon Forge with country music, marching bands, colorful floats and excitement as Dolly herself parades down the Parkway, waving to fans. If you’re enjoying a Pigeon Forge vacation this weekend, you’ll want to stake out a viewing spot well before the parade’s 6 p.m. kickoff.

Also on tap for Mother’s Day weekend are the Shrine FunFest Parade and Music in the Parks band and chorus competition on Saturday. Mom might also enjoy The Bluegrass Opry at Smoky Mountain Guitars (through June 30) and the special Titanic Museum exhibit, Behind the Scenes of Jim Cameron’s Titanic (through December 31).

But Mother’s Day weekend is just the tip of the iceberg! Pigeon Forge has a whole summer of exciting events planned for Smoky Mountain vacationers. If you want to join the fun at Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass celebration from May 26 to June 10, 2012, you’ll want to book your Pigeon Forge cabin rentals on iTrip.net now.

One of the summer’s most popular events, the Dollywood Barbeque and Bluegrass Festival features more than 300 free concerts by some of the country’s greatest bluegrass musicians – along with some of the best finger-lickin’ BBQ in the South! This year’s festival headliner, Grammy award-winner Ricky Skaggs, will be joined on stage by Kentucky Thunder, Riders in the Sky, Rhonda Vincent and more. If you love country, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

The incredible Titanic Museum is the newest “must-see” attraction if you’re taking a Pigeon Forge vacation. More than 400 artifacts document the amazing story of the Titanic’s ground-breaking construction, heart-rending loss on her maiden voyage, and the modern-day discovery and reclamation of this storied ship. Self-guided tours allow Pigeon Forge vacationers to take their time exploring the exhibits and reliving the tragic tale.

The launch of the RMS Titanic on April 10, 1912 made history. The largest, most luxurious passenger liner of her day, the Titanic took 3 years to build and was a model of state-of-the-art steam-engine technology. Considered unsinkable, the Titanic left Belfast, Ireland on her maiden voyage to New York City with 2,223 people on board. Five days later, the gigantic ship struck an iceberg and sank, killing 1,517 people in one of the most tragic maritime disasters in history. Despite numerous attempts, the wreck of the Titanic was not discovered until 1985. More than two decades were spent salvaging artifacts from the ship’s grave 2.5 miles beneath the sea.

The 1997 James Cameron film Titanic romanticized the ship’s legendary history for a whole new generation. Pigeon Forge vacationers familiar with the Leonardo DiCaprio-Kate Winslet film will recognize the Grand Staircase and other artifacts duplicated in the movie. At trip to the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge brings the legend alive. Just a short distance from charming Pigeon Force cabin rentals [http://www.itrip.net/smoky-mountains-vacation-rentals/tn/united-states/search], vacationers can walk the Grand Staircase, try their hand at steering the behemoth ship, touch a real iceberg and experience the chilling 28-degree water with which survivors had to contend. You can listen to stories from actual survivors of the tragedy and see photos of the remarkable discovery of the wreck.

Don’t miss the opportunity to live the Titanic legend. Book Pigeon Forge vacation rentals on iTrip.net today.

Wears Valley, “the peaceful side of the Smokies” is also one of the most beautiful areas of the Smokies. Situated on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s a great place for a romantic getaway. While on your Wears Valley vacation, casually browse the unique shops with your partner and enjoy great entertainment at the local music theaters. Wears Valley also provides several romantic hikes.

Ace Gap is one of Cades Cove’s most peaceful trails. The five and a half miles trail doesn’t change much in altitude, allowing for an easy hike. On the way to Ace Gap you and your partner have the opportunity to see Bull Cave, the largest cave in Cades Cove. The bottom of the cave is about 500 feet below the surface.

With its flat surface, the Beard Cane trail is very suitable for a casual, romantic stroll through the woods. You’ll go through the hollow between Beard Cane and Hatcher Mountains. The Beard Cane trail features beautiful wild flowers and flowering shrubs including trillium, polygala, dog-hobble and rhododendron. Trees such as tulip, oak and maple form beautiful canopies along the hiking area.

The flat Rich Mountain Loop trail provides a peaceful hike with beautiful fall color. The trail offers many wonderful views of Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Wears Valley vacation rentals are within easy reach of the popular Smoky Mountain Winery in nearby Gatlinburg. The winery, located in an attractive mountain setting, offers free wine tasting of its award winning signature wines. Try some raspberry wine.

While in Gatlinburg spend a romantic evening dining at the Cherokee Grill. The low lighting and attractive fire place along with the rustic elegance provides a romantic ambiance. The upscale restaurant also provides tasty food.

Have a wonderful romantic vacation in the beautiful Wears Valley.

Bring the family and enjoy the winter wonderland of four million lights and more than 20 attractions and rides. Dollywood provides a variety of great activities and shows. The Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival, offered from November 5th to December 30th, has fun for people of all ages. The sounds of the Christmas season fill the air as the wonderful lights illuminate the sky. The Dollywood Christmas celebration offers great shows and is with in easy reach of Pigeon Forge cabin rentals.

Visits with Santa: The kids have a great time watching the elves busy at work in Santa’s Workshop. It’s a giant toy store filled with larger-than-life toys, tons of activities and an opportunity for the kids to visit with Santa.

Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland Show: It’s Dollywood’s most elaborate stage show, featuring a cast of 20 performers along with a fully-orchestrated musical score. Visitors are escorted through a magical setting featuring high-flying acrobatics, fantastic puppets and more. This wonderful show entertains the whole family.

Stage shows: Dollywood offers entertaining hometown holiday favorites, Christmas story musicals, Christmas gospel hymns and songs and more.

Parade of Lights: This festive parade, happening twice every night, features enjoyable holiday characters as well as twinkling Christmas floats decorated with attractive, brightly colored lights.

Carol of the Trees: Families have a great time watching thousands of lights and pyrotechnics synchronized to delightful holiday music.

Christmas in the Smokies: The cast, accompanied by a seven piece band, plays the holiday favorites. The slow lasts for about an hour.

The Polar Express 4-D Experience: Kids enjoy a fantastic journey with the Polar Express 4-D Experience. It’s more than just a holiday movie, it’s an adventure.

Enjoy the fantastic Dollywood Mountain Christmas Festival on your Pigeon Forge vacation!

Prepare to be scared! Ghosts and goblins are on the prowl. Zombies roam the streets, and witches on broomsticks soar through the air. Ripley’s Fright Nights have begun in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A month-long celebration of spooky Halloween fun, Ripley’s Fright Nights are sure to make your hair stand on end and send shivers down your spine. The highlight of any October Gatlinburg vacation, Fright Nights run through Halloween on October 31.

A popular Smoky Mountain attraction located close to cozy Gatlinburg vacation cabin rentals, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, providing year-round haunted house thrills on the site of an abandoned casket factory! Throughout the month of October, special Fright Nights shows are offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and are included in the price of admission to Ripley’s Haunted Adventure. Great fun for older children, teens and adults, Fright Nights can be a little scary for younger children. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and children under 6 years old will not be admitted. Ripley’s Fright Nights and Ripley’s Haunted Adventure are located at 908 Parkway (traffic light #8) in Gatlinburg.

This year’s spine-tingling Fright Nights theme is Backwoods Terror: You Just Made a Wrong Turn. Fright Nights fun starts with a character parade at 6:13 p.m. before visitors embark on a harrowing journey into the creepy Tennessee backwoods. Preying on your senses, chainsaws roar in the distance while the smell of the undead assaults your nose. Costumed actors leap from the dark as you creep through the dank and moldy woods. With unknown critters skittering underfoot and bats swooping from above, a new horror lurks around every twist and turn in your path. At the end of a night of heart-stopping fun, your only questions will be, “Can we go again?”

For an awesome Halloween, book your Gatlinburg vacation cabin rentals at iTrip.net today.