Summer Begins in the Smokies!

The kids are eagerly awaiting the final bell to ring to signal what they have been feeling for weeks: summer is here! And with summer comes family vacations and fun! The Smokies are surrounded by plenty of activities and adventures for your family to experience.

Friday, June 13 opens Dollywood's Kidsfest! Kidsfest features shows especially for the kids, such as the VeggieTales Live! show, returning again this year by popular demand. This year the Kratt brothers, featured in PBS' Zoobomafoo series, are joining the scene for Kidsfest.

Up and down the middle of Pigeon Forge, the Parkway is bursting at the seams with attractions. Dixie Stampede is premiering a newly choreographed show this season, featuring the Stampede of the Buffalo. In the center of Pigeon Forge you will find The Old Mill Square, a historical complex complete with restaurants, a bakery and creamery, a candy shop, a pottery shop, craft shops, and of course, a working mill, all of which are joined by cobblestone paths. The mill is one of the most photographed in the country, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you are looking for something a little more fast-paced, challenge your family to a shoot-out, futuristic style at one of the Lazer Tag facilities on the Parkway, Ultrazone and Lazerport. Lazerport features a state of the art lazertag arena as well as an arcade, go-carts, and black light mini-golf. If go-carts are your primary interest, check out the Nascar SpeedPark, where on June 25, Nascar racer Kasey Kahne will be appearing! Nascar SpeedPark boasts 8 tracks where you can show your kids how it's done.

East Tennessee is home to the Tennessee Smokies. However, these particular Smokies aren't exactly the tall mountainous formations with trees... you will find bears though! Big, huggable ones that will take pictures with you and lead you as you root, root, root for the home team. The Smokies are East Tennessee's minor league baseball team, and in June their season is in full-tilt. Taking on teams such as Chattanooga Lookouts and Mobile Bay Bears, this season promises exciting home games.