Want a great little place chock full of family entertainment choices? Then set your Garmin GPS device for the Great Smoky Mountains and a place called Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Within about 10 miles of highway, there are enough attractions to bankrupt Donald Trump. From a five-star amusement park to a water park to putt-putt venues to wall-to-wall shopping, this East Tennessee tourist attraction has everything to thrill your family for many days.

The headliner for the area has to be the amusement park that could, Dollywood. The namesake of one of the leading women of Nashville, Dolly Parton, this once Silver Dollar City, Western-themed park benefited from untold millions in investment by the voluptuous country crooner and now boasts some of the best roller coasters in the nation. The wooden coaster just a couple of years old was rated number one in the world. This is not your father's wooden roller coaster. It is a twirling, rolling, coiling mass of wood weaving its way between hills and trees to thrill young and old.

Interspersed between are water rides that always stay packed, especially in the summer heat of East Tennessee. There are plenty of rides for the little one also, so the whole family can be happy as you wind around the confines of this Tennessee gold mine. True to her career, Ms. Parton also has plenty of music-themed attractions for the not-so-young-at-heart, as well as a theatre where her popular friends come in and thrill capacity crowds all through the year.

Another product of Ms. Parton's effort is the neighboring complex of water rides that twist and turn down the mountainside that is known as Splash Country. This is a great addition to the Pigeon Forge area, allowing people to travel a couple of hours to enjoy what normally is only found at the beach or in Florida.

Just down the road is another Dolly Parton-coordinated attraction known as Dixie Stampede. Yes, this is a Southern-themed attraction, but you should expect that. Don't worry, shoes are required and teeth also, as this is a dinner theater kind of place. While you watch and dine with only the utensils God blessed you with, there is a North-versus-South show playing out before you. It puts things in a humorous setting and lets everyone get to have big laughs as you stuff your face with great food.

For the lady-folks, there is a myriad of shopping opportunities within this whole area. The list of stores includes The Children Place, Old Navy, Izod, Geoffery Beane and hundreds more. The list is nearly endless as you choose multiple collections of shops throughout the area. No self-respecting shopper could be wanting for much more in such a concentrated area.

There are also about as many places to dine with food for every palette, as many of the national franchises collect in droves to get their piece of the action. Unlike most places you go on a weekend, there are enough of these fine eating establishments that the one and two hour wait is not commonplace.

For accommodations, you have a multitude of choices. From cabins to timeshare units, there is any choice you want for places to stay. Many of these have indoor pools and hot tubs to delight your children. A couple even have indoor water slides, something you don't get everywhere you go.

The list of license plates of cars that collect in this place is impressive, with people from all corners of the United States and Canada traveling to the mountains of East Tennessee. Ms. Parton has certainly rewarded the members of her hometown area by investing in and creating such a world-class entertainment venue. There is sure to be more growth in this hot-bed of entertainment for years to come.

This tidbit of real travel advice was contributed by Joe Owens.