Our old house was walking distance from The MIM. We used to go just to have lunch in the exceptional restaurant there. @thumper1 has been to The MIM more than once. 
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The MIM is my favorite museum anywhere. Very well curated, and always a special exhibit as well. The permanent exhibits are so good, I could see them over and over.
Sadly, I’m missing that one on this trip…but I think I’ve been there 5 times so…next year.
I don’t think this is a tourist trap at all!
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According to the tour yesterday, Talisien is no longer a school.
We just stopped at Arcosanti…some small fellowship programs there. Interesting place! Not a tourist trap
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… and don’t forget Reptile Gardens. I fondly remember a family vaca a hitting all the spots in the Black Hills.
I love Sedona anyway, but it’s a real reminder of why national/state parks matter. Imagine if the heart of the wilderness there had been preserved earlier, and the town and tourist services were outside the gates, like at Zion and Rocky Mountain national parks. That would make it so much more magnificent! Conversely, imagine the town of Sedona on the valley floor at Zion. It could easily have worked out that way if we didn’t have the political will to protect it.
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Completely agree.
Darn, have a bit of a cold and had to cancel our daytrip to Rocky Mountain National Park. That reminded me to put an update (a bit of a tangent…. sorry) about Estes Park, the more popular entry point at the eastern side of the park. Busy place, but I don’t really think of it as a “TT” (Tourist Trap).
Since there are no services in (except camping) in the 415 square mile mountainous park, there are lots of cabins and small hotels and restaurants in Estes Park and of course shops too. But it’s a small town, just a few blocks long. Tons of traffic in the summer, but you can bypass most traffic by using the Fall River entrance (or avoid altogether by hiking at Wild Basin area).
Here are some photos from “the main drag” Sept 2020, which had less traffic due to covid, around 8am. The first shows elk at Bond Park in the middle of town, where they often have concerts or craft fairs. The second shows elk on the street itself… there were more, but I was too shocked to capture them all on camera.
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We visited my husband’s sister and her family in Evergreen. Wow, so many elk on the streets! Looked like whole herds.
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Thought of you guys today; I’m currently sitting in a hotel in Pigeon Forge. Never been to the area before, holy crap! It’s like Helen, GA, Myrtle Beach and a state fair had a baby 
We came to explore the Smokey Mountain National Park, but we’re going to embrace the tourist trap of it all. D20 wants to do all the kitschy things, so looks like we’re going miniature golfing, heading to the crime museum or maybe catching a cringy show or Dollywood in between sightseeing in the mountains. 22° out in the mountains today, but we did see some elk
Any tourist trap/kitschy things we shouldn’t miss? Why is there so much island and beach stuff here? I’m so confused.
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It’s like Myrtle Beach at the mountains. I lump Myrtle Beach, Gatlinburg, and Branson MO together in my mind. I think you might be able to throw in Helen Ga and maybe the Wisconsin Dells too. Not my scene but the mountains are pretty. For future reference you could try Townsend TN or Bryson City NC next time you visit the Smokies. You don’t have to go to Gatlinburg.
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Do not underestimate Dollywood - it is a great theme park! When we were in the area years ago there was a mountain side roller coaster that was just awesome.
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The mountains/views are beautiful
thankfully our Hilton status and points get us a cheap quick trip because oy vey. It’s currently 19°, so we’re going to do the Gatlinburg artist/craftsman loop until it warms up a bit. DD feels like a kid again. Everyone keeps recommending the crime museum, so we’ll probably do that one evening. I also just found a $5 movie theatre for new releases; don’t think we can pass up that deal.
@Leigh22 we’re to try to go before we leave if the weather cooperates.
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That hiking is in the Smokies, though, not Gatlinburg. The National Park is not the tourist trap.
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They stayed in Gatlinburg and she said it was fun. Lots of distillery tours, restaurants with live music, and she even enjoyed Dollywood.
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Asheville, NC is another area where parts of it are incredibly tacky and touristy IMO and other parts are great. I’ve been there twice and loved it. We spent a good deal of our time at the Biltmore Estate/Gardens (went on all kinds of tours) and stayed at the inn on site. In addition, we did lots of hiking in the Pisgah National Forest. We went into Asheville (the city) a few times for dinner and to visit an area with art galleries.
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If you are in Asheville, a side trip to Brevard is worthwhile. Many nice hikes with gorgeous waterfalls in the area.
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We are going there in June - H and I and our oldest are interested in the hiking, my mom is all about the Biltmore Estate, my youngest downtown Asheville and my dad hanging back at the rental with the dogs and the hot tub. I’m hoping a week isn’t too long of a stay.
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I have never seen anything on the scale of tacky in Asheville that you will find in Gatlinburg. No wax museums, no Ripley’s, no upside down buildings, no Titanics. Asheville has got a lot of boutiques and gift shops geared toward tourists, but in no way can it be in the same league as Gatlinburg.
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A week is not too long. It’s a fun city. Very popular, but not a tourist trap. Great beer, food, art, and music scenes.
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