A Breakout Experience

The Escape Game in Pigeon Forge, TennesseeWhen you visit an attraction, you usually want to spend as much time there as you possibly can. It's only natural to want to get the most bang for your buck. But there's one type of tourist attraction in the Great Smoky Mountains where guests do the exact opposite: They try to get OUT of the building as soon as possible. In this case, however, it's not because they're having a bad time. In fact, when you visit an escape room, your goal is exit the challenge in the shortest amount of time.


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Wintertime Fun In The Mountains

Ski at Ober Gatlinburg in Tennessee.The cold days of winter are fully upon us here in the Great Smoky Mountains. And there's no doubt that the pace of life has slowed up, only if just a little, in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Dollywood and many of the local music theaters are on their annual winter hiatuses, and the lines to get into the attractions that are still open are shorter than they are during their summertime peaks. Other telltale signs, like shorter waits to get into restaurants and lighter traffic on the Parkway, surely indicate that things have slowed down a bit during this off-season.


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Camping In The Smokies

Tent camping in the national park.It's practically an instinctive reaction for anyone when booking vacation accommodations: Find a hotel or motel that's close to all the things you want to do and see in your getaway destination. And yes, hotels and motels-just like rental cabins and condos-have a lot of positive things going for them, such as convenient locations and lots of amenities. But we'd like to challenge that old habit. Maybe next time you hit the road, you should consider some form of camping.


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Winterfest In The Smokies

Sky Bridge gets festive lights for holidays.Winter doesn't officially arrive for another five weeks or so, but that hasn't stopped the communities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville from getting a head start on the season. These Smoky Mountain communities have already commenced their annual Winterfest activities, which run from November through February. The festival is four months' worth of decorations, special events and observations, all geared toward celebrating everything that's great about the Great Smoky Mountains and the tourist destinations that lie in their foothills.


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5 Things To Do On A Fall Day In The Smokies

Travel in the national park this fall.Summer has traditionally been the peak season for tourism in the Great Smoky Mountains. Schools are out, and it's the time when most folks choose to take their vacations. It only makes sense that June, July and August are the busiest months for leisure travel in the Smokies.


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Planning Your Smoky Mountain Vacation

Cabin on a mountain lakeNow that spring is here, more and more folks are starting to think about returning to the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Whether you're thinking about a quick weekend of shopping, hiking or relaxation or pulling out all the stops for a full-blown family vacation, we can give you some ideas for planning your trip, especially when it comes to accommodations. Smoky Mountain cabins offer a lot of options, and we can give you some recommendations when it comes to picking the one that will best suit your travel needs.


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5 Reasons To Travel With A Group To The Smokies

Group enjoying a vacationChances are that if you've been to the Great Smoky Mountains before, you went with either your spouse/significant other or your family, including the kids. But next time you plan a trip back to the Smokies, consider getting a group of people together. Traveling with six, eight or even 10 or more people in one party has a lot of advantages, both practical and intangible. Continue reading to learn just a few:

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5 Ways To Stay Fit When Vacationing In The Smokies

Ride your bike in the mountainsFor some of you, the very notion of staying fit on vacation is almost an oxymoron. “Half the fun of being on vacation is eating poorly and being lazy!” we can hear you saying at this very moment. And to some extent, that's a valid argument. But for those of you who are generally health-conscious and don't feel comfortable taking a vacation from your workout regimen, here are a few creative suggestions for ways to work some calorie burning and fitness into your travel plans.


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Romantic Getaway for Two in the Great Smoky Mountains

Romantic weekend in a cabinA roaring fire, snow falling gently outside the window, and you and your sweetheart sharing a warm blanket and creating lasting memories of a special Valentine's Day celebration. In Gatlinburg, TN, all your romantic fantasies come to life, from quiet time to spend with one another to thrilling attractions unlike any you've ever visited.


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Favorite Restaurants In The Smokies

Bubba Gumps in GatlinburgWhen guest inquire about Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg or Sevierville cabins, one of the first things we're asked for are restaurant recommendations. That's not always an easy task, because there are literally hundreds of eateries in our communities, from national chains to independently owned establishments. But here are a few of the popular places and even best-kept secrets we like to pass along:

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Gather the Girls for a Christmas Shopping Weekend Getaway

Sevierville ShoppingNow is the perfect time to gather up your girlfriends for some serious retail therapy in the Great Smoky Mountains. Whether you're shopping for yourself or for Christmas gifts, this is the best time to score deals at local retailers. From one-of-a-kind handmade arts and crafts to designer labels at rock-bottom prices, shopping in the Smokies is the perfect activity for a girls' weekend getaway.

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Discover a New Holiday Tradition in the Great Smoky Mountains

A feast with the family in the mountainsOf all the holidays we celebrate, the one that we often recall with such nostalgia is Thanksgiving. Remember kicking off the day with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade before heading to grandma's house, where aunts and uncles and cousins all gathered together? The house would fill with laughter and the scents of roasting turkey, sweet potatoes, and mom's secret stuffing recipe. After dinner, everyone cheered for his or her favorite football team and ate far too much pie.


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A Hike On Middle Prong Trail

Hike the middle prong trailLooking for an easily accessible hike in the Great Smoky Mountains that's pretty easy and offers some gorgeous waterfall scenery? Consider spending an hour or so hoofing it along the Middle Prong Trail, which is located near the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, inside the national park.


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Turn up the Fun this July in the Smoky Mountains

GSMNP is the most listed park in the USThe height of summer signals the perfect time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains. With so many family-friendly things to do in July, you'll have no trouble finding a long list of activities for all ages to fill your vacation wish list. Here are just a handful of ideas to make the most of a Smoky Mountain summer.


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Favorite Restaurants In The Smoky Mountains

Applewood Farmhouse RestaurantWhen guests first check into one of our Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg or Sevierville cabins, one of the first things we're asked for are restaurant recommendations. That's not always an easy task, because there are literally hundreds of eateries in our communities, from national chains to independently owned establishments. But here are a few of the popular places and even best-kept secrets we like to pass along:


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Tennessee is home to many overnight rentals including cabins. Stay in a rental cabin and enjoy a home away from home in the mountains. Vacation homes are especially abundant in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

 

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