Wintertime Fun In The Mountains
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.
Calling All Cars… To The Great Smoky Mountains!
We Americans are fascinated by cars. In just a little over 100 years, our nation has gone from automobiles being a novelty to the point where most households have two, sometimes three, cars parked in the garage. We like their convenience when it comes to traveling from one place to another, but for a lot of folks, the experience of owning and driving a motor vehicle goes way beyond practicality.
When The World Visits The Smokies
In case you haven't heard, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge kicked off its season last week, bringing back its irresistible blend of family fun, entertainment and mountain folkways this year in the Smokies. Throughout the year, Dollywood is a celebration of Smoky Mountain culture, history and music as expressed from the perspective of its namesake, Dolly Parton.
Spring Brings Special Events, Attraction Deals
We're just a couple of weeks away from the official arrival of spring in the Great Smoky Mountains. It's starting to gradually warm up around here, and we're seeing the first peeks of spring color and budding vegetation. Spring also means that things start to heat up in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville in anticipation of the arrival of visitors from all over the world.
Make Your Valentine's Day Bookings Now
Valentine's Day is coming up, which means if you're in a relationship or you're married, it's time to start thinking about how to celebrate the occasion with that special someone. Sure, you could go the traditional route and buy candy or flowers or even lingerie. But this year, why not blow out all the stops and really impress your significant other with a romantic getaway in the Great Smoky Mountains?
The 4 Best Wintertime Things To Do On Your Visit To The Smokies
Just because we're in the dead of winter doesn't mean you can't have a great time visiting the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. It's true that summer and fall are the traditional peak-season times for visitors, but if you look in the right places, you'll discover that there's a whole lot going on here in winter too. In fact, there are several things to do that are actually best enjoyed in winter or are specifically intended for winter. Read on to learn just a few:
Spending Christmas In The Smokies
For most families, Christmas is a time for traditions, whether it's waking up with the kids at the crack of dawn to open Santa's bounty of presents or driving over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house for a family meal. From watching specific TV programs to Elf on the Shelf, most of us probably have our rituals that we go through year in and year out.
Fall And Winter Travel In The National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a year-round destination, offering 800 square miles of unspoiled mountain and valley terrain, more than 800 miles of hiking trails and dozens of historic sites that tell the story of our region's history. And while the park is a sight to behold when it's in full spring and summer bloom, fall and winter paint the area with their own striking colors, from the brilliant hues of autumn to the stark, bare beauty of winter.
It's Christmas All Season Long At Dollywood
Dollywood's a fun place to hang out any time it's open. What's not to like about dozens of beautiful Smoky Mountain acres filled with rides, attractions, shows, food vendors and shops? But this time of year, the Pigeon Forge theme park, shifts into a whole different gear, adding a distinctive holiday twist to its usual offerings during the annual Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. This year's event runs now through January 1, 2018.
Winterfest Kicks Off In The Smokies
It seems like we just got through with the last remnants of summer, and here we are already, about to usher in another Winterfest celebration in the Great Smoky Mountains. For those who may not be familiar with this annual festival, it's the four months each year that the communities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville celebrate winter and everything that's great about that season – especially all things Christmas.
Fall Colors In The Great Smoky Mountains
The weather around these parts has been strange this year, for sure. It had been unseasonably warm for fall, and a lot of our visitors were wearing shorts and sandals well into October. As a result, the transformation of our area foliage has been a little behind schedule. Normally, this would be the time of year that the colors would be peaking, but right now, we're just now starting to see those first patched of red, orange and yellow in the lower elevations.
Beat The Heat On Your Next Visit To The Smokies
Summer is officially still a week away, but thermometers have been creeping up toward 90 already, and the Humidity Monster officially paid his first visit this week here in the Smokies. However, that shouldn't be a problem for anyone planning to travel to the mountains this summer. If you're going to be staying in one of our cabin rentals in Pigeon Forge, TN, we can share with you a few ways you can keep your cool this summer, even if you're planning to spend time outdoors.
4 Things To Do On A Spring Day In The Smokies
This is one of our favorite seasons of the year. Spring offers those ideal days that are a blessed mix of sunshine and moderate temperatures – or at least warm days without the sometimes-oppressive humidity of summer. It's a time when we all shake off the winter blahs and start getting active outdoors again. Fortunately, the Great Smoky Mountains is nature's playground when it comes to maximizing a great spring day.
Bicycle-Friendly Places In The Great Smoky Mountains
If you're like the late great Freddie Mercury and just want to ride your bi-cy-cle, you might want to consider bringing your favorite two-wheeler along with you on your next trip to the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Biking is a fantastic way to see the sights of the Smokies while also enjoying the fresh air and immersing yourself in the beauty of our region. Like walking does, bicycling allows you to see things you might not otherwise notice behind the wheel of a car.
Harvest Festival Happenings
It's officially fall in almost every respect. The calendar says so, football season says so, and now that the daytime highs have dropped from the 90s to the 70s and the leaves are starting to turn and fall, nature says so as well.
5 Best Things To Do In The Fall In The Smokies
The summer-long heat wave is finally, stubbornly, starting to break its grip on the Smokies, even though fall officially arrives this week. But it's not too early to start planning your next weekend or weeklong trip to the Great Smoky Mountains this fall. It's one of the best times of years to visit, and when you do, we've got some great suggestions for things you can do that will maximize your experience of being in the Smokies in autumn.
The Smokies Turn Into A Custom-Car Paradise This Fall
One of the sure signs of the arrival of fall each year in the Great Smoky Mountains (other than the cooling temperatures and changing leaves) is the sudden sighting of all sorts of unique vehicles on the streets of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville. Whether they're driving vintage automobiles or classic muscle cars of yesterday, folks from all over the country bring their four-wheeled babies to the Smokies to participate in the many custom-auto shows that take place this time of year. For participants, it's a great way to commiserate with fellow car enthusiasts, while for other visitors, these shows are one more way to enjoy all that this area has to offer in the way of special events.
The 5 Best Times to Visit The Great Smoky Mountains
Each year, some 10 million people visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and an even higher number spend some amount of time in the neighboring communities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. That's because in addition to the beauty and unspoiled nature of the national park, the outlying areas offer travelers so many options for having a little bit of vacation fun – from theaters and attractions to shops and restaurants.
Celebrate Easter in the Great Smoky Mountains
A lot of folks will be celebrating Easter this weekend, and if you include yourself in that number, don't let that stop you from planning a trip to the Smokies. There are dozens of places of worship in the communities of Wears Valley, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, not to mention churches located throughout Sevier County. Any of them would surely be glad to welcome out-of-town visitors on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas
This week, the cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are getting their respective annual Winterfest celebrations off to a start with special events that, in part, showcase each town's unique light displays. And at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, they're doing the same thing during their annual Smoky Mountain Christmas festival.
The Best Places To See The Fall Foliage In The Smokies
October is known as the second peak season in the Smokies, because after summer, it's the time of year with the highest area visitation. Why? Because that's when the leaves change colors, morphing from the greens of summer to the fiery reds, yellows and oranges of autumn. It's no coincidence that tourism reaches a peak about the same time that the leaves do.
6 Ways To Beat The Summer Heat
It may just barely be summer, but don't tell that to Mother Nature. She already thinks it's July or August, and it's been showing lately in the form of daytime highs in the 90s and heat indexes reaching well over 100.
7 Things To Do On A Snowy Day
In case you hadn't noticed, much of the country is embraced in the icy grip of winter. Like it or not, that goes for us here in the Great Smoky Mountains too. And while snow can make for some beautiful scenery, it can also mean being stuck and unable to travel. If you're not visiting us here in the Smokies this week, things will hopefully be more accessible when you do make your next trip to the area.
Where Do Our Christmas Traditions Come From?
Whether you're celebrating Christmas in the Smokies or whether you're sharing the experience with family at your own home, you're probably partaking in any number of Christmas traditions, including essential ones like putting up a Christmas tree or waiting for Santa Claus to arrive with his reindeer in the middle of the night.
Spend Your Holidays In The Smokies
When the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays roll around, it's natural to think of spending them at home with loved ones, sharing good food, good times and thoughtful gifts with the people who are closest to us.
A Busy Fall In The Smokies
Thanks to cooler temperatures, gorgeous weather and the transformation of foliage, autumn is one of the most popular seasons in the Great Smoky Mountains. Visitation to the area dips a little after Labor Day but then comes back in full force from late September into early November. As a result, there's always a dramatic increase in the number of special events and happenings in the communities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.
Staying Cool This Summer
We're smack in the middle of the summer travel season, which is great for couples and families taking a little vacation time in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. But some days here in the South do get a tad warm, and when you add high levels of humidity to the equation, even leisurely days become less than comfortable, even if you're spending most of your time playing.
Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass
When warm weather arrives in the Smokies, it's a sure sign that two of the best things about spring and summer can't be far behind-barbecue cooking and bluegrass music. Fortunately for anyone hanging out in Sevierville this weekend, you can soak up plenty of both at the annual Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass festival.
Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
If you're staying in one of our cabins in Gatlinburg this week, we have a very special event to recommend that you consider, especially since spring has finally sprung in the Smokies (this week's brief cold snap notwithstanding). The 64th Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage takes place in Gatlinburg April 15 through 19 and helps celebrate the transition of winter into spring as the Smokies begin to blossom forth in new color.
What To Do On Your Winter Vacay
Understandably, summer and fall are the peak times for travel here in the Great Smoky Mountains. The weather is warmer (or the leaves are changing colors), and the kids are usually out of school. It only makes sense that these are the times when most families plan their vacations and getaways in the mountains of East Tennessee.
A Dollywood Autumn
The national park may be closed for the time being, but there's still plenty of Smoky Mountain beauty and culture to be absorbed at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. In fact, now through November 2, you can enjoy the park's annual National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration.
A Smoky Mountain Homecoming
Last week, we talked a little about Old Mill Heritage Day, a special event that celebrated the history and culture of the Great Smoky Mountains. If you missed out on that, you'll get another chance this weekend to experience a similar immersion into the days of yesteryear. The 21st Annual Robert A. Tino Smoky Mountain Homecoming, October 5 and 6, takes visitors back to simpler times, when the farm was the center of family life.
Old Mill Heritage Day
At Timbercreek, our cabins in Wears Valley are very convenient to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville. Being able to drive to any of those cities in just a few minutes means easy access to the area's many special events. One such event taking place this weekend-the 10th Annual Old Mill Heritage Day-would be a great daytime outing for any of our guests.
Car Shows Roll Into Smokies In September
September is not only the time when the kids go back to school and football season starts. It's also a great time to be a car lover in the Great Smoky Mountains. That's because three different custom-auto events are taking place in our towns throughout the month. Here's a quick overview of events you might be interested in attending if you're staying at one of our cabins in Sevierville, TN or Pigeon Forge, TN.