Category Archives: Advice

10 Unique Backdrops for Family Pictures in Gatlinburg

If you're tired of taking your family pictures in front of a mall backdrop, or your last vacation photo features half of the kids looking the other way and the adults blinking, then your next trip to Gatlinburg is the perfect time to get that great family photo you've been wanting. Gatlinburg, set in the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains, offers some truly unique backdrops for beautiful photos. Here are 10 unique places to snap a few: The Space Needle. Here, you will have a 360 degree view of the Great Smoky Mountains atop a 400 foot observation tower. Whether it's

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Photo-Ops in Gatlinburg

Photographs are the best way to capture the memories you make in Gatlinburg. With the simple flip-through of a photo album, you can relive the hilarious moment at dinner, the serene stillness of the fog on the mountains and the cozy cabin in which you sat fireside every night. Take advantage of these great Gatlinburg photo-opportunities to begin capturing lifelong memories! Since we are currently running our 2012 photo contest, it seems fitting to blog about photo ops in Gatlinburg. Clearly our Facebook fans have already found some of their own, and we welcome you to check them out on

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Let’s Go Swimming in the Winter, Seriously…

When you hear the word swimming, the first few things that come to mind are probably hot July days, popsicles by the pool, and cooling off in the river after a long day of having the warm sun on your back. You probably don't think about swimming much during winter in Tennessee, except when you're dreaming of being on a tropical island instead of bundling up for the wintry streets. But if you're pining for a warm place to splash around, and flying to the Caribbean isn't quite in the budget, Gatlinburg has some great places you can go. A

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Money Saving Coupons for Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

We’ve been eagerly scoring the area for valuable coupons for you to use while on vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains. With money being tight, coupons make it possible to see more and do more without having to make your wallet suffer. Here are some coupons for the wonderful shops you see in both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge (without having to pick up EVERY available brochure). The Art of Glynda Turley Romancing the Home: located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the Smoky Mountain Village On your way to purchase any of Glynda Turley’s beautiful prints, ceramics, quilts, or candles for your

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Spooky Halloween Ideas in Gatlinburg

Halloween is just around the corner and Gatlinburg is the perfect place to get your spook on! Grandparents, moms and dads, couples, or kids can spend October nights getting scared silly at any of the numerous creepy spots in Gatlinburg. Here are a few to get you started: Ripley’s Haunted Adventure –This terrifying haunt is rated #1 in Gatlinburg! With dozens of live actors in Hollywood-level makeup and costumes, no one will make it out of here without a serious fright. Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is a multimillion dollar attraction that you won’t want to miss this Halloween. Visit the Ripley's

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Packing Tips for Gatlinburg

I think most people will agree that packing can be the most stressful part of a vacation. There’s so much to take into consideration; weather, occasions, emergencies, etc. So, allow me to get you started with a couple ideas (assuming your checking into a luxury cabin). Pack well in advance – putting off packing will only add insult to injury. If it helps, do some research on the cabin you’re going to by checking out the website or calling to see what isn’t provided for you. For instance most cabins already have some essentials, like sheets, towels, soap, etc.; however,

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Horseback Riding in Gatlinburg

Many of the visitors who come to Gatlinburg, and the Smoky Mountains in general, do so to experience the natural environments and down-home feel that the region holds. When planning your stay in the area, you may be searching for a way in which you and your family can get in touch with both nature and the “rustic” lifestyle that is synonymous with the area’s history. Luckily, there is one activity that allows for both of these things at once – horseback riding, and there are several options in the area. Guided Horseback Rides – Open mid-March through mid-November and

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Smoky Mountain Travel Apps

When vacationing to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, many people seek a peaceful, relaxing retreat, away from the stresses of daily life. Unfortunately, there are many difficulties associated with traveling that often leave tourists and their families frustrated. From the traffic filled road trip to confusing directions to a desired restaurant, travel stressors are not few and far between. Luckily, with evolving technology and the capabilities of smartphones, traveling has been made much easier through the use of applications. iPhone and Android applications have taken the travel industry by storm, aiming to streamline the users process and make their vacation as easy as

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Heat Safety for Children

Most of us are experts on the “How to Prevent Sun Burns” speech. We are pounded over the head with this beneficial information by our mothers, doctors, and even on commercials and in the news. But another important bit of information, especially for our little ones, is heat safety. If you are visiting from a cooler climate, make sure you take extra care with your little one. Here are a few things to keep in mind while visiting the Gents and Belles in the sultry South: A child’s body temperature warms about five times faster than an adult’s. Keep this

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People Watching in Gatlinburg

My Mother has always been a “people watcher”. She liked to sit in malls and watch people, how they responded and interacted with their environments and one another. I too have come to enjoy people watching, but I also enjoy writing stories, so the twist is that my mind is always imagining where he/she comes from, where they are going, what they are doing here, what they are feeling, etc. If you too enjoy the relaxing art of people watching, you will delight in the streets of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Because of Gatlinburg’s location, people from all over the United States

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