Category: Advice

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your company’s team, grow closer as a family, teach your cub scouts new skills, or find some new group activities for your youth group, the Smokies offers some great team-building activities. Getting your group to work together in unconventional ways is sure to yield great results. If you’re making plans for a youth group or kids’ team, they’ll learn valuable life skills like trusting others, stepping up as leaders, and working as a team. Families will learn more about communicating and helping each other. Coworkers will find opportunities to challenge and encourage each other, get […]

John Muir once wrote, “In every walk with nature, once receives far more than he seeks.” In the Great Smoky Mountains, I’ve certainly found that to be true. I’m always learning and experiencing something new, whether I find myself on a trail, in a field of wildflowers, on a scenic drive, relaxing in a cabin, or exploring downtown. The more time I spend in the Smoky Mountains, the more I learn about life – especially when it comes to enjoying it. Stop and smell the wildflowers. With work, school, sports, hobbies, and so many things happening on a daily basis, […]

Easter brunch is a staple in many families. It’s a great opportunity to get in some quality time with the ones you love and eat some great food. But Easter brunch doesn’t have to be a big production. These Easter brunch recipes are easy enough to whip up in the cabin, and most make for great all-day snacking. You can even make several ahead of time so you can skip the work on Easter day. Or just toss them in the fridge at the cabin and enjoy leftovers while you’re hanging out and relaxing. Bacon with Citrus Glaze | Martha […]

The first day of spring is creeping closer and closer (March 20), which means warmer weather is on its way. Soon you’ll be seeing wildflowers popping up and trees blooming again. It’s a great time to be in the Smokies, with beautiful weather, gorgeous scenery, and lots of spring festivals and events in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg! If you’ll be in the Great Smoky Mountains this March, stick around for St. Patrick’s Day! You can enjoy the greenery around you, have a pint at a local pub (The Ship English Pub, The Fox and Parrot Tavern, or Smoky Mountain Brewery […]

What better reason to plan a trip to the Smokies than in celebration of a loved one’s birthday? You’ll find attractions for every gender and age group—whether you’re celebrating your daughter, your grandson, or your spouse of 50-some years! Below, we’ve listed just a FEW ideas of what you’ll find in the area. And don’t forget that staying in one of our Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge cabins can be exciting enough. We have cabins with all kinds of special amenities—outdoor hot tubs, indoor Jacuzzi tubs, game tables, private theaters, and more! So make this year’s birthday celebration one to remember […]

Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show the one you love how much they mean to you. Whether you’re newlyweds wanting to stay in that honeymoon phase or old loves looking to reconnect, slipping away to the Smokies for a weekend retreat is a great way to have some romance. Our 1-2 bedroom cabins offer lots of romantic amenities: comfortable king and queen beds, DVD players for romantic comedies, fireplaces, soothing hot tubs, quiet decks where you can relax, and dining tables for candlelit dinners in the cabin! There are some wonderful restaurants downtown if you want to get […]

When you go away for vacation, wherever it is, it’s easy to get caught in tourist traps. You know, those busy places filled with camera-carrying, too-big-of-a-bag-toting, nose-in-a-map-walking tourists that sometimes make it hard to enjoy your time at whatever attraction you’re visiting. Maybe you’ve been one of those yourself and would rather explore the area in a new way. We’ve found that the best way to see what the Smokies has to offer is like a local. Locals know the places to eat, the times to get out and about without hitting all the traffic, and have their own favorite […]

The mountains are calling, and I must go. -John Muir Probably one of the most popular and well-recognized quotes about the mountains, John Muir’s quote above is simple yet powerful. It elicits that adventurous spirit in us all, tugging at our heartstrings and stirring up thoughts of being somewhere beautiful, new, and exciting. There are truly dozens of reasons to go to the Great Smoky Mountains, from the variety of restaurants, many shops and boutiques, and local art to the popular attractions, incredible scenery, and fun seasonal events. As you read on, gather inspiration from what others have said about […]

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are popular fall destinations because of their cool, comfortable weather, beautiful scenery of changing leaves, stirring wildlife, and many fun festivals and fairs. It’s a great time to hit the 800+ miles of trails, stroll along the Parkway, spend some time relaxing at a cozy cabin, or just explore the area’s attractions and shops. But all this fall fun means you won’t have these charming mountain towns all to yourself. Fall is one of the busiest times of the year here, and with all the good comes some possible frustration as well. Traffic can get pretty […]

There are a lot of unique holidays throughout the year, celebrating everything from foods to friends. Computer Learning Month. Eat Country Ham Month. Sarcastic Month. Even National Accordion Awareness Month. This year, celebrate National Popcorn Poppin’ Month – October – with some easy in-cabin recipes (perfect for movie nights), kids’ crafts made with popcorn, and some delicious flavored popcorn found right here in the Smokies! POPCORN IN THE SMOKIES CarmelCorn 647 Parkway | Gatlinburg, TN Serving up buckets of popcorn since 1961, CarmelCorn in Gatlinburg offers classics like carmelcorn with peanuts, as well as popcorn loaded with pecans, cheese, toffee, […]