Great Smoky Mountain Cabins
So you're interested in a secluded, mountain adventure? I thought the photo above might grab your attention. Who wouldn't want to stay in a beautiful cabin when it is often cheaper then a hotel! Cabin rentals offer you the privacy you crave on a mountain retreat without sacrificing on the luxury and amenities we all want. There are certainly no shortage of cabin rentals available in the Great Smoky Mountains... with a little searching you can find the perfect cabin. The most popular cabin rental locations include: Tennessee North Carolina Gatlinburg Asheville Pigeon Forge Cherokee Sevierville Bryson City Wears Valley Waynesville Highlands Maggie Valley While cabin rentals are my favorite accommodation option for ...
Cades Cove Loop
Before the Great Smoky Mountain area was turned into a park, Cades Code was home to many of the frontiers first settlers. Of course I'm talking over a hundred years ago... but what makes Cades Cove (located in Tennessee) so spectacular is that many of the original settlers' cabins, stables, and churches are still standing. Today Cades Cove is the single most popular destination for visitors to the park, attracting over two million visitors a year. Cades Cove is known for an 11-mile loop that takes you through the entire region. It is a one-way paved road that is accessible by ...
Home of the Black Bear
The Great Smoky Mountains have the largest black bear population east of the Mississippi River. Bears are truly amazing amazing. They are beautiful, yet extremely powerful. Seeing a black bear in the wild can frighten some people to death, while others it makes your vacation all worthwhile. As long as you know how to handle yourself in the wild, seeing a black bear shouldn't be terrifying. Have you ever been walking a trail or picnicking at a campsite in the Smokies and seen one of those funny looking garbage cans? Those are supposed to be bear proof! Surprisingly enough, anywhere you ...
Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains
Posted by David
Filed under Sightseeing
I was browsing Youtube for some of the latest Great Smoky Mountains videos when I came across this really cool video that shows what the Great Smokies are like in winter. It has been very cold this winter and we’ve seen dozens of freezing days and lots of snow. It has turned this National Park into a winter wonderland.
Check out this video for clips of the frozen rock formations, icicles and wintry waterfalls. It has a really cool shot of Spruce Flats Waterfall that I know you’ll love. All shot in High Def.
Have you made it to The Smokies yet this winter? Post a comment and let me know how your trip went.
Great Smoky Mountains Wilderness Week
Posted by David
Filed under Things to do, Wildlife
The Great Smoky Mountains are home to an amazing array of wild animals and some of those most beautiful vistas in the United States. We share the Park with black bears, deer, elk and more. Wilderness Wildlife Week in the Great Smoky Mountains begins Saturday, January 9th 2010 – it’s an annual event that pays tribute to the National Park and to Mother Nature in general.
Locals and visitors come to the Park every time this year to celebrate this precious place. About 150 experts — rangers from the National Park Service, biologists, botanists, nature photographers, animal rehabilitators and Smoky Mountains residents — donate their time to present lectures, classes, photography shows, musical performances and demonstrations.
Wilderness Week is a free event and runs through January 16. Most of the activities can be found in Pigeon Forge, but there will be signs of celebration all throughout the park. It’s important to remember how scared the Smokies are and we shouldn’t take them for granted.
Snow Storm Slams Smokies
Posted by David
Filed under Sightseeing, Things to do
Over the last 4-5 days the Great Smoky Mountains have been blasted with snow: 10-30 inches in some areas. The ski resorts are loving it, but the casual travelers might not be as happy. Sure we all love seeing snow on the ground, but not if it gets in the way of your vacation.
The Great Smoky Mountains have had so much snow over the past few days that certain roads are restricted and trails are closed. Even Cades Cove, the most visited part of the Great Smokies was closed. There was a lot of ice out there making it very dangerous for people who are not accustomed to traveling in those conditions.
Check it this picture from Newfound Gap, it looks nothing like the photo I posted back in October.
So go and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains this winter – it is truly a blessing to have this much snow so early, but please be careful when traveling and site seeing.
Great Smokey Mountain Skiing
Posted by David
Filed under Things to do
Winter is almost here – it may be freezing outside, but technically winter doesn’t start until December 21. We’ve haven’t had the best snow storms come through here at the end of 2009, but I’m still hopeful for a strong start to 2010.
Most ski resorts in the Great Smoky Mountain area are open for business with limited hours. This early in the season you’re likely to be skiing on man-made snow – but hey, if you’re from Florida then all that matters is the slopes are open.
My favorite resort to ski at in the Great Smoky Mountains is Ober Ski Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. If you’re visiting the GSM during the winter months, then you really should plan a day or two on the slopes. Now for those of you who are used to skiing out west might find a mountain of this size to be disappointing. I’m not going to like – this is nothing like the Rockies.
But what you will find at Ober is 7 Trails accessible by 2 Quad lifts and 1 Double lift. Ober also has and ice skating rink and a scenic chairlift for those of you who don’t enjoy skiing.
Rates are modest at $30 for adults on non-holidays and they have on-site rentals. You really can’t beat this quiet mountain when traveling in the Great Smokies.
Spend New Years in the Great Smoky Mountains
Posted by David
Filed under Things to do
Are you looking for something a little more out of the ordinary to do on New Year’s Eve? Tired of just sitting in front of the TV for Dick Clark’s Special and watching the ball drop? Well, if you’ll be in the Great Smoky Mountain area during New Year’s Eve then there’s an exciting opportunity for you to take advantage of. The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad posted this special on their Facebook page:
Ring in the New Year on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s New Year’s Eve Gala. Enjoy a gourmet journey on board the train with an evening of dining, dancing and live musical entertainment, cash bar, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight (or sparkling cider), plus party favors for everyone!
The GSMR is New Year’s Eve Gala would be great for other that private time away with just you and the spouse or for a group of friends looking to have a great time. The route of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad passes through fertile valleys, through a tunnel and across river gorges in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. It was truly be a majestic night.
Here’s a little more info on the train ride I took from the GSMR website:
This delightful mountain vacationland is like a nature conservancy in which small towns, rushing rivers, and ancient mountains reside. Railroad depots are located in three historic towns; Dillsboro (no current departures), a village of shops and crafts; Bryson City, located on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; and Andrews (no current departures), a scenic valley in the Snowbird Mountains. All were founded in the 1800s and have retained some of their original character, adding to their historic charm.
So what do you think?
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