Clingmans Dome

Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most popular tourist spots in the entire park. What attracts so many visitors to Clingmans Dome is the fact that at an elevation of 6,643 feet, it is the highest mountain in the Great Smokies. The views from the mountain top are spectacular – provided it isn’t too smoky

Clingmans Dome is very accessible. Clingmans Dome Road begins just past Newfound Gap and leads up the mountain to the Forney Ridge Parking Area. Check our Great Smoky Mountains Map for further details.
Please plan your visit carefully. Clingmans Dome is often closed in the winter from December 1 through March 31 due to potential icy roads.

From the parking lot, it is just a short 1/2 mile hike up the trail to the observation tower at the top of the mountain. The observation tower gives visitors a 360 degree view of the entire Smoky Mountain park. It is truly amazing, especially if you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day.

One thing hiking enthusiasts will enjoy is the Appalachian Trail crosses Clingmans Dome, passing immediately north of the observation tower. If you hang around long enough you will see several thru-hikers pass by as they travel through the backcountry.

If you’re planning a trip to the Great Smokies, you must make Clingmans Dome part of your visit.

The Leaves Are Changing

Have you noticed the nights are getting longer? Do you find yourself grabbing a light jacket in the mornings when you take your dog out? Fall is in the air, can you feel it? The high temperatures in the Great Smoky Mountain region are in the low 70s and the low temperatures are dipping into the 40s in the high elevation parts. I just love this time of year. It’s not too hot, and it’s not too cold.

The landscapes and mountain tops are no longer covered in lush green, but now in shades of red, yellow, orange and brown. It’s one of the most beautiful times of the year for residents and travelers.

Thousands of visitors flock to this region every year just to see the leaves change colors. Most journeys start in Asheville, NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway and head all the way northwest to Pigeon Forge, TN. There are hundreds of stops along the way that are perfect for sightseeing, photography, painting and hiking. Nothing beats standing at a point near 4,000 ft of elevation and looking out over miles and miles of painted canvas.

Have you visited the Great Smoky Mountains during Autumn just to see the leaves change colors? What are some of your favorite spots to sight see?

Great Smoky Mountain Hotels

Hotel accommodations in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park are available to visitors looking for a no-hassle stay. While there are far more vacation cabin rentals around there area, you will still find several recognizable hotel chains in the major GRSM cities.

Days Inn Gatlinburg on the River
One of the more popular hotels in Gatlinburg, the Days Inn is in close walking distance to all the shops and attractions of downtown Gatlinburg. Plus you’re only a few minute drive from all the scenic stops in the Smoky Mountains. Here’s a Days Inn Gatlinburg on the River review from TripAdvisor:

After looking at reviews and rates all over the internet for months, we decided on the Days in on the River (there are two Days Inns in Gatlinburg). It’s on the first edge of Gatlinburg but still an easy 15 minute walk to the center. The room had a great view of the river, comfy beds, was clean, staff was friendly and the breakfast was fine, though simple (bagels, donuts, oatmeal, cereal, juice, coffee). It also was very quiet. There were a lot of people staying there, and our room even had a door to the ones next door, but we never heard a peep from other rooms and slept great with the sound of the river outside. We had a great experience and would stay again.

Park Vista Hotel & Convention Center
The Park Vista Hotel is a great place for a family vacation, weekend getaway or quick business trip. This is the hotel you see in our picture above. It’s snuggled tightly in the mountains which gives you an amazing view from any room. Here’s a Park Vista Hotel review from TripAdvisor:

We stayed here from Thursday, June 25, 2009 until Sunday, June 28, 2009, and we loved it! My parents, my two boys (age 9 and 1), and myself stayed in two neighboring rooms. The view was gorgeous. The mountains were beautiful. We got a great, last minute, rate through Expedia and truly enjoyed the trip. The hotel staff was friendly, the food was good, and the service was great. We were on the 3rd of 15 floors. The lobby was beautifully decorated, and we loved the breakfast buffet. It was a fair price considering all the other restaurants in Gatlinburg. Beds were comfortable and rooms were quiet. The hotel is set in a circle that we loved looking for as we rode the Sky Lift in Gatlinburg. The circle structure allowed for all inside rooms with views of the mountains. We will definitely stay here again. We had to rent a small refrigerator and pay for internet service and the driveway was a little tricky to locate the first day (our GPS was confused), but other than those small items, we loved the place.

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 a Great Smoky Mountain retreat, they are not for everyone. Please take a look over our Pro / Con list before you book a stay. Please note that the lists below are generalizations and your specific cabin may not have all these amenities.

Pros	Cons
Privacy	Not near highways
Unique	No maid service
Great views	No pool
Kitchen
Hot tub
Sleeps many
Pet friendly
Internet access

In my opinion the pros vastly outweigh the few cons. Unless you need staff to wait on you and clean up after you, then a cabin rental should be at the top of your accommodations list. The views you’ll get from a cabin make it worth your while.

Cabin rental pricing is usually comparable to that of a local hotel. Depending on the number of rooms and amenities you’re looking for, cabins can range anywhere from $80/night to $500+. There are cabins in the area that have as many as 11 bedrooms, so don’t worry about planning a trip for a large family.

Here are several Great Smoky Mountain cabin rental companies for you to check out. Each of them offer unique cabins in different cities, so be sure to browse dozens of cabins before making your final selection.

Great Outdoor Rentals – http://www.greatoutdoorrentals.com

Great Smoky Accommodation Options

Accommodation options in the Great Smoky Mountains are as bountiful as the outdoor activities. Options range from total seclusion to royal pampering. Whether you want to rough it in the backwoods or have wait staff at your beckon call, the Great Smokies have a place for you.

Lodging falls into three basic categories:

Cabins
Want to get away? Looking for a quiet place to enjoy your stay without the hustle and bustle of hotel accommodations? Rental cabins are probably the choice for you… and they are my favorite lodging option when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains. Most visitors would want to get away from city life seek out private cabins nestled in the mountains. It’s the best way to fully take in the Smoky Mountain experience.

Hotels
For those of you maybe just stopping by the GRSM for a day or two, or maybe you’ve seen too many scary movies … the hotel option is amply available throughout the region. You can find several hotel chains on both the North Carolina and Tennessee sides of the Smokies. You won’t have to worry about booking issues or making your bed in the morning (thank you maids!) and you can still take in the excitement for a reasonable nightly rate.

Resorts & Spas
Imagine slipping into a 107 degree hot tub made out of stone on a cool autumn night. You share a glass of champagne with your spouse and take it the soft moonlight above. After you crawl back to your king-size bed and fall asleep, you will wake up to room service delivering a hot pancake breakfast. These are the amenities a resort & spa will give you… if you have the money of course.

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