Gatlinburg Vacation Blog

The 29^th Annual Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games will be held in Gatlinburg, VA this weekend, May 15-16. Official weekend festivities begin with a parade down the Parkway in Gatlinburg at 6 p.m. on May 14.

On Saturday and Sunday beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Mills Park, the Scottish Games will feature professional and amateur athletes competing in a variety of events such as tossing the Scottish haggis, turning the caber, Highland wrestling and the manhood stones.

Musical guests Cutthroat Shamrock, Colin Grant-Adams, Albannach and Thistledown Tinkers are among the featured entertainment during this popular two-day festival.

The events will also feature an assortment of Pipe and Drum Bands competing in individual and band events, competition of dozens of Highland dancers from across the country and border collie demonstrations.

For details on Gatlinburg discount vacation packages and lodging such as the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains America’s most visited national park, welcoming millions of visitors each and every year. No wonder, as the park offers miles of spectacular hiking trails, acres and acres of scenic wonder and diverse wildlife and natural habitat.

As the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, the quaint village of Gatlinburg offers a perfect starting point for any trip in the national park. There’s simply no better place to start your day of adventure.

Of course, Gatlinburg is also the perfect ending point to a fun-filled day of outdoor recreation. And perhaps there is no better place to conclude your day that at Wild Bear Falls Water Park.  Located at the beautiful Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, the Wild Bear Falls indoor water park offers 300,000 gallons of wet and wonderful fun any time of year. 

The largest indoor water park in the south, Wild Bear Falls provides 60,000-square feet of refreshing entertainment under a retractable roof. The water park even pays homage to its surroundings by taking names from the national park. Aquatic adventures include attractions like Cades Cove Lazy River, Clingman’s Dome (a 360-foot body slide), Laurel Falls (a 300-foot tube slide) and Little Pigeon River, a zero-entry pool and toddler play area that’s ideal for the youngest in your group.

Wild Bear Falls indoor/outdoor water park also features a relaxing leisure pool, indoor/outdoor hot tub, retail shop, electronic game room and a mezzanine restaurant to grab a bite to eat.

Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort offers 5-Star resort accommodations adjacent to the main entrance to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Situated just minutes from the quaint mountain villages of Gatlinburg and neighboring Pigeon Forge, the resort offers convenient access to a wide range of attractions, dining options, shopping and golf as well as area theme parks such as Dollywood.

For more information about Wild Bear Falls at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, or for details regarding discount Gatlinburg vacation packages and other local Gatlinburg attractions and dinner show tickets, please visit http://www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com.

While the Great Smoky Mountains remain a popular autumn destination to view the vivid and extraordinary fall colors, the area offers a different kind of vivid color display in springtime, as well.

The mountainsides come alive with spring wildflowers, painting an equally picturesque scene as the red, yellow and orange hues offer in the fall. In fact, the spring and summer months are the perfect time to come and enjoy the spectacular overlooks, hiking trails, and the pure beauty of nature in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Although summers can be hot and hazy in the park, large areas lie at higher elevations, providing cooler temperatures. The road up to Clingman’s Dome, which sits at an elevation of 6600 feet, offers a number of amazing overlooks and a wide variety of hiking trails which can be accessed from either the Oconaluftee Visitors Center in North Carolina or the Sugarlands Visitors Center, in Tennessee,

For additional details about Great Smoky Mountains National Park, nearby Gatlinburg, TN and other area attractions, visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com.

If you’re looking for a delicious way to spend a day in Gatlinburg, TN, why not wing it over to the 9^th Annual Gatlinburg Ribfest & Wings celebration on April 22.

This fun-filled day in the Great Smoky Mountains features live entertainment,children’s activities, eating contests and, of course, a chance to taste a sampling of all the ribs and wings until the parkway turns into a street fair. The party runs from 5-9 pm with food sampling from 6-9 pm or until the wings run out.

This year’s entertainment features the classic tunes of the Beat Daddys and their soulful rock ‘n roll blues. The main stage will also feature the musical group Soulfinger, spearheading a neo-classic soul movement with original sounds.

A panel will judge and award prizes for the best ribs or wings in seven categories. And all vendors will vie for the “People’s Choice Award” chosen by popular vote.

Hot wing eating contests sponsored by All Sauced Up will feature wings prepared in sauces such as “Blazing Bomb,” “Treacherous Tongue,” “Fire Pit Hell,” “Scorching Screaming” and “Next Day Disaster.” Prizes will be awarded to the “Hot Wing Eating Contest Champion of the Year.”

An armband for Ribfest & Wings may be purchased for $12 ($5 for kids).

For more information about activities, lodging and discount vacation packages in Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com. For discount hotel and resort packages, including Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and Wild Bear Falls indoor water park, visit www.WestgateReservations.com.

Springtime in the Appalachians brings extraordinary beauty as the area awakens from its winter freeze. But in addition to the spectacular sights surrounding the Gatlinburg area, you can also experience some mystical sounds of the mountains as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts its sixth annual “Music of the Mountains” festival on Saturday, April 10.

The day-long festival features a wide spectrum of old-time, traditional, and bluegrass music performers. It is truly a celebration of the culture and the musical traditions found in the southern Appalachian Mountains while showcasing the evolution of that music.

This year’s festival features a series of free performances by various artists during the day at the Park’s Sugarlands Visitor Center followed by a special evening performance headlined by local performer Jimbo Whaley and his band Greenbrier at W. L. Mills Conference Center.

For additional details on the Gatlinburg area and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com. You’ll also find discount hotel and resort accommodations well as Gatlinburg discount show tickets, attraction tickets and discount Gatlinburg vacation packages.

Gatlinburg, TN offers fun for everyone, any time of year. Now’s the time to head for Gatlinburg for some serious winter fun, starting with Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort, located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains.

With 8 trails serviced by two quad and one double chairlift, Ober Gatlinburg keeps you on the well groomed slopes. Or, those looking for fast thrills while sitting down, check out the snow tubing area.

Take the 120 passenger Aerial Tramway to the top of Ober Gatlinburg and you’ll also discover a fun-filled mall and amusement park complete with an alpine slide, indoor ice skating, restaurants, shopping and more.

You can experience a discount Gatlinburg vacation package any time of year. But winter offers a unique opportunity to get out and enjoy the snow like never before!

Check out www.WestgateReservations.com for special discount rates at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, TN. The resort even offers an amazing indoor water park - Wild Bear Falls - for year-round swimming fun.

Gatlinburg discount vacation packages can also be found at www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com.

As we approach the holidays and snow begins to settle in the Great Smoky Mountains, there’s still one place to go and splash away some of that holiday stress.  Just take a little trip to Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, TN.

Any time of year is a good time to enjoy the exciting Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park. The largest indoor water park in the south, Wild Bear Falls offers more than 300,000 gallons and 60,000 square feet of wet excitement under a retractable roof that provides plenty of sunshine during warm summer days and a cozy respite cold during winter months!

Situated adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the resort’s fun-filled water park pays homage to famous local landmarks with attractions like Cades Cove Lazy River, Clingman’s Dome 360-foot body slide, Laurel Falls 300-foot tube slide and Little Pigeon River – a zero entry pool and toddler play area.

For more information about Wild Bear Falls and discount Gatlinburg vacation packages, simply visit http://www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com.

Any season is a perfect season to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Better known for its fabulous summer hiking and amazing fall colors, the quaint mountain village of Gatlinburg offers up an excellent opportunity to get into the holiday spirit!

Gatlinburg’s four-month Winterfest Celebration transforms the Great Smoky Mountain resort town into a spectacular and fun-filled winter wonderland from now through February 28, 2010.

Gatlinburg Winterfest events include a holiday craft show, Christmas parade, Winter Magic Tunes & Tales, a popular New Year’s Ball Drop, and a spectacular holiday light display offering up millions of colorful lights.

Visitors can even take a guided trolley ride to see the spectacular Gatlinburg Winter Magic lighting display. The trolley departs from Ripley’s Aquarium Plaza. Tours leave nightly at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. beginning November 4 (except on December 4, 24, 25 & 31) and run each Saturday during the month of January.

For more information about Gatlinburg Winterfest or discount Gatlinburg vacation packages, please visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com today.

Amazing Deals! 3 Days & 2 Nights at River Terrace Resort, Gatlinburg, plus 2 tickets to Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park for only $109!

Despite a recent early snowfall at the top of the higher peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains, the fall color season still has several fabulous weeks ahead in the Gatlinburg, TN area.

The snowy weather put an end to much of the color at the highest elevations above 4,500 feet, but a vibrant kaleidoscope will continue to develop in the coming weeks at the lower to mid elevations.

Currently, portions of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s mountainsides are exploding with color while other areas still remain primarily green.

Now is a great time to experience the beauty of the Smokies and the quaint mountain village of Gatlinburg, one of the main entrance points for the National Park. For information on discount Gatlinburg vacations, visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com.

While the Park offers a variety of opportunities for hiking and recreation, you’ll also find plenty to do in and around Gatlinburg. The town is filled with exceptional shopping, dining and fun-filled attractions designed for the entire family, including Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort.

Despite a recent early snowfall at the top of the higher peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains, the fall color season still has several fabulous weeks ahead in the Gatlinburg, TN area.

The snowy weather put an end to much of the color at the highest elevations above 4,500 feet, but a vibrant kaleidoscope will continue to develop in the coming weeks at the lower to mid elevations.

Currently, portions of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s mountainsides are exploding with color while other areas still remain primarily green.

Now is a great time to experience the beauty of the Smokies and the quaint mountain village of Gatlinburg, one of the main entrance points for the National Park. For information on discount Gatlinburg vacations, visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com.

While the Park offers a variety of opportunities for hiking and recreation, you’ll also find plenty to do in and around Gatlinburg. The town is filled with exceptional shopping, dining and fun-filled attractions designed for the entire family, including Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort.