Gatlinburg Vacation Blog

Archive for the ‘Fall Foliage Vacations’ Category

The time is now to visit Gatlinburg. Wherever you are in Gatlinburg, you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous mountain views. And as the fall color season begins to explode throughout the Great Smoky Mountains, the view just gets better and better.

If you’ve never seen the awe-inspiring beauty of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in fall, prepare for one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular pleasures. But the incredible hues of oranges, reds and yellows bursting forth across the landscape are just part of the fun of Gatlinburg in the fall.

There’s no better way to take in the fall colors than with a serene hike along more than 800 miles of scenic trails. Or try an equally scenic horseback ride. For those who enjoy fishing, fall is a great time to catch delicious trout from a clear mountain stream.

Beyond the sheer beauty and fun that nature provides, Gatlinburg is filled with activities for the entire family. Take a ride up the Ober Mountain aerial tram. Or sail down the mountain on a thrilling alpine slide.

Enjoy a round of miniature golf. Or strap on some ice skates for an ice skating adventure. Experience the world’s longest underwater aquarium tunnel or check out one of many unique museums.

The village of Gatlinburg is also filled with shopping, quaint eateries, arts & crafts, and simple, old-fashioned hospitality. See for yourself by joining the many who head to Gatlinburg every fall to soak up the beauty and adventure.

For information on Gatlinburg discount family vacation packages and Gatlinburg resorts, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

The school year is starting and the cooler air of autumn will soon replace the hot temperatures of summer. Meanwhile, amidst the mountain village of Gatlinburg, the lush green hills of the Great Smoky Mountains will begin its annual transformation into a sea of brilliant hues of orange, red and yellow.

With a variety of elevations and a wide diversity of trees, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a fall color season that runs approximately from mid-September to mid-November. Tourists will soon flock to Gatlinburg to watch as the colors slowly migrate down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills.

It also means some of the busiest traffic within the nation’s most visited national park. But you can enjoy the best of both worlds with a vacation at the 5-Star Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg.

Situated ideally near the main gateway to the national park, Westgate Smoky Mountain provides spacious and luxurious cabin accommodations with spectacular mountain views or stream views from your own private balcony. And few options offer such convenient entrance into the park for hiking, biking or simply driving through the Smoky Mountains during fall color season.

The Smokies are home to roughly 100 species of mostly deciduous native trees. Temperatures, rainfall and other variables help determine peak color seasons from year to year, but the stunning color displays typically begin above 4,000-foot elevations in mid-September. Beech, birch, maple, hobblebush and pin cherry trees at the higher elevations are visible from vantage points along Clingmans Dome Road. Other scenic drives for early fall colors include Parsons Branch Road and Newfound Gap Road.

For those who prefer hiking, the early color season can be enjoyed from trails such as Albright Grove and Sugarland Mountain Trail as well as high elevation hikes to Andrews Bald or Mt.

Middle and lower elevations typically reach peak color between mid-October and early November. These amazing displays include sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple and hickory trees. By this time, the sunny days and cooler nights can kick off a brilliant color display. The roads within the park will also get correspondingly busier. As a result, you might want to hike one of the many easy to moderate trails such as Lower Mount Cammerer, Baskins Creek Falls, Little River, Old Settlers and Porters Creeks Trails.

Other popular places to see fall colors in the Smoky Mountains include Newfound Gap Road from Alum Cave Trailhead to Kephart Prong Trailhead, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Foothills Parkway East & West, and Heintooga Ridge Road to Balsam Mountain Campground. Suggested hikes include Rich Mountain Loop, Chestnut Top Trail, Smokemont Loop, Kanati Fork, and Sutton Ridge Overlook.

For details about fall color season in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fallcolor.htm. For information on Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

Fall color season is almost here.

Year in and year out, one of the nation’s favorite fall color destinations is Gatlinburg, TN. Situated in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Gatlinburg area is a “must see” for those who appreciate and love the brilliant hues of a spectacular fall color change in this mountainous region.

With miles of heavily forested mountains offering up beautiful foliage, crisp air, country arts and crafts, harvest festivals, theme parks and more, Gatlinburg is the place to be in October.

Figuring out just when the color change will peak is an imperfect science and it changes annually, depending on the fall weather patterns. A good rule of thumb that defines a brilliant fall is dry weather with cool, but not freezing, temperatures in October. While other factors also come into play, the Gatlinburg area typically sees its most brilliant colors during the last couple weeks of October. The higher elevations change color first and then the reds, oranges and yellows will quickly start trickling down into the valley.

The Tennessee State Department of Tourist Development offers a helpful web site that can assist in determining the peak color season. For Gatlinburg fall foliage vacations, updates and forecasts, scenic route guides, photos, and additional information, visit http://fall.tnvacation.com.

Remember that fall is also one of the busiest seasons in Gatlinburg and weekends are the busiest days, with extremely heavy traffic. Consider staying right in the middle of the colors at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort. You’ll be surrounded by fall foliage, just minutes from the gates to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and you’ll have access to the area’s largest indoor water park, Wild Bear Falls! Go to www.WestgateReservations.com for information.

Apart from mountains, hiking trails and fall colors, Gatlinburg also offers year round events and entertainment for families and couples alike. There are seasonal events as well as a variety of stage and dinner shows ranging from music and comedy to magic. You will surely find something that suits your taste and budget. Popular fall events, amongst many, include “Fall Foliage in the Smokies” and “A Taste of Autumn.” Popular Winter events include “Gatlinburg Winter Magic” and “Winter Tunes and Tales.” Check out Gatlinburg ticket packages for super saver deals at www.gatlinburgvacationstore.com

Gatlinburg is a great family vacation spot that offers beautiful mountains and many scenic sites. It is located in Tennessee on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are a nature lover and appreciate the mountains, Gatlinburg is the place for you. You can visit the city all year round, however, fall is one of the best times to go – and one of the busiest – as folks flock to see the spectacular fall colors throughout the area. Gatlinburg hotels are very affordable and you can also find good hotel deals in nearby Pigeon Forge, another popular mountain village. You can find many other activities like museums and water parks very close by, as well. For more information, visit www.gatlinburgvacationstore.com