Gatlinburg Vacation Blog

Archive for the ‘Gatlinburg’ Category

When it comes to spectacular scenery, the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area has much to offer, including sweeping vistas, colorful wildflowers and miles of rolling mountains.

Located adjacent to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg remains a popular destination among Tennessee’s mountain villages, and for good reason. It’s also home to many of the area’s most scenic viewpoints.

Gatlinburg visitors can take a glass elevator more than 400 feet up to the top of the Gatlinburg Space Needle where an observation deck provides a vivid and wondrous 360° view of the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains. You’ll also enjoy a distinct bird’s eye view of Gatlinburg. The view is a panorama of beauty during any season, any time of the year.

Another popular viewpoint is from the Gatlinburg Sky Lift. Climb aboard the Lift and you’ll glide peacefully over the Little Pigeon River on a slow and spectacular 500-foot ascent to the top of Crockett Mountain. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on the landscape below you as the mountain terrain is also home to a variety of wildlife.

You’ll find a truly awe-inspiring view of the Great Smoky Mountains and Douglass Reservoir from the upper viewing area at Douglass Reservoir Overlook. Meanwhile, the lower overlook offers a picture perfect view of Douglas Dam and the French Broad River Basin.  

Inside The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ll also find Laurel Falls. One of the area’s most scenic hiking trails, this 1.3 mile pathway was originally built in 1935. The wide trail is completely paved and easily traveled by all ages until it reaches the 75-foot Laurel Falls. Beyond the falls, the trail is less heavily used and ascends through mostly virgin forest to a fire tower on Cove Mountain.

You’ll also find amazing mountain and creek views from your villa at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg. For more information on discount accommodations, visit www.westgatereservations.com today.

Spring is creeping around the corner and that means trout season in the Smoky Mountains. More importantly, it means Gatlinburg’s annual Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament is just around the corner.

Gatlinburg, the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers up its 12^th annual trout derby on April 2-3, 2011. The fishing tournament is open to adults and children. It’s also equally challenging for both visitors and locals, with multiple categories to be contested. This is the largest trout tournament in the Smokies and all Gatlinburg and state fishing regulations will be observed.

Of course, fishing is just one of the joys of springtime in Gatlinburg. You’ll also find the surrounding Smoky Mountains beginning to burst out in all of its colorful glory. There’s no better time to get back to hiking and biking the hundreds of miles of trails inside the National Park.

You’ll also find myriad shopping, dining and fun-filled attractions throughout Gatlinburg and neighboring Pigeon Forge, including the popular theme park, Dollywood.

For more information on activities and discount accommodations available in Gatlinburg, please visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com or www.WestgateReservations.com.

When it comes to family vacations in Gatlinburg, there’s never a lack of attractions and activities to keep you busy in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

While there are any number of fun-filled itineraries that you can create, why not start the day at the top - that is, at the top of Harrison Mountain at Ober Gatlinburg. Simply take the Gatlinburt Aeriel Tramway on a picturesque 2.2-mile journey up the mountainside. Then spend a few hours, or the entire day, enjoying the array of year-round entertainment. You’ll find year round ice skating, snow skiing in the winter months, amusement park rides, a wildlife habitat viewing area and more.

Of course, if you really want to enjoy the Smoky Mountains, you’ll also want to journey into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Gatlinburg is the gateway to the Great Smokies, and the park features hundreds of miles of hiking trails that range from quiet strolls to expert hikes.

The Gatlinburg area is also a paradise for fishermen - offering some of the best trout fishing in the country. You can even find locations where only children are allowed to fish as well as a wheelchair accessible fishing pier.

After spending some time in the national park, you can always return for a fun and relaxing time along Gatlinburg’s Main Street. You’ll find lots of arts and crafts, miniature golf, go-carts, golf courses, museums, haunted houses and an endless number of shops and restaurants. There’s also the extensive Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies featuring fascinating creatures from the sea.

To truly experience the amazing arts and crafts of this mountain village, check out the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, an 8-mile loop that is unparalleled in variety among the largest group of independent artisans in North America. Watch as these amazing artists whittle, paint, sew, cast, weave and carve to create original collectibles such as candles, dolls, baskets, ceramics, jewelry, quilts, pottery, leather, stained glass, framed art and much more.

For more information on Gatlinburg attractions, you can visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com or 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.

For a colorful fall vacation, try Gatlinburg!

Autumn is in the air and the fall color season is fast approaching. Yet few destinations will provide the vibrant array of colors that makes the scenic Smoky Mountains even more spectacular in the coming weeks.

For a truly colorful fall vacation, start in Gatlinburg, TN - gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. America’s most visited national park offers up 800 square miles of wilderness throughout Tennessee and North Carolina. And with 500,000 acres of forest soon to be bursting out in brilliant hues of yellow, orange and red, the rolling Appalachian Mountains are extra special.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomes more than 9 million visitors annually. A great number of those visitors also make a stop in the quaint mountain village of Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg offers an extensive array of attractions and events for the entire family, ranging from comedy and magic shows to fun-filled dinner shows to area theme parks like Dollywood. There’s also Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort where an indoor water park provides 60,000-square feet of wet excitement under a retractable roof.

Open year-round and located adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Wild Bear Falls Water Park pays homage to the park 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.

From October 7-23, you can also enjoy the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair, an annual celebration of arts, crafts and music. You’ll find more than 200 booths featuring the finest work of artisans and craftspeople happy to demonstrate their skills, answer questions and offer their unique art for sale. You’ll also find plenty of live country and bluegrass music and entertainment.

For more information on events in Gatlinburg as well as accommodations and Gatlinburg vacation packages, go to www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com or www.WestgateReservations.com.

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.

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.