The weather is cooler and the nights are longer, but the holiday seasons brings a special kind of energy to the Smoky Mountains, and there is much to see and do with your entire family. Check out some of the holiday highlights happening throughout the area, and start planning your festive Smoky Mountains vacation today!
Image courtesy of Anakeesta
There are countless ways to get out in the fall colors of the Smoky Mountains without taking a strenuous hike. Quite apart from the Scenic Drives and Overlooks accessible by car, there are many Easy Walks and outdoor adventures where you don’t have to break a sweat, and here are some of the best.
Gatlinburg Trail image courtesy NPS
Where are the best places to see the Fall Colors of the Smoky Mountains? Here’s our guide to some of the best ways, places and times to see the fall colors in the Smoky Mountains around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
The leaves start turning first at the highest elevations and work their way down the mountain slopes to the lower lands as the season progresses, all told over about a 7-week period. For a more detailed sequence and to get the latest color reports, see our guide to Fall Colors in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Image courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Here are some of the best ways to get out among the fall colors of the Smoky Mountains, with scenic drives and places to observe the colors working their way down the mountain to the lower elevations, here in October, 2020.
Image – and view – courtesy of Gatlinburg Sky Lift
Tennessee is a fishing paradise, and Gatlinburg is no exception. Here are answers to common questions about what fish and fishing can be found in Gatlinburg.
If you’ve never experienced the beauty of the fall colors over the rolling peaks of the Smoky Mountains, then you are in for a one-of-a-kind experience. It will soon be that time of year again when the Smoky Mountains around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge start to come alive with fall color. A hundred species of trees in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding area go through their seasonal changes, and with the layered mountains and foothills of the Smokies, it makes for phenomenal scenery.
Quietly running through the heart of the action in Pigeon Forge is a great paved trail known as Riverwalk Greenway, a hidden gem of a nature walk traversing the town from Patriot Park up to The Island and beyond. With benches, bathrooms and water fountains strategically placed along the way, the Greenway welcomes walkers and runners, baby strollers and bikes, and pets on a leash to use this free trail, open 24 hours each day, and lighted at night.
The closest airport to Gatlinburg, TN, is McGhee Tyson, located 12 miles south of Knoxville, just over a 40-mile drive from Gatlinburg, with a few different ways to get there, depending on if you want to hit Pigeon Forge first, and any scenic options you may chose to take on the way in. McGhee Tyson is a friendly little airport, and usually a nice introduction to the friendly people of Tennessee and the Appalachian warmth and culture of the Smoky Mountains.
Any vacation in the Smoky Mountains is made better by staying in a vacation cabin rental. Many cabins are located within resorts, which differ greatly in their location, setting and the amenities they offer. Knowing more about where the resorts are and what they’re like opens up the options considerably for choosing where to stay.
We at Gatlinburg Falls Resort / Venture Resorts care about the health and safety of our guests and our staff. To help you have a safe vacation, we want you to know that we’ve implemented the following changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your health and well-being are our highest priority and we truly appreciate the trust that you place in us.
If you have any questions please contact us at [email protected].
UPDATE – July 10, 2020
Sevier County. including Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, has declared a mandatory mask-wearing rule from July 10 through August 3, which is a 25-day period. Masks are available for sale at a low price in case you forget yours. For details see this story.
Everywhere in the Smokies is pretty much open now, with many visitors. Many attractions and businesses have already had mask protocols in place – at least with staff wearing masks for visitor safety, and appreciating the return favor. With lots of visitors, things seem to be running pretty smoothly throughout the area.
We are the one of largest cabin rental agencies in the Smoky Mountains and have been recognized by Southern Living as the Best Family Resort in the Smokies. We manage over 340 cabins in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Tennessee areas. Visit us today and get over $700 of free attraction tickets with your cabin rental.
