Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge boast some of the finest and most diverse shopping opportunities in the region. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding areas are teeming with a variety of stores, from small artisan boutiques to world-famous brand flagship stores.The next time you’re in town be sure to reserve time for some outstanding shopping experiences.
Category archive: Smoky Mountains
Smoky Mountain Weddings
No matter what time of year the two of you are planning your wedding day, the Smoky Mountains provide an abundance of atmosphere, elegance, and sheer beauty to enhance the special event. With the mountains as a scenic backdrop along with lush landscape, privacy, and exceptional accommodations, romance is guaranteed to fill the air from morning until night.
Smoky Mountains Setting
Choosing the perfect setting and season is at the top of the list when planning a wedding. Whether you choose Cupid’s month of February when mountain vistas and cool breezes abound or you prefer the busier months of May and June when the Smoky Mountains are bursting with colorful and fragrant flowers and trees, Smoky Mountain weddings are magical and create the perfect atmosphere for your wedding day.
Image courtesy of Carles-Witt Event Planners
After the Fire, Life in Gatlinburg Gets Back to Normal
All of us here in Gatlinburg appreciate your concern and your prayers during the recent wildfires. We know many of you were worried about us and concerned about the Smokies.
The fires are past and we’re fine. Please be assured: the Smokies are still great, and we still live in a beautiful area.
The fires burned an estimated 15,000 acres – that’s about 23 square miles. But Sevierville County is almost 600 square miles in size, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park is over 800 square miles. Depending on where you drive, you may see little or no evidence of the fire.
Downtown Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are fine, and none of the major attractions were burned. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area & Amusement Park was unaffected and is open for skiing. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are hosting their annual Winterfest, and we’re looking forward to a great Christmas. The Smokies are back in business.
We did lose some cabins, but nearly 90% of our cabins are untouched by the fire. Immediately after the fires, we either rebooked guests in affected cabins, placing them in a comparable cabin in an unaffected area, or we refunded the guest’s money.
We have over 340 cabins untouched by fire and waiting for you. Come and have a great vacation with us.
Touring the Christmas Lights of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
With millions upon millions of Christmas lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and throughout the area, what are some of the best ways to see them? You can choose to drive yourself around town, take a scenic aerial tram or mountain coaster ride, or take advantage of local holiday transportation and travel by trolley. Here are the best ways to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit and join other revelers for Christmas fun and festivities.
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are winter wonderland destinations and both cities will be lighting up the night sky during the holiday season with festive displays and many millions of lights – often animated or synchronized to music – in celebration of Christmas. Each city has scheduled events running from November through January and February.
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
Gatlinburg Winter Magic
November 2016 Events in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
November in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge marks the changing of the seasons with multiple events celebrating winter. Moving from the colors of fall into the glitter of Christmas, this time presents a host of things to do in Gatlinburg and the whole area. Early in the month, the two towns turn on their millions of Christmas lights, joined by Sevierville in a coordinated series of lightings and celebrations, beginning the Winterfest and Winter Magic festival seasons that last into February.
Snow tubing at Ober Gatlinburg
Winterfest 2016 in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
The lights are coming on for winter in the Smoky Mountains as Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg take a day each on November 7, 8 and 9 to kick off the 2016 Winterfest and Winter Magic celebrations with millions – and millions – of Christmas lights strung across the towns. Festivities abound as each town turns on its lights in the midst of celebration, food and live music.
Halloween in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge 2016
Image courtesy of Ripley’s
October’s menu of spooktacular events in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is guaranteed to bring out ghosts, goblins and creatures of the night in celebration of the Halloween spirit. Through the end of October, consider these scary encounters for adults and children of all ages to experience.
Gatlinburg Halloween Events
Celebrate Halloween with the annual Trick or Treat Kickoff Karnival from 1 pm to 5 pm on Monday, October 31 at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies plaza. A favorite for kids, the Karnival offers plenty of entertainment, contests, games and activities, creative costumes, Halloween safety tips, candy galore and food vendors with tasty delights.
Star Gazing in Cades Cove: October 8, 2016
Saturday night, October 8, 2016, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is allowing people into Cades Cove for a special Star Gazing evening. Normally the Cove is closed at night, but it opens up for a Star Party! Cades Cove has the lowest ambient light level in the area – one more thing that makes it special – and there’s a lot of sky that can be seen.
The cloud cover should be all gone and the stars should be amazing. Experts on hand with telescopes will show you a sky you may never have known. Check the Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society Facebook page for updates, and call 865-448-4104 Saturday to confirm the event is on – last minute weather changes can cancel these events suddenly.
Top Things To Do With Kids in the Smokies: Part 2 – Outdoor Adventures
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are family-friendly towns with numerous attractions for kids. Getting outdoors is easy too, with the Smoky Mountains all around. Here are some of the activities for children in the area.
Top Things To Do With Kids in the Smokies: Part 1 – Fun & Games
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have incredible kids attractions that educate and entertain at once. Kids and adults as a family can experience the wonders of history, science, and record-setting human feats at these top venues for fun, family field trips.
Kids full of energy? Give them the big adventure of being here in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Even getting around is fun – families in the know hop on the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Trolley and skip the traffic.
image courtesy of Aquarium of the Smokies
