When is the best time to visit Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to enjoy the Smoky Mountains? Here are the times of year with the seasonal activities and events, changes with weather and temperatures, changes in nature in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding area – and how to avoid the crowds that mark this most popular place.
Image courtesy of Gatlinburg SkyLift
Gatlinburg’s diverse climate and landscape offers visitors a variety of activities to enjoy. While there are numerous things to do indoors, Gatlinburg’s menu of outdoor activities offers exciting excursions and adventures suitable for adults, teens, and children.
Ziplining in the Smoky Mountains
The Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival opens this year with a stellar lineup of talent playing in several venues around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The 4-day festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, August 19-22, 2021.
The festival features a myriad of hit songwriters performing tunes you know, and also explaining the intricacies of songwriting in workshops throughout the event.
Image courtesy of GSF
Here are some of the best Italian restaurants and pizzas in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area. With hundreds of great restaurants in the area there are lots of great pizzas too. But whether you want a tasty slice to keep you going through the day’s adventures, or an Italian dining experience with specialty dishes, here are some of the notable places to keep on your radar.
When it comes to family-friendly attractions and entertainment, the neighboring East Tennessee towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have plenty of options available for active families. With Great Smoky Mountains National Park right next to the two towns, deciding which of these attractions are the best can be difficult, based on your personal tastes and interests, but we’ve come up with a list of five top-rated attractions in the area to help you plan your next vacation.
Here is a brief guide to several distinct areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, useful for the new visitor to get oriented to some of the special places and scenic natural features. Visitors to the Smoky Mountains return year after year, and discover their favorite places, gradually learning many of the countless things to do and to see in the Gatlinburg area. Here are some of the more notable.
The magic of Elkmont
As summer temperatures heat up, this is a great time to look for ways to stay cool. Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding area provide plenty of opportunities to go swimming for fun, relaxation and an escape from the heat. When you visit the park, keep in mind that there are more than 2,000 miles of streams, as well as creeks near hiking trails, picnic areas and scenic drives.
It’s a good idea to bring dry socks, towels and plastic bags for wet clothes when you go hiking in the park. You’ll also find waterfalls with swimming holes in the park, but you should always check for warning signs first to make sure they’re safe. Avoid swimming in any areas where warning signs are posted.
If you love fishing, Great Smoky Mountains National Park should be on your list for a fishing trip. The park has over 2,000 miles of streams and rivers, and more than 800 miles of these contain fish, so it’s easy enough to find your own favorite spots practically anywhere in the park.
Since the park is easy to access and is open year-round, any time of the year is good to visit – with the spring being a prime fishing time. This is America’s most popular national park, and also one of the best freshwater fishing destinations in the US.
Most people only have a few days to explore the lifetime’s worth of things to do and see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Gatlinburg and the surrounding area, so here are the hot spots and highlights of the national park to save you time and point you to the best.
The most visited national park in the United States is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with the bustling town of Gatlinburg serving as its principal gateway. The national park is recognized internationally as a unique biosphere, and is home to over 100 species of trees, some in old-growth forests, as well as a vast array of wildflowers, wildlife, and scenic attractions.
With more than 2,000 miles of streams and flowing waters, including many magnificent waterfalls, the park offers abundant fishing and rafting opportunities. The more than 800 miles of hiking trails afford access to achingly beautiful mountain vistas and natural scenic views, while practically every drive in the park and surrounding area constitutes a lovely scenic drive in its own right.
We see a lot of family reunions in the Smoky Mountains, where several generations stay in one large cabin, or some smaller cabins close to each other, and where they organize a celebration in our Conference and Wedding Reception Facility. In fact, of course, weddings are one of the great reasons for extended family and friends to meet up again in one place.
When multiple generations and larger groups of people stay in the same resort area, they don’t want to be crammed together in a hotel room. They want the spaciousness of a cabin, with multiple floors and areas for fun, and separate nooks and bedroom suites for quiet time, and communal areas where everyone can come together over a meal or a game or just a sprawling conversation.
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.
