Dollywood

Dollywood is an experience you'll never forget. While enjoying your annual Pigeon Forge vacation spend many fun filled, happy and exciting hours exploring the wonders and innovations of this fantastic family theme park.

Nestled at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains with Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg at a stone's throw away, Dollywood spans 124 acres and offers everything from amusement rides to live musical extravaganzas from some of the top country, bluegrass and gospel stars. Learn the ancient Smoky Mountain crafts of blacksmithing, glass blowing and wood carving from world renowned master craftsmen. The Dollywood shops are guaranteed to satisfy each and every manner of shopping desires all in one area! And best of all--it's all just a few miles from your cabin rental.

If traditional southern foods trigger a resounding orchestra in your mind, then tickling your taste buds at one of the many Dollywood restaurants is a must. Speaking of tradition and dinner, don't forget about Pigeon Forge's famous Dinner Theaters such as Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction.

Family Entertainment is so abundant in Dollywood that you will struggle to fit everything in during your vacation. To top it all off, each year Dollywood hosts four of the largest festivals in Tennessee - the Festival of Nations, Kids-Fest, National Gospel and Harvest celebration and of course, the ever popular Smoky Mountain Christmas. No matter what time of year you arrive you are guaranteed to be just in time for anyone of these festivals held at Dollywood.

Taking a cabin vacation and visiting Dollywood will be a historical, emotional, exciting, adventurous journey through rich cultures, soul wrenching music and heart stopping entertainment that will always leave you coming back for more.

Biltmore Estates

Take a step back into time with a cabin rental near The Biltmore Estate, the largest privately-owned house in the United States. Built in 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt II, this French-Renaissance estate spreads over 175,000 square feet and one of the most extraordinary examples of wealth from the Gilded Age.

The Biltmore Estate features over four acres of living space made up of 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and no less than 65 fireplaces and the grounds of this 125,000 acre estate includes the most visited winery in the United States and formal gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of New York's Central Park. The Estate's basement alone houses a 70,000 gallon indoor swimming pool, full gymnasium and bowling alley.

It's no wonder that the Biltmore Estate has hosted great personalities such as Presidents Nixon, Wilson and McKinley, Prince Charles, novelist Henry James and many more. George Vanderbilt originally envisioned the Biltmore Estate to welcome friends and family, yet today over 1,700 employee's welcome more the millions of visitors each year who come to enjoy the rooms full of valuable artworks, beautiful landscaping, shopping, dining and much, much more.

Gatlinburg

If you are looking forward to an entertaining yet quiet and relaxing vacation, then a cabin rental in Gatlinburg is perfect for you. Pack your bags and prepare yourself, because you're heading for the greatest vacation of your life.

Surrounded by the Le Conte and Sugarland Mountain in the south, Big Ridge in the northeast and guarded by Cove Mountain and Grapeyard Ridge to the west and east, the city of Gatlinburg is a little paradise hidden in the heart of the mountains.
 

Gatlinburg History

While Native Americans were the first to walk these places while hunting for food and fur, it was William Ogle, an Edgefield native, who was the first to want to settle there. When he first set eyes on the area he knew he wanted to build a cabin there, and quickly returned home to gather resources and collect his family. Unfortunately, a malaria epidemic put a hold in his plans, and Ogel died in 1803 before he was able to return. Martha Ogle, the widow of William Ogle, moved to Virginia after his death. However, in 1806 she returned with her brother, Peter Huskey, and built the cabin William didn't have the chance to build. That cabin still stands today, near the center of the city, presenting a great tourist attraction, and it's probably the main reason why cabin rentals in the area are very popular.

Gatlinburg Attractions

Although in general going somewhere and renting a cabin instantly gets you dreaming of a nice quiet vacation, there is still plenty of entertainment in Gatlinburg to keep you busy. The Ripley Attractions in Gatlinburg, TN holds the #1 spot in Gatlinburg's tourist attractions. The odd and weird world of Mr. Ripley is showcased throughout Gatlinburg and includes attractions such as Ripley's Believe it or Not Odditouium, Ripley's 3D Moving Theater, Ripley's Haunted Adventure, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, many mini-golf courses and The Guinness World of Records Museum.

If you're near the downtown part of Gatlinburg, you absolutely need to see the famous Gatlinburg Space Needle, a 400 foot high steel observation tower. Enjoy a ride up to the tower with one of the two glass elevators, which will give you an unforgettable panoramic view of Gatlinburg right from its center. Although for the best view of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains, the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway is the way to go. The two 120 passenger cable cars take you on a breathtaking 20-minute ride from downtown Gatlinburg to the Ober Gatlinburg Resort.

The famous amusement park and ski area of Ober Gatlinburg is another great Gatlinburg family attraction. The amusement park includes more than just rides, it is also home to an outdoor water park, an indoor ice skating rink, arcades, restaurants, numerous clothing stores and more. During winter months Ober Gatlinburg is your best choice for skiing in the Southeast. Nine trails and a state-of-the-art snowmaking system offer terrain for skiers of all abilities.

If all the attractions Gatlinburg has to offer, along with its incredible history and incredible landscapes didn't convince you to spend a vacation there, I don't know what will. We have the perfect Gatlinburg cabin rental available for your vacation, so you'll have the privacy and relaxation you seek just a step away from the rush and excitements of the city and its attractions. What are you waiting for? Pack some clothes, book your cabin and head off to the incredible world Gatlinburg.

Pigeon Forge

If you are looking for a family vacation away from the city madness, a cabin vacation in Pigeon Forge is the best choice for you.

About Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge is situated just five miles away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevier County, Tennessee. It lies in a narrow valley along the shore of Little Pigeon River between the cities of Sevierville and Gatlinburg. Surrounding Pigeon Forge is Shields Mountain in the east, Pine Mountain in the west and Cove Mountain to the south. The little gorge between Shields Mountain and Cove Mountain cut by the river represents the connecting path to Gatlinburg.

The name Pigeon Forge comes from the Little Pigeon River, which was named after passenger pigeons that were so numerous in the area they darkened the sky as they flew into the valley, The second part of the name came from the iron forge built by Isaac Love in 1817, on a site near today's Old Mill.

In the 1950's Pigeon Forge began to boom and quickly become a popular vacation destination. Hotels and cabin rentals were quickly set up in and around Pigeon Forge, ready to welcome tourists to the area. Taking advantage of the beautiful landscape of the area, cabin rentals were a hit right from the beginning, as many tourists preferred to rent a cabin and enjoy a quiet vacation, over the hustle of the quickly growing neighboring cities.

 

Pigeon Forge Attractions

Today, the appeal for tourists is not limited to the landscape, as Pigeon Forge presents some great attractions and interesting activities which would make anyone's vacation exciting and fun. The Dollywood theme park, Country Tonight Theatre, and the Comedy Barn are only few of the attractions every tourist should visit when vacationing in Pigeon Forge.

If you are into cars, than this Pigeon Forge your dream come true. With car and truck show events running from April to September, and shows like "Pontiac Car Club Show", "Great Smoky Mountain Truck Show", "Cobra Mustang Club" and many others, Pigeon Forge is the place to be.

With all the events and attractions in the area, Pigeon Forge is focused on tourism and annually brings in more than 11 million tourists each year. Whether you're into sports, hiking, or just want to visit the local attractions, Pigeon Forge is the place for you, so rent a cabin and head off to the vacation you've always wanted.

Douglas Lake

Located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Douglas Lake is the perfect place for a quiet and relaxing cabin vacation. With a shoreline of 555 miles it represents the end point of the French Broad River and branches of the Pigeon River and Nolichucky River. Douglas Lake provides the perfect place to see the real beauty of nature and have a brake from the city chaos.

Constructed in 1943 by damming up the French Broad River, Douglas Lake generated electricity and provided flood control. Douglas Lake is one of the cleanest lakes in the area, and being the only lake in Tennessee convenient to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the area soon became a highly chosen vacation attraction for tourists and nature lovers.

The reservoirs in the area, including Douglas Dam were built during WWII to deliver hydropower, thus helping the war efforts, but even today the reservoirs remain as key points in the water management system in the Tennessee Valley. Douglas Dam catches rainwater during spring and uses it in the dry summer months to keep the Tennessee River navigable and for producing electricity.

Douglas Lake Activities

Douglas Lake is an excellent destination for your Smoky Mountain vacation. Activities like picnicking, fishing, swimming, hiking and bird watching make Douglas Lake the perfect Tennessee vacation destination for those looking to get back to nature. Although most of the lake's shoreline is privately owned, the Tennessee Valley Authority provides recreational facilities at Douglas Dam. A campground on the top of the dam provides a relaxation area perfect for picnic and also has a swimming beach as well as a boat ramp.

Fishing is a year round sport at Douglas although spring and fall are the preferred seasons. With a rating among the "Top Five Crappie Fishing Lakes in the US" and tons of other species like the channel catfish, red horse, blue cat, spotted bass and many more highly present in the lake, it's a fisherman's paradise.

Abrams Falls

While enjoying your Tennessee cabin vacation be sure to visit Abrams Falls, located in the popular forests of the Great Smoky Mountains. Although only 20 feet high, the large volume of water rushing over the falls more than makes up for its lack of height and the surrounding area is renowned for its vast expanse of mountains, forests, rivers and streams.

Each year 1,000s of visitors hike the five mile roundtrip trail to experience the natural wonder of Abrams Falls. During the summer months hikers can refresh and rejuvenate at the bottom of the falls where the plummeting water creates a cool, damp mist. On certain sunny days, visitors might be blessed with a lucky rainbow created from the water rushing over the ridge and the sun reflecting off the drops of water.

Take some time and explore the Abrams Falls trails and you're sure to find many aquatic animals; from beavers to almost 30 different kinds of fish which swirl at your feet. With a little bit of luck you could spot deer, squirrels and many of the other species of wildlife indigenous to the Great Smoky Mountains. The various kinds of trees which flourish around the Abrams Falls offer plenty of shade and house many types of rare and wonderfully colorful birds.

The waterfall and creek are named for the Cherokee Chief, Abram or Abraham, whose village once stood downstream. As you head back down the Abrams Falls trail to your rental cabin, look back at the Abrams Falls and pay homage to the ancient people who were fed and watered from this very area.

Cades Cove

While enjoying your Gatlinburg cabin rental you can experience the rich cultural history and entertaining stories of the Cades Cove area.

Cades Cove is the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is famous for its broad valley surrounded by maintains. Although it can take almost five hours to complete the 11-mile loop around Cade’s Cove on foot it offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. On the many hiking trails in the area, which include trails to Abrams Falls and Gregory Bald, you can experience wildlife like black bear, white tail deer, coyote, ground hog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals.

The wealth of history, physical examples of how people lived in Cade's Cove many years ago, combined with the sometimes amusing stories and snapshots of people's lives will leave you wishing you were born in that era. Have a rejuvenating, relaxing cabin vacation in this rich valley where you can meet beautiful people and share in the wonders of what Tennessee State has to offer.

 

Ober Gatlinburg

A cabin vacation near Ober Gatlinburg is exciting guarantees a vacation full of snow, inspiring mountain vistas and many fun filled hours of family activities. Located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee the Ober Gatlinburg is less than a day's drive from most cities in the United States and offers enough entertainment and activities to keep you busy for a month, making it the premier cabin vacation destination.

Skiing is an absolute must while renting a cabin near Ober Gatlinburg. The eight ski trails, which are easily accessible by the two quads and one double chairlift, will chase the cold from your body and exhilarate your mind. Ober Gatlinburg features four ski trails of medium difficulty, (Ober Chute, Bear Run, Castle Run and Alpine Way), two difficult trails (Grizzly and Mogul Ridge) and two beginner slopes (Cub way and Ski School). Visitors can also slide down the multi tracked lanes on inflatable bobsleds in the recently introduced snow tube or takeoff at the brand new freestyle terrain park.

Interestingly Ober Gatlinburg offers visitors more than just winter activities. During the summer visitors can encounter a range of wildlife indigenous to the area, like river otters, birds of prey, a Nocturnal House with native wildlife as well as the famous Black Bear Habitat. In the amusement park you can swing a club at Mini Golf, climb the Spider Web, sprint the Bungee Run, ride the Blue Cyclone Rapids and glide your way through Ober's Lightnin' Water Ride. These rides and more can all be found a stone's throw away from your rental cabin and will keep the adrenaline flowing for hours on end

Ober Gatlinburg is easily accessible by way of an aerial tramway. The 10 minute ride will reveal the panoramic vista secrets of the area while you cross the Gatlinburg Bypass. At night you can experience the wonders of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge's spectacular twinkling lights that look like a fairy palace from the air. There is plenty of parking close to the aerial tramway station within a few miles of your rental cabin.

You will remember your cabin vacation and Ober Gatlinburg as an enthralling and enticing experience where you senses are heightened and you develop an insatiable desire to experience the thrills year after year.

Roaring Forks

If you rent a cabin near the Roaring Fork Historic District, you will be surprised to discover the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Scattered with trickling streams, panoramic mountain views and culturally rich historical buildings this trail will engage and delight you for hours.

The one-way, narrow trail runs through the Great Smoky Mountains and along the Roaring Fork stream of the interesting historical sites. The Roaring Fork Stream got its name from the roar of the water which echoes off the mountain ridges on both sides while it flows through the Great Smoky Mountains. The stream is famously unpredictable, ranging from a trickle to a plunging white water rapids.

With all manner of wildlife, indigenous plants and thousands of variations of wild flowers, some of which have adapted to flourish in the mossy conditions, the Roaring Forks trail is a nature lover's paradise. Further down the trail close to Roaring Fork hollow you can admire the blooming young tulip trees which indicate the first settlement farms of Clabo and Ogle.

After the trail crosses a picturesque view of Roaring Fork you can visit the Jim Bales Place. The original Jim Bales Place as well as Bales' corn crib, hog pen and barn, complete with tools and implements can be seen when you rent a cabin in Roaring Fork.

The Ephraim Bales Place is also open for viewing when you meander down the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Ephraim and Minerva Bales set the architectural standard in the area by constructing a dog-trot cabin. Another example of architectural diversity, is the Alfred Reagan Place. Enjoy these examples of architectural brilliance while on a cabin vacation in Roaring Fork.

Be sure to book your cabin vacation in the area during Spring, Summer or Fall when the Roaring Fork Motor Trail is open and you can experience all that the trail has to offer from Rainbow Falls Trailhead and ending at "The Place of a Thousand Dips", a total of 8 miles. Trillium Gap Trailhead is just over the mountain, and as the trail descends towards Piney Mountain you can park in the parking lot and hike past Grotto Falls and Trillium Gap on your way to the peaks of Mount Le Conte.

Roaring Fork Motor Trail will spice up any cabin vacation with its rich diverse culture, combined with natural beauty and eye opening wildlife. The combination of history and nature will ensure you keep coming back to Roaring Fork for years to come.