Gatlinburg TN
Gatlinburg, Tennessee is known to millions of visitors because of its location at the northern entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s also the unofficial honeymoon capital of the South to thousands newlyweds each year and was voted the favorite mountain getaway of Southern Living magazine’s Readers Choice Awards.
We enjoy Gatlinburg and the Smokies in the winter and spring, not only because the number of visitors significantly declines but also to experience the wild winter beauty and the lovely Appalachian spring. In winter, the mountain vistas are opened up because the leaves are off the trees.
Gatlinburg TN cabins began attracting tourists as early as 1916 when Andy Huff built the Mountain view Hotel. Initially built to house timber customers, the Mountain View was expanded to provide fine food and lodging for vacationers and later housing for employees of the National Park Service and Bureau of Roads. Some of the earliest resorts included the Gatlinburg Inn, the Buckhorn Inn (still pampering guests today), Le Conte Lodge (only lodging in the Park—and requires a six-mile strenuous hike), and the Wonderland Hotel in Elkmont.
Today, an excellent trolley system is in place that allows visitors to sit back and relax to enjoy the sights without having to watch the road. The routes are color coded to help newcomers find the right trolley. For example, the red route runs to Pigeon Forge cabins, Dollywood, and the Gatlinburg golf course while the yellow route runs to the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community.
Located on Glades Road and Buckhorn Road off U.S. 321 three miles east of Gatlinburg, the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community showcases more than 70 local artists and craftsmen working in galleries along an eight-mile loop road that is the largest group of independent artists and craftsmen in the United States.
Another source of high-quality crafts from the entire southern Appalachian region is found at the Arrowcraft Shop, which was founded in 1926 and is operated by the Southern Highlands Guild. Arrowcraft is next door to Arrowmont School which has a craft instruction program that includes spring and summer week-long workshops with room and board, evening sessions for area residents, and Elderhostel programs in subjects ranging from stone sculpture to basketry. The school is nationally known for its woodturning program.
Gatlinburg Cabins, on Ski Mountain Road, has nearly one hundred rental cabins and chalets designed in a variety of styles ranging from one to eight bedrooms. All have wood burning or gas log fireplaces, hot tub, cable or satellite TV, DVD and a fully-equipped kitchen. Some rentals have whirlpools tubs, stereo, and game tables. A few have state-of-the-art home theater rooms, swimming pool access and accept pets.
Among the many hotels and motels in Gatlinburg are national franchises for Best Western, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, Quality Inn, Ramada Inn, and Travel Lodge. For a more extended stay, there are hundreds of beautiful homes available in the Gatlinburg real estate market as well. Whether you need a small starter home or a 5+ bedroom home, you are sure to find the perfect home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.