Archive for March, 2007

Every Day’s A Party

Curt March 21st, 2007

Springfest is a three month celebration that sees fresh flowers, live entertainment and a festive flair bring downtown to life. Take in the sights and sounds as members of the local arts and crafts community display unique handcrafted wares at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. And why not treat yourself to a taste of heaven at Ribfest and Wings as you sample secret sauces on some of the best barbecue around! And in Gatlinburg, where Spring is Done Right, you will find all of the accommodations, shopping, dining and things to do to start Spring just the right way!

Gatlinburg SpringFest

Curt March 21st, 2007

Dates:  March 14 - June 10

During the three-month Springfest celebration that begins in early March and continues into the second week of June, visitors witness Gatlinburg’s transformation into spring when the city’s streets overflow with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants. Pansies, daffodils, tulips, mandevillas, bougainvilleas, lantanas, scaveolas and wave petunias are among the many varieties of flowers seen throughout the city. Live entertainment can be found along sidewalks, adding a festive flair to the time-honored Downtown Parkway stroll. Members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community display unique handcrafted wares as they gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to host their annual Easter Arts & Crafts show Wednesday, April 4 through Saturday, April 7.On Easter morning, April 8, join in the local tradition and attend Ober Gatlinburg’s 10th Annual Easter Sunrise Service enhanced by the beauty of the Smokies. Free tram rides to the mountain top begin at 5:45 a.m. and continue in 15 minute intervals until the service begins. Complimentary parking at the resort will be provided for those who prefer to drive. A breakfast buffet will be waiting and available at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. The smell of hickory-smoked barbeque fills the air as folks roll up sleeves and dive in to sample their secret sauces on delectable ribs and wings from more than 30 vendors from all over the Southeast on Thursday, April 19 at Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings. This festive street party features live entertainment, lots of fun and barbeque ribs and wings on the open grill just for your tasting.
The 57th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, Monday, April 23 through Sunday, April 29, is another great event, especially for hikers and nature lovers who love to see delicate wildflowers in bloom. Hosted by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the University of Tennessee Botany Department and the Gatlinburg Garden Club, this seven-day program offers more than 150 different hiking tours of trails ranging from easy to strenuous, exhibitions, demonstrations, classroom lectures and delightful motor excursions into the wonderful season of spring in the Smokies.

Spring events continue with Gatlinburg’s Scottish Festival & Games Grand Parade on Friday, May 18 at 6 p.m. at Traffic Light #10 in downtown Gatlinburg. All Scots are invited to march or ride in the parade. On Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20, Mills Park in Gatlinburg becomes competitive ground for the 26th Annual Scottish Festival & Games where clans meet and feature Highland athletics, bagpipe competitions, highland dancing, border collie demonstrations, haggis hurling, entertainment and whiskey tasting, along with food and merchandise vendors. Gatlinburg’s Fine Arts Festival, a family-oriented fine arts festival featuring juried artists from around the country, delicious cuisine and music takes place on Aquarium Plaza and River Road Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20. Proceeds benefit the Sevier County Arts Council.

Time for a Spring Fling Thing!

Curt March 21st, 2007

At last, the warmer weather has won the battle, causing an explosion of Spring all across the Gatlinburg landscape. It’s the perfect time for a visit! There’s no better way to herald its arrival than with the numerous festivals and events that are popping up all over. You’ll definitely want to check out Springfest, Wildflower Pilgrimage, and Gatlinburg’s Bicentennial celebration, just to name a few!

Flower Power

Curt March 21st, 2007

Another favorite part of Springfest is the weeklong Wildflower Pilgrimage. Hikers and nature lovers revel in the opportunity to explore 150 hiking tours of trails that take them throughout the one-of-a-kind Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It truly is a chance to see Spring in full bloom! Download a printable pdf guide here.

Last Week in March is now available!

Curt March 18th, 2007

Due to a cancellation, we now have the last week in March available at Misty Wood! This week is during the general Spring break period and a highly sought after time period in the Smokys.

Gatlinburg’s Spring Fest continues during this period, with a lot of special activities and shows. Don’t wait - this week will go fast!

Our Favorite Attractions

Curt March 9th, 2007

Ripley’s Aquarium - at River Road and Parkway (441) in Gatlinburg. Sea creatures - great place for the family to spend a half day or more learning about the Sea. Just a short drive from our Gatlinburg cabin rental. Call 865-430-8808 for more information. Dollywood - Dolly Parton’s famous theme park located in Pigeon Forge 800-365-5996.

Dolly’s Splash Country - Dolly Parton’s new water park. 865-428-9900.

Rafting in the Smokies - Guided white water rafting. Cherokee for “land of the noonday sun,” the Nantahala is nestled among the scenic mountains of Western North Carolina.Smoky Cabin area Rafting A nationally known river of recreation and sport, the Nantahala River is floated by as many as 160,000 paddlers annually. Rafting in the Smokies will enable you and your friends/family to experience this beginner level whitewater adventure through the gorge of the Nantahala Forest. Experience the excitement of “Patton’s Run” (just 100 yards downstream of the put-in!) to the fun and splash of “Tumble Dry” to the rush and roar of riding the Class III “Nantahala Falls.” For an even BIGGER thrill rent one of Rafting in the Smokies’ 1-person or 2-person inflatable kayaks! 865-436-5008.

Ober Gatlinburg: - At the top of Ski Mountain Road, just 4 minutes from our Misty Wood cabin rental. Seven (7) Ski Slopes open in mid to late December. The rest of the year there are outdoor rides and indoor amusements and shops, including an indoor ice skating rink that is open all year. A great place to take the kids on a rainy day!

A Walk in the Woods:
Maximize your Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg cabin rental experience! Whether you are seeking a unique rugged adventure, toA Smoky Mountains guide service expand your knowledge and skills or simply a peaceful encounter with nature at its finest, come discover the stunning world of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A Walk in the Woods is a full range guide service geared to making your time in the Smokies as wonderful as possible. Emphasizing the teaching of natural history, this is A Walk In The Woods’ eighth season of offering spectacular trips into the Smokies. Call 865-436-8283

Shopping and Restaurants

Curt March 9th, 2007

Shopping:

Downtown Gatlinburg has all of the tourist type shopping, T-shirts, souvenirs, candy shops etc. There are 3 or 4 large outlet malls in Pigeon Forge. One of the most popular is the Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Center on the west side of Pigeon Forge in Sevierville.

Restaurants:

The Peddler Restaurant - A great choice for fine dining and a special occasion. On River Road in Gatlinburg, a half block west of Ski Mountain Rd. 865-436-5794.
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que - Good barbeque at reasonable prices. Also a great breakfast buffet!! On River Road in Gatlinburg one block west of Ski Mountain Rd, so it is very convenient to our Gatlinburg cabin rental.

The Chop House - Located in the center of the Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Center - a great place for a fine lunch while shopping.
Texas Roadhouse - Consistently good steakhouse, in Gatlinburg on 441 (Parkway) 2 blocks west of
Ski Mountain Rd.

Things to do in the Smoky Mountains

Curt March 9th, 2007

A few hints just to get you started

Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

One of our larger National Parks, with over 500,000 acres. Please visit the park Visitor’s Center on the Gatlinburg side for specific information. The Park Rangers are very helpful and numerous brochures and maps are available for a minimal price.Old Smoky Cabin You can even watch a video presentation in a mini-theater. Horse back riding is available in season. Trout fishing is a favorite for many. You must get a fishing license from Tennessee or North Carolina to fish in the park, available at many stores in the area. A visit to Cades Cove on the south end of the park is also a favorite, with a motor nature tour and the old farm buildings from the 1800’s. You are likely to see deer and maybe even a bear there. There are dozens of quiet walkways throughout the park with parking for 1 to 5 vehicles in addition to the many larger hiking trails, so be sure to get the list from the park. If you will be driving through the park on Hwy 441 on your way to Gatlinburg from home, it is always a good idea to check the road conditions - especially in the fall and winter - to make sure that the road is open. Call 865-436-1200 for the current conditions.

Gatlinburg Attractions

Curt March 9th, 2007

Within the walking community are family attractions and things to do in Gatlinburg at nearly every turn. Enjoy downhill snow skiing, rafting Class IV whitewater, golf, hiking options from 600 miles of trails, and fishing in hundreds of miles of streams: the entertainment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is both exhilarating and close by. Explore other great Gatlinburg attractions at one of it’s unique museums, craftsmen fair, miniature golf courses, or motion simulators, or enjoy go karts or bumper cars, Ripley’s Aquarium, haunted houses, or ride the sky lift up the mountain. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Gatlinburg, TN!

Music of the Mountains

Curt March 9th, 2007

March 30, 2007

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the City of Gatlinburg present Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys in concert on Friday, March 30 at 7 p.m. in the W.L. Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg.

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