A cozy cabin tucked away in the woods can be a memorable place to spend your Christmas vacation. And if you want that vacation to include views of the Great Smoky Mountains and their accompanying national park, there are many options for rental. If you start getting cabin fever and are ready to explore, some of the nearby towns offer activities to give you that Christmastime feel.
Although the park is not an overly snowy wonderland, temperatures do often dip below freezing in the winter months, according to the National Park Service. So when you're planning for a Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains, bring along some winter gear.
If you like winter sports, this is the place to rent a cabin for the holidays. Located just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is home to Tennessee's only ski resort, which also provides ice skating, snow tubing and much more. During the holiday season, you can also take part in the Gatlinburg "Winter Magic," when 3 million LED lights are illuminated all over the town. There are also winter hayrides and a Christmas parade to catch during the holiday season.
The city's homepage offers a wealth of information on vacationing in the area, including a searchable database of cabins for rent.
www.gatlinburg.com
Pigeon Forge is the next closest town to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Home to Dollywood, the amusement park dedicated to singer Dolly Parton, the town attracts a lot of visitors. During the winter months, you can hop on a trolley and look at the Christmas lights on the Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights. Dollywood also offers its own Christmas festival. Cabins aplenty are available for rent, and you can search for cabins at the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism website.
www.mypigeonforge.com
Known to the world as Dolly Parton's hometown, Sieverville is a more sophisticated option for travelers to the area. The town is farther from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but the restaurants and bigger-city life there might make it attractive for your vacation. Shopping is big in Sieverville, so bring your wallet. For a little fun around the holidays, Sieverville offers its annual Christmas parade. If you'd like a cabin with a view of a natural setting, consider renting one at nearby Douglas Lake.
Sieverville's Chamber of Commerce offers a searchable database for finding cabins on its website.
www.sievervillechamber.com
The area around Townsend is known as "the peaceful side of the Smokies," because it's far from the busy city life you might find in other locales. But with the quiet life comes more chances for artistic expression. Townsend is known for its vibrant arts and crafts scene and bluegrass pickin' sessions at community and art centers. During the winter months, the gorgeous hiking in the area gets a little tougher, but you can still stretch your legs by browsing the numerous art galleries, antique shops and craft shops the town offers. You might even find a few holiday gifts. Townsend's website has a host of offerings for cabins that can be rented year-round.
www.smokymountains.org
