Tennessee Cabin Rentals, Smoky Mountain Cabins - Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge Vacation : Smoky Mountains

Summertime Fun - Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™

Happy Camper — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:38:00 GMT

Now is a great time for families to get out to the Smokies. The weather is divine and as always the mountains are breathtaking!
If you are looking for some great entertainment that won’t break the bank Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™ will be running all summer in downtown Gatlinburg. This is FREE entertainment on the main strip where performers are dressed in costumes that depict different time periods and provide you with traditional mountain music, clogging, storytelling and much more. The performers arrive to different areas of the main strip in Gatlinburg by horse and carriage (which we are proud to help sponsor) and the entertainment is continuous from 5pm – 10pm each night.

I love this event because it adds such an amazing atmosphere to the streets of Gatlinburg. This is such a fun place and I feel that Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™ event just adds extra excitement during the summertime. Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™ is a great experience for the youngest family member to the young at heart!

Smoky Mountains of Artists

Happy Camper — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:53:00 GMT

There are so many talented artists in Gatlinburg, TN and I suppose in part it is due to the abundance of natural beauty of the Smokies which is a great source of inspiration for all. While you are in the area you must visit the Arts & Crafts Community where you can watch many of the artists create magnificent pieces in their shops.
Alewine Pottery is one of the places you must visit. It is a family owned business and has a dazzling array of pottery from luminaries to salsa bowls. Robert Alewine is the master artisan and you can watch him on the potter’s wheel for hours as his masterpieces take shape. You can get a sneak peek at their website www.alewinepottery.net.
For a delicious home cooked meal Windwalkers Café is the best food in town! We eat there at least once a week and besides the food the café is always good for a mid-week pick-me-up. The owner Annette is always good for a smile and friendly chit chat. She is from Louisiana and cooks most of the food ranging from jambalaya to southern favorites like turnip greens and corn bread. After you have had your fill you must try one of the desserts, her homemade pies and cakes are absolutely sinful.
The Jim Gray Gallery is an opportunity you will not want to miss; his paintings and sculptures are awe-inspiring. You can spend hours in the Gallery just trying to take it all in. You can learn more about the artist and view his work at www.jimgraygallery.com.
Grab a cup of coffee at Coffee & Company and I assure you Starbucks will no longer be appealing! Jeanette, the owner, will tell you the same and if you don’t believe me just ask – at your own risk! The coffee is a staple in the community and many of us spend hours in the shop since she has wireless internet access (WIFI) and treats to go with the coffee.
There are so many wonderful shops in this quaint community that you will need to plan a day just to meander through at a leisurely pace and enjoy all this area has to offer. The hustle and bustle of downtown feels like a world away when you are in the Arts & Crafts Community of Gatlinburg Tennessee.
We would love to know what places you can’t miss while visiting.

Smoky Mountains Memories

Happy Camper — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite memories is being 5 years old and visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in the Winter. My mother and I had just moved to Tennessee from Mississippi, which never gets snow and you can wear shorts in the Winter, so the cold weather was a shocker. My Aunt had lived here for years, but we had only visited during the Spring and Summer because my older sister attended school. Anyway, we drove through the Park and for the first time…there it was SNOW! I stared dreamily and it was just as I had envisioned, beyond beautiful. The snow had fallen perfectly on the banks along the river and the rocks were capped with snow while water rushed around them. I was hooked! I threw snowballs, made snow angels, ate snow, built a snowman (it was my first one so he was pretty dirty :>) and picked icicles – I had never been that cold, but I knew there was no better place to live than the Smoky Mountains!

What are some of your favorite Smoky Mountain Memories?

Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains…

Happy Camper — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:06:00 GMT

I woke up this morning to the crisp cold mountain air that gives you an unbelievably invigorating feeling that gets you ready for the day. Enjoying the nip in the air for a few moments from my deck, with a steaming cup of coffee, while gazing at the snow capped Smokies I begin planning a day just for me. So many things to do! I have a decision to make…go shopping - maybe for some warm clothes to go skiing, ah, a nice day on the slopes… maybe a day at the spa…orrr the spa can come to me… a massage in the cabin… after skiing? Another cup of coffee.
A nice hike will do just fine, so I pack the Trail Mix and I’m off. Laurel Falls is a 2.6 mile hike round trip on a nice paved trail with a beautiful end at a 60’ waterfall. The trail was rewarding, to say the least, and I have spectacular photographs to return home with. The drive through Cades Cove and the Smokies presented an array of brilliant scenery with the mixture of snow on the trees and on the river banks to add to my photo collection!
Another cup of coffee in front of the fireplace and dusk is settling in. The fire is cozy and the Christmas lights and Christmas tree make me feel right at home and in the Holiday spirit. The plans for tonight are to take a stroll in the Winter Wonderland that is Downtown Gatlinburg and make the rounds through some of the specialty shops in The Village. Homemade crafts and candies abound in this bustling setting. The pure excitement and magnificent surroundings have made for an amazing day in the Great Smoky Mountains and a relaxing soak in the Hot Tub will make it complete!
Tomorrow, maybe I will sip wine in front of the fire…hot chocolate with extra marshmallows …or have that massage……….


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Smoky Mountain Children’s Home

Happy Camper — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:54:00 GMT

Friday, July 13th Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg treated the children and their caretakers of Smoky Mountain Children’s Home to a night out at the ballpark. They attended the fireworks night at Smokies Baseball Park and were treated to a picnic before the game. There were plenty of smiles to go around including my own. I went to this event hoping to see children that endured hardships become enthusiastic kids. I did get a little of my expectations, but what I walked away with was much more valuable. I spoke with the director and some of the caretakers to get a better understanding of what the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home provides. These children come from homes that are unfit or they have problems of their own that require outside help. They live and learn at the home while there are about 8-10 children per house with a designated caregiver. I thought the kids would be so excited about getting out of their daily routines to the ballpark – who doesn’t like the park, the smells, sounds- the excitement of it all, but it never occurred to me that some may be quite jaded. I was informed that two of the older children were not interested in attending our little picnic. The boys asked to roam around a bit and permission was granted so I watched them walk away. Imagine the disappointment I felt and a little sheepish considering my level of enthusiasm. So, I accepted this reality and began watching some of the younger children playing.
I decided before the game started I better snap a few photos of the staff (you cannot use photographs of the children due to rules and regulations) so I asked them to line up. They were happy to oblige, but four of the younger children were so excited about pictures that they had be in a few. Knowing I could not use these I still took them because the smiles were priceless. I learned that these children usually do not have any photographs of themselves! What? No baby pictures, no first curl of hair, no bath tub pictures to be used against them in high school?! No – nothing. I cannot imagine. The director told me that during their stay at the children’s home they try to create Life Books for them, so they will have something of themselves. I was truly touched by how involved and committed the staff seemed to be to each and every child. By this time a few hours have passed and I am just milling around the park and then standing in front of the bleachers I began feeling tearful and giddy at the same time because the two boys I previously mentioned were walking towards me with a coke and a bag of cotton candy. They had become the enthusiastic kids I had hoped for. I am proud to be part of a company that is devoted to making our community a better place.