If you want to spend time eating a meal outdoors, but you don’t want to have a cabin cookout, check out these great places to eat with outdoor seating!
Mounte Leconte is one of the most picturesque mountain tops in the United States. It is definitely one of the landmark viewpoints in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The two-day hike to the top of the third-highest peak in the Smokies is really four walks in one. On the 1st day you walk 7.7 miles to the summit of LeConte, traveling first on the Smokies crest, then on the Boulevard, a nearly level, mile high ridge with all-but-continuous views on both sides. After visiting LeConte Lodge, which can only be visited by foot and has a long-term wait for overnight reservations, you can walk to Cliff Top and view the sunset behind Sugarland Mountain. You can then walk almost a mile in the morning to Myrtle Point, where you can see the sunrise over the Smokies crest. Then, you can walk down the 5.5 miles long Alum Cave Trail which has monsterous mountain & grand river views.
The Smoky Mountains have so much to offer in beautiful cabin rentals, breathtaking scenery, fun-filled activities for the entire family, and historical landmarks from Tennessee to North Carolina. If you get a chance while staying in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge and are feeling lucky, take a drive over to Cherokee for a day or night to visit their Harrah’s Cherokee Casino! To help you learn more about this Smoky Mountain casino near Gatlinburg TN, we’ve gathered all the important information you need to know!
Buying a cabin in Pigeon Forge or buying a cabin in Gatlinburg is a dynamic investment for any real estate investor. Still, you should have a professional real estate consultant or Realtor help you find the real estate property that is right for you & your financial goals. Some investors are looking short-term (6-24 months), while others plan on using their rental home in the Smokies and may look at it as a long-term investment. With low mortgage rates & motivated Sellers, this Buyer’s market is a terrific time for any family looking to buy their dream vacation home in the Smoky Mountains.
There are small “honeymooner” or one bedroom cabins for sale or large eight bedrooms for group stays available on the real estate market currently in Smoky Mountain, Tennessee. There are no shortage of options, but the investor should pin-point what property is right for them. They will want to evaluate the age, location, community, views, privacy, structural integrity, built-in rental demand, and potential return on investment before putting in an offer to purchase a mountain cabin rental here in the Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg area.
The small bedroom cabin rentals seem to do the most volume, while the large cabins do the most gross rental income. This rental market is continuously changing, but tourists demand for amenity packages, mountain views, accessibility to the Parkway, and curb appeal is a consistent requirement. Your Realtor can help you find the right cabin rental to purchase, negotiate a preferable price, and help you with the closing process. It is also important to help you find a rental cabin company in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge that can help you maximize your rental income, find quality housekeeping & maintenance, provide you with proper monthly documentation, and make recommendations that may improve your rentability of your property. Aunt Bug’s Cabin Rentals has been a leader in cabin rental management & rental performance for cabin owners throughout the Smokies for nearly ten years now. Let Mighty Peaks Realty & Aunt Bug’s Cabin Rentals help you with any questions you may have about real estate in Gatlinburg, real estate in Pigeon Forge, and real estate in the Smoky Mountains. You can reach them at the office seven days a week at 866-286-8284 toll free.
When visiting the Smoky Mountains, I always make it a top priority to hike the beautiful trails of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Some of the trails are more scenic and challenging than others, but it seems it always make it worthwhile to visit the Gatlinburg area after my successful hike. Here’s three trails that I would strongly recommend your family or friends try when visiting Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge on your next family vacation. Of course, you could always try river rafting, zip lines, or horseback riding, but the Smokies were made famous by the love of hiking the National Park. Bring plenty of water, a snack, and first aid kit when possible. Try to hike with a friend and don’t confront animals you see on the way. It’s their home and we want to respect their habitat. Have fun hiking up the mountains of the Southern Appalachian Trail! We’ll see you in the Smokies…
Laurel Falls Trail – Described as moderate in difficulty, this 4-mile roundtrip hike rewards the hiker with a visit to one of the favorite waterfalls in the Park. This trailhead is very busy during the summer and weekends year-round. Access to the trailhead is via the Little River Road halfway between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Elkmont Campground. The hiker can travel an additional .75 mile beyond the falls to see an old-growth forest.
Alum Cave Bluff Trail (photo right)- From the Sugarlands Visitor Center, drive 8.6 miles east on Newfound Gap Road. There you will find two parking areas, where a gravel path leads to The Grassy Patch and the beginning of a 2.3 mile hike to Alum Cave Bluff. This moderately difficult hike is 4.6 miles round-trip or 5.1 miles on to LeConte Lodge. The round-trip to the cave bluff takes about 2 and 1/2 hours, but allow about 3 and 1/2 hours to LeConte Lodge. The Alum Cave Trail is the most popular and well-known route to Mount Le Conte. Features include Arch Rock, 1993 summer storm damage, Inspiration Point, Alum Cave Bluff.
Rainbow Falls Trail – The Rainbow Falls Trail is fairly challenging if completed all the way to Mt LeConte. Allow an hour and a half to Rainbow Falls and four hours to Mt LeConte. Hikers will gain nearly 4,000 feet in elevation by the time they get to Mt. LeConte. The Point of departure is at Cherokee Orchard Road – Turn at light #8 in Gatlinburg and follow the Airport Road 1 mile out of Gatlinburg into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The name will change from Airport Road to Cherokee Orchard Road. About 2.5 miles after entering the Park, Cherokee Orchard Road approaches the Rainbow Falls parking area. You will find the trail head at one edge of the parking area. Features of interest include the 2.8 mile point when you arrive at Rainbow Falls. At the 6.6 mile point you will come upon an Alum Cave Trail junction which leads left 0.1 mile to the LeConte Lodge.
While booking a luxury cabin rental in the Smoky Mountains, I do recommend visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. You can be there in a little over an hour. The Biltmore estate was built by the Vanderbilts in the 19th Century. It is truly a remarkable home with incredible gardens, wonderful dining, & intriguing American history. Feel free to plan your lodging in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, while spending one day in Asheville at Biltmore. You’ll want to stay in the Smoky Mountains because most of your other itinerary will be completed in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Your family will want to travel to the Smoky Mountain National Park, Aquarium of the Smokies, Ober Gatlinburg, Dollywood, et cetera.
Plan your getaway to George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre estate. Mr. Vanderbilt created Biltmore as an escape from everyday life. Now, his descendants invite you to enjoy his legacy of hospitality. Your admission includes self-guided tours of the breathtaking Biltmore House & Gardens and the new Antler Hill Village—featuring the Winery, The Biltmore Legacy, Village Green, and Farm.
Play in our 8,000-acre backyard with an array of outdoor activities, indulge in one-of-a-kind shopping, and savor our restaurants’ exceptional fare. Visit Biltmore in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC and let our gracious hospitality inspire you.
Completed in 1895, George Vanderbilt’s 250-room French château is a real life wonder. Enjoy a self-guided visit of Biltmore House that unveils a fresh look at how people lived and worked in America’s largest home. Also, explore the acres of beautiful gardens and grounds, designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, during your visit.
A self-guided visit of Biltmore House & Gardens is included in estate admission.
In-depth audio tour and guided specialty tours are available for an additional cost
Weekly Recommendations by Aunt Bug’s Cabin Rental Staff– Janelle
Favorite Restaurant:
My favorite place for lunch is The Old Mill Pottery House Café. It is in a neat little village, and I really like all the shops there. There is an ice cream shop, a pottery shop and an old fashioned toy store. The food at the Pottery House Café is really good, and you can sit outside by a waterfall and eat your lunch.
Favorite Attraction for Kids:
Ripley’s Aquarium is a lot of fun if you have kids. The kids love the cross-walk where you can see the sharks and fish pass by. There is also a little cafeteria there, and you can walk along the river on River Road when you are finished at the Aquarium. The aquarium is well-suited for children of all ages.
Great Shopping Deals-The Burkes outlet in the Belz Outlet Mall is a good place to find great deals on clothes and home décor. The Carter’s children’s store in the red roof outlets is also a great place to get children’s clothes, because the whole upstairs is 50-70% off. You can’t get those discounts at the other children’s stores. I also like the Arts & Crafts community in Gatlinburg. It is a neat drive, and there are a lot of shops to see.
Favorite Trail in the National Park:
I like the Laurel Falls trail, because it is a nice hike and would be good for almost anybody. Plus, it is right there by the Welcome Center, which makes it easy access.
– Janelle
Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the park and parking at the trailhead is limited. The area is especially busy on weekends year-round and on weekdays during summer. Laurel Branch and the 80-foot high Laurel Falls are named for mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub which blooms along the trail and near the falls in May.
The trail is 2.6 miles roundtrip and considered moderate in difficulty. The trail is paved and is suitable for strollers. Access trail: Laurel Falls Trail
Trailhead: From Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead where there are parking areas on both sides of the road.
Great Last minute specials on all cabins for this weekend and through the July the 4th week. Rates Reduced to encourage last minute bookings on few remaining cabins with some as low as $100/night. Getaway through 6/30/09 to enjoy cabin rentals near Pigeon Forge & Dollywood. Take a hike in the Smoky Mountain National Park to get reacquainted with Mother Nature. Enjoy great Gatlinburg cabins with Aunt Bugs Cabin Rentals at https://auntbugs.com