Spring is in the air again, awakening nature from its winter slumber with its warmth. There is no better place to witness this yearly celebration of life than the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As the Appalachian mountainsides change from unsightly brown to brilliant hues of green, dogwoods bloom, black bears and other animals emerge from hibernation and streams bustle with renewed vigor. But there is something else that makes the Smokies truly special this time of year: the wildflowers. In fact, the park is home to more flowering plants than any other North American national park with over 1,500 species represented.
 

With Spring making its first appearance of the year, it is no wonder that many people like to spend their Easter weekend in Gatlinburg, TN. With the abundance of natural beauty in the Smoky Mountains, it is the perfect place to bring in a season of renewal. Here are a few things to look forward this Easter season:

Springfest (March 12-June 2)

As life returns to the hills and mountains surrounding Gatlinburg, this is the perfect time to celebrate spring by hiking trails to view life beginning again. With nature coming alive from its deep sleep, this is your chance to see budding flowers, trees, and take advantage of the natural beauty of the area. 

Make sure to take advantage of the Springfest All-Day Trolley passes for $2. This allows you access to take the low emission trolleys to the Arts and Crafts loop and other parts of the town. Keep an eye out for special events and contests in the Gatlinburg area that run exclusively during this time.

Are you looking to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for your Valentine’s Day getaway? With so many romantic things to see and do, it is no wonder that so many love birds flock to this area during this time of the year. Here are a few ideas for you and your sweetheart that are guaranteed to make this an unforgettable year.

Rent a Cabin

Gatlinburg is known for its cabin culture. With great locations all around the city, it can be overwhelming to find “the one” for your intimate Valentine’s Day.

A verdant valley refuge among the mountains and a time capsule preserving the history of the early settlers, Cades Cove is a must-visit part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located only 25 miles from Gatlinburg via a picturesque drive along the Little River Road and Laurel Creek Road, it is one of the most popular destinations in the park, visited by two million people annually. Upon arrival, the beautiful 11-mile one-way Loop Road takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Otherwise the road is open to motor vehicles from sunrise until sunset daily, weather permitting. The sheer natural beauty of Cades Cove, its green fields and serene oak tree-lined Sparks and Hyatt Lanes is unparalleled, not to mention its incredible variety of wildlife and fascinating history.

With so many great restaurants in the Gatlinburg area, it can be hard to choose which one to experience during your visit. Look no further! Here are three great restaurants to get your grub on, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Greystone Grill

This new kid on the block has been blowing everyone out of the water. Not only has this family owned and operated restaurant won the Environmental Design Review Board Award, but has skyrocketed to the top of many restaurant lists online. Known for their all day breakfasts, Greystone Grill will fill your belly without hurting the pocketbook. Just keep in mind that during the winter these guys do have shortened hours. Make sure to head out early to get your seat before it gets too packed!

The holidays are a magical time in Gatlinburg – from the beautiful snow-covered landscapes to the buzzing nightlife and the Gatlinburg festivals, there is joy all around. With so many wonderful winter activities to choose from in Gatlinburg, here are some of the best festive events. No matter how you spend your holiday in Gatlinburg, it’s sure to be a winter wonderland to remember.

Gatlinburg Winter Magic
Each winter since 1989, from November to February, the City of Gatlinburg shows off its finest holiday spirit as it lights up. More than $1 million of LED, environmentally-friendly lights bring tourists a truly special and unique type of visual entertainment. This year the city has made the Gatlinburg Winter Magic light display more energy efficient than ever meaning the lights can run for even more time than usual. Light up your holiday season with lights shaped like trees, holiday decorations, and local wildlife. Don’t miss Gatlinburg and all of it’s Winter Magic this season!

There is something magical about spending the winter in an iconic white wonderland like Gatlinburg, Tennessee. With so much to do during the cold months of the year, it’s no wonder that so many people are choosing quaint Gatlinburg to spend their winter vacations.

If you are looking for that special winter moment, look no further. There are adventures around every corner.

Visiting Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers an incredible wealth of activities which should satisfy just about anybody, from the very young to the old but still young at heart. In this entry, I will discuss all the things to do on your trip so that you may start planning it accordingly.

Of these, my favorite as a professional nature photographer is hiking. The Smokies offer over 800 miles of trails which vary from easy, relaxing walks to multiday strenuous hikes in the Appalachian backcountry. The hikes can be as easy as stepping out of the car anywhere along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail which begins just outside of Gatlinburg. The quick mountain streams thundering among moss-covered rocks may be savored anywhere along the length of the curvy 6-mile one-way road via multiple pull-outs. Simply sitting down and enjoying the soothing sound of little cascades over some lunch is one of the highlights of the quintessential Smokies experience. There are trail heads along the road which will bring one to the gorgeous Rainbow and Grotto Falls after a short hike.

Celebrating a New Year is something we all love to do, especially when in a phenomenal place like Gatlinburg Tennessee. Each year for 25 years running this fantastic vacation destination has put on a spectacular event that attracts thousands of out of state and local visitors alike to bring in their New Year. It is only natural for this Tennessee city to put on the glitz for this affair, after all, Gatlinburg events are always hard to rival and seemingly get better each year.

The Gatlinburg New Year’s Eve Fireworks event is one that gives the Fourth of July celebrations a real run for their money. Crowds of anticipating celebrators anxiously await the drop of the ball from the top of the Space Needle and the sky to burst with colorful illuminations. The base of the Space Needle located at the intersection of Parkway and the Historic Nature Trail will glow red letting attendees know their New Year is about to be brought in high banging style.

When thinking of how to enjoy a December vacation thoughts of a Gatlinburg vacation easily find their way into the minds of snow loving enthusiasts. During December when the temperatures dip low, bountiful white powder is sure to fall and cover the slopes and create the winter wonderland Gatlinburg is well loved for. Thousands of snow and winter sports loving people head straight to Ober Gatlinburg for a wide variety of winter fun and fare as soon as the slopes are decorated in white.

Wintertime in Gatlinburg offers so many opportunities to enjoy so many different things, Gatlinburg events and winter sports galore pack each winter season with fun. Once white powder is seen in the sky, and the base coat has fallen, Ober skiing gets off to its glorious start. People of all ages and skill levels can be found on the slopes honing their skills and having the time of their lives. Visitors and locals alike prefer skiing in Tennessee over other popular ski zones in America due to the convenience, location, beauty, and the spectacular skiing opportunities that await them in Ober.

Without argue, the mountains of Tennessee are absolutely stunning and nothing short of breathtaking during the winter months. When the evergreens are dusted with white powder and the hills are caked with white the beauty evokes the holiday spirit in us all. Due to the fact that many people have time off of work during the holidays, many of them head straight to Tennessee to partake of the wintery wonderland the locals are privy to all season.

The winter months bring a lot of festive events in Tennessee, seemingly the entire state bustles with excitement. Not only are there a lot of holiday events, a lot of outdoor adventures to be had abound during the snowy season. Gatlinburg happens to be one of the most popular places to get in on a lot of phenomenal events and partake in outdoor sports that speak to snow loving sports enthusiasts. From skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and a variety of other fun sports, Gatlinburg offers it all.

Among its many themes Christmas is a celebration of light and the many things it represents and each Christmas Gatlinburg welcomes in the season with its own festival of light and song. The Winter Magic Tunes and Tales follows the tradition of the Summer Tunes and Tales where local actors dressed in traditional clothing from past eras stroll the Parkway and entertain visitors with music, song, story and dance that represents the Smoky Mountain Heritage. The mini performances draw the audience in to participate and become part of the scene. The Winter Magic Tunes and Tales brings that magic to the holiday season.

Music and story is part of the Smoky Mountain History. Each Christmas local actors dressed in traditional Victorian Costume wander Gatlinbug’s main Parkway singing Christmas Carols and interacting with visitors to bring the season to life. Among the performers be sure to watch out for Zeno, Gatlinburg’s mascot bear. He loves to wander the streets looking for people he can welcome and envelop in one of his notable bear hugs.

The Festival of Trees in Gatlinburg TN kicks off the holiday season over Thanksgiving week with the sparkle and glow of beautifully decorated Christmas trees. The festival is hosted by Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries whose mission is to provide assistance to people in the area who need help as well as the city of Gatlinburg, the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism, and the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce.

The Festival of Trees is one of the primary fund raising events for SMARM. Individuals or businesses sign up to sponsor a Christmas tree that they then decorate or pay to decorate and place on display. The pride that the tree sponsors take insures that the trees are beautifully and ornately decorated to match the glory and the wonder of the season they usher in. For the 2011 festival nearly 80 trees were sponsored and decorated. The trees are laid out so that it can feel as though you are wandering through an enchanted forest.

A visit to Tennessee is one that will likely never be forgotten. There are many interesting places to visit that are packed with excitement and thrills, one such place is Gatlinburg. This city is amazing and has something special to offer everyone. Each year Gatlinburg plays host to exciting events that people travel hundreds of miles to be a part of.

One of the events that visitors are particularly fond of is the Gatlinburg Craft Show. While local artisans display their handiwork year round, the craft shows are an opportunity to showcase their talents to thousands of visitors each day. The Great Smokey Mountains are home to many talented artists, many of whom carry on a family art tradition. Many of these traditions carry back several generations and the pride of a families favorite craft can still be seen today.

Winter months hold special memories, especially for families who visit Gatlinburg Tennessee during the snowy season. Evergreen trees are powdered with white bliss, the snow covered mountains seemingly roll on forever offering the breathtaking views that Tennessee is famous for. While visiting Gatlinburg during the winter is great for enjoying a variety of winter sports, it also is a great place to find holiday events and charm that is memorable for all.

One Gatlinburg event that attracts thousands of visitors each year is the Trolley Ride of Lights. This ride is not a normal trolley ride; it is a spectacular ride through downtown Gatlinburg and upon Hwy 321 through one of the most phenomenal seasonal light shows in the U.S. Riders will see all of the normal Christmas characters, Smoky mountain wildlife animals, and other winter theme characters while taking the lit tour.