Gatlinburg Vacation Rentals - Your Gateway To The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh My! Well...Bears anyway. They are frequent visitors to the cabins in the mountains around Gatlinburg. Vacationers traveling to Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains are invariably nature lovers. So wildlife, old growth forests and scenic vistas are around every corner. Speaking of wildlife, many visitors are surprised to occasionally see elk. The National Park Service began re-introducing them into the Park in 2001. They look like overgrown Bambis, but keep your distance as they can be dangerous. For a comprehensive list of the mammals in the area, the National Park Service provides a list. See how many you can spot on your Gatlinburg vacation.

The Smoky Mountains National Park, which is located on the very edge of Gatlinburg, is by far the most visited National Park in the USA with typically around 9 million visitors per year. But don't let this discourage you from a visit. With over 800 miles of hikable trails, you have plenty of space to roam. When not touring the splendors of the Park, you can stroll the streets and visit the numerous Shops and Restaurants in Downtown Gatlinburg. There's even enclosed shopping in the Gatlinburg Mountain Mall. Other exciting activities can be found in the area, including Dollywood Amusement Park in Pigeon Forge, skiing or a breathtaking tram ride downtown at Ober Gatlinburg with its Aerial Tram, golf at Bent Creek Golf Village just 11 miles from downtown, and let's not forget class 3 and 4 white water rafting.

An incredible number of Gatlinburg condos and other owner rentals are within walking distance or just a short drive to downtown, so you can visit the town again and again. For that rustic feel, most of the rentals by owner are luxurious cabins. Don't worry about the cool evenings, Hot Tubs are often included and make for a special evening of star gazing. Plan to book a hotel or vacation rental early. The cabins and hotels of Gatlinburg will fill up quickly.

Dams, Lakes, Scenic Drives, The Dragon's Tail & More Dams

For those who wish to branch out and see more of the area, there are many unique and varied destinations and Smoky Mountain events to experience. For instance, drive through the Park and visit Harrah's Cherokee Casino. If you like to imbibe in beer or spirits during your gambling, at last visit this casino was in a "dry" county. Also noted during a prior visit, smoking is allowed and there are no craps tables or actual decks of cards. It's all electronic gaming. If any of the foregoing is not to your liking, you should contact the casino to see if any of the observations have changed. Back to your "branching out" travels, the mountains and valleys around this part of North Carolina and Tennessee are home to many Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) dam projects. Dams and their lakes are EVERYWHERE it seems. To see this first hand, head south toward US Hwy 129 and follow it from Tennessee into North Carolina. This is the world famous "Dragon's Tail" - over 318 curves in just 11 miles!! The Deal's Gap link we just provided has a wealth of information about that area, but a couple suggestions and a WARNING. First the warning, the Dragon's Tail is world famous for its extraordinary number of turns, and the thousands of sports cars and motorcycles that it attracts. Be extra careful as you approach blind turns. Many of the sport car and bike riders are there for the thrill of high speed driving and corning. Don't miss the opportunity to see this amazing road...just watch the corners.

The hotel/restaurant for the previous Deal's Gap link is a motorcycle haven, and their burgers and other food are quite tasty. The "bikers" are extra friendly and just love to ride the mountain roads. While there, be sure to see the Tree Of Shame. A tree in the parking lot covered in broken motorcycle parts from the many wrecks on the Dragon. Deal's Gap is a nexus for two very enjoyable rides. One - the Cherohala Skyway - is very long, but we strongly suggest settling back and enjoying the ride. It climbs to over 5,400 feet and the mountain vistas are breathtaking. There are literally no homes or commercial buildings along the entire 36 miles. You may even see a flying squirrel! That's what those strange poles on the side of the road are for...squirrel launch pads!

The second suggestion is a shorter drive and you can make this a circular round trip back to Deal's Gap. Consult your map or GPS and head toward Fontana Lake - naturally with a dam and boat rentals too. You can continue on to Robbinsville, NC and then head back to Deal's Gap via Hwy 129. You'll follow the ridges past Santeetlah Lake - and another dam - and then the river valley back to Deal's Gap. Oh, by the way, you will pass another dam on the right just before the short climb to Deal's Gap. This is the Cheoah Dam used to film the famous Harrison Ford "jump" scene in the movie The Fugitive.

Whew! Like those flying squirrels and their launching pads, your Gatlinburg lodging selection is the perfect launching pad to many days of adventure in the The Smokys.

We hope you have a most enjoyable Gatlinburg mountain vacation, and please
tell your family and friends about our 250+ vacation planning websites.