Gatlinburg Getaway and Hotel Guide

If you’re seeking a true taste of the South, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is waiting - with arms wide open - to embrace you, typical of a true Southerner.

And, not only will you feel like you’ve known Gatlinburg all your life, but you’ll be well received with an abundance of the South’s usual suspects - homemade barbeque, hand-made crafts and hordes of "just marrieds." Whether giving a nod to passersby en route to Great Smoky Mountain National Park or playing host to the newlywed couple on their honeymoon, Gatlinburg welcomes more than 10 million visitors annually.

With Southern Living’s "People’s Choice Award for Most Popular Mountain Getaway" under its belt (four years and counting), Gatlinburg is a year-round destination for outdoor aficionados - even those who consider the rugged outdoors a cabin outfitted with cable TV.

Gatlinburg’s main thoroughfare, US 441, is lined with a variety of shops, including fudge factories, craft stores and clothing boutiques. It’s not unusual to see bag-toting tourists reminiscing over candy apples as they ogle the craftsmanship of local artisans.

Kids will love Ripley’s Believe It or Not and the Fort Fun Family Entertainment Center, which offers everything from a 3-D theater to laser tag.

The food in this part of the country is to die for. Barbeque chicken and mashed potatoes can be found on just about every menu. Don’t pass up these delectable Southern staples. For those who find fried chicken doesn’t sit well with the palette, there are numerous restaurants that offer everything from hamburgers to pasta.

Live entertainment ranges from country music acts in nearby Pigeon Forge to comedy shows at the famous Sweet Fanny Adams Theater and Music Hall. Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s themed amusement park, is a big hit during the late spring and summer months. If you’re traveling to Gatlinburg in the summer, it’s important to make your reservations in advance.

Summer is one of the area’s peak seasons, in addition to fall, when leaf-peepers swarm Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. For bargain-hunters, winter is the time to visit, although most of the theaters close down after Christmas only to start back up again in late February or early March. Prices plummet during the winter, but the shopping goes on.

Gatlinburg and nearby Pigeon Forge are a shopper’s paradise. There are two major outlet malls in Pigeon Forge, featuring such stores as J. Crew, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Liz Claiborne and many others. Prices are slashed dramatically at the factory stores. If you’re within close proximity - even three and four hours - it’s worth the drive to save money.

Many visitors to Gatlinburg opt to stay in private, mountainside cabins and chalets. These two- and three-level cabins are equipped with fireplaces, Jacuzzi’s and kitchens. Cabins are a great choice for families, honeymooners and those just in need of a weekend escape.

In addition to cabins, Gatlinburg offers a range of hotel accommodations - from the Microtel Inn to the Park Vista Resort Hotel. Other brands include the Clarion and Fairfield Inn.

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