Millions of people rent a cabin in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains each year to enjoy the area’s incredible natural beauty and variety of fun attractions. If you’re one of those annual visitors, you’re part of a special club! Here are five things that only Smoky Mountain cabin vacationers will understand:
1. The Pigeon Forge Parkway is Like Nowhere Else in the World
Driving down the Parkway in Pigeon Forge can be a truly surreal experience. You may think you’re in a dream when you pass by King Kong scaling the Empire State Building, the RMS Titanic washed up on shore, and an upside down building that looks like it was picked up and dropped by a cyclone. Of course, all of these strange sights are some of the most popular attractions in the Smokies: The Hollywood Wax Museum, The Titanic Museum, and WonderWorks. The Parkway is unlike any other highway in the country, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
2. Dolly Parton is the Patron Saint of the Smokies
Rarely is someone’s name synonymous with an entire part of the country, but that is certainly the case with Dolly Parton and the Great Smoky Mountains. Born and raised in Locust Ridge, TN, Dolly is a hometown hero who has given back to her community in a big way. The Dollywood theme park, the Dixie Stampede dinner show, and the Lumberjack Adventure Dinner Show are not only great attractions, but they also collectively employ over 3,000 Smoky Mountain locals. Dolly is so popular in the Smokies that she even has her own homecoming parade every May in Pigeon Forge!
(See Also: How to Save Time and Money By Staying at a Smoky Mountain Cabin Near Dollywood)
3. Making Moonshine Won’t Send You to Jail Anymore
For many people, the word “moonshine” conjures up images of backwoods bootleggers secretly distilling and selling illicit alcohol. Visitors to the Smoky Mountains know that those days are long gone. Today, moonshine is legally produced right in downtown Gatlinburg. In fact, you can walk right into one the many distilleries along The Strip and sample some shine for free! The Smokies are the moonshine capital of the nation, and people come from far and wide to pick up a jar of Tennessee’s signature white lightning.
4. A Trip to Cades Cove is Better Than a Safari
If you want to see some spectacular wildlife without spending thousands of dollars on a trip to Africa, visit Cades Cove during your vacation in the Smokies. This gorgeous valley provides your best chance of seeing some of the area’s most famous critters, including whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and, of course, black bears. Featuring an 11 mile loop road, it is easy to navigate Cades Cove right from your car. Be sure to block out plenty of time for your Cades Cove expedition, because if a bear is spotted, traffic will come to a standstill as everyone gets out of their cars to take photos!
5. A Hot Tub is the Ultimate Front Row Seat to the Mountains
Smoky Mountain cabin vacationers know that nothing beats admiring the views from a hot tub. Many of our properties come with bubbly tubs on the porch that offer breathtaking vistas of the Smokies. Guests on a romantic getaway will particularly enjoy soaking in the hot tub around sunset.
To start planning your next vacation, check out our complete selection of Smoky Mountain cabins!
