Ring in the New Year in Downtown Gatlinburg

The Smoky Mountains are a great place to visit during the winter months. Winter Magic lights up the cities of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, with beautiful light displays and decorations illuminating the area. This winter wonderland makes Gatlinburg the perfect place to celebrate the holidays, including New Year’s Eve. Moreover, Gatlinburg pulls out all the stops for New Year’s Eve as they host a street party that features music, party favors and a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.

The fun begins around 11pm December 31st in the streets of downtown Gatlinburg. The Space Needle in Gatlinburg is the focal point of the New Year’s Eve celebration. Standing over 400 feet high, this attraction is home to Gatlinburg’s 22nd Annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Street Party. The Space Needle is located at traffic light #3 on the parkway.

At the stroke of midnight, the night sky lights up with a terrific fireworks display over the Space Needle. Gatlinburg hotels offer great views of the fireworks from their respective balconies. Just be sure you’re able to see the top of the Space Needle, and you’ll be guaranteed a great view of the celebration. Visitors can all get a good vantage point from Park River Road, is the party atmosphere isn’t for you.

Voted one of the “Best New Year’s Eve Shows in the South,” Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks is a fantastic way to welcome the New Year of 2010.

There are various Gatlinburg shows available on New Year’s Eve, including Dixie Stampede, Hoot N Holler Christmas Dinner Show, Black Bear Christmas Spectacular, The Miracle and The Comedy Barn, among others. Visitors might also want to take a tour on the Trolley Ride of Lights, which is a fun way to experience the beauty of Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic.

Make the Most of Summer with a Trip to Gatlinburg

As summer starts to fade to fall the Smoky Mountains offer some last minute summer fun in the sun. Gatlinburg, the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, is brilliant in the fall, with its magnificent colors and cool weather, but summer is still a great time to visit as the weather is temperate and outdoor activities are abundant, with everything from Dollywood to White Water Rafting to NASCAR Speedpark racing available. Plus, with the Smoky Mountains so close, visitors can explore the beauty of America’s most visited national park, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

For guests who would like to go to Dollywood, there are great Dollywood Vacation Packages available, including ones that combine Dollywood with Dixie Stampede and Dollywood’s Splash Country.

If the outdoors are what you’d like to explore, then perhaps Rafting with Smoky Mountain Outdoors or Rafting with Big Creek Expeditions are attractions that would float your boat. These outfitters provide guests with guides, rafts and a whole days worth of fun on the Pigeon River.

The Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, while not outdoors, features an array of nature’s sea creatures, giving guests an up close and personal look and life under the sea.

Places to stay in Gatlinburg offer guests a wide variety of options. Hotels, condominiums and cabins are all available, many with guaranteed lowest rates. Traveler’s Choice Top 5 lodging for the month of July included Bear Run Falls Resort, Holiday Inn Pigeon Forge, Bearskin Lodge on the River, RiverStone Resort and Douglas Lake Resort. A few of the top cabin facilities include Hickory Mist Luxury Cabins, Diamond Mountain Rentals and Cramer’s Creekside Cabins.

For all of your Gatlinburg Vacation needs, rely on ReserveGatlinburg.com. It’s the easiest place to create your own unique vacation package, custom tailored to fit your family’s budget and sense of fun. Plus, there are always great deals to be found on ReserveGatlinburg.com.

Dollywood Packages Save You Time and Money with Your Vacation

Dollywood is offering a great way to purchase your Dollywood tickets and Dollywood’s Splash Country tickets while saving on a variety of area hotels and lodging, including the family-favorite, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. These Dollywood Packages are available in a variety of combinations to fit any traveler's vacation and budget:

• Dollywood Smoky Mountain Splash & Play Combo Package
• Dollywood Vacation Package
• Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Adventure Package
• Dollywood & Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Vacation Package
• Dollywood’s Splash Country & Dixie Stampede Vacation Package
• Dollywood Park Combo & Dixie Stampede Vacation Package
  

These packages are not offered anywhere else but through Dollywood’s website, so make sure you book now and save.

Getaway for Labor Day in the Smokies

If you’re looking to get away for Labor Day, consider the Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. These two beautiful cities are tucked into the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offer an exciting mix of indoor and outdoor activities. With a splendid selection of shopping, shows, attractions and outdoor adventures, a quick trip to the Smokies is the perfect way to enjoy your time away from work.

When you first arrive in Tennessee, you’ll notice the rolling mountains and blue skies that go on forever. You’ll also notice several signs pointing your way to shows like the Dixie Stampede, Country Tonite and Fiddlers Feast. Shows in Pigeon Forge are very popular, and with good reason. Whether you enjoy dinner and a show, a little bit of rock ‘n roll or a bit of country, there is a show to fit your style. New additions to the show line-up include Legends of China, Shaolin Kung Fu and Mulan. These Chinese productions have quickly made a name for them selves and continually amaze guests with their acrobatics, showmanship and quality productions.

Attractions in Pigeon Forge offer a mix of fast paced excitement and interesting exhibits. For those looking for speed this Labor Day, visit Lazerport Funcenter, NASCAR Speedpark and Speed Zone Go-Kart Tracks. Be sure to visit Dinosaur Walk Museum, Helicopter Whirl’d Adventures and RainForest Adventures for an inside peek into these exciting worlds. A more leisurely way to experience the area is by visiting Scenic Helicopter Tours. This Pigeon Forge attraction takes visitors up, up and away, where they soar above the clouds to beautiful areas such as Douglas Lake and the Foothills.

Gatlinburg is home to a myriad of Ripley’s Attractions, including Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium, Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini-Golf, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Aquarium and Ripley’s Moving Theater. These exceptional attractions offer a little bit of something for everyone, and something no one will want to miss. Other things to do in Gatlinburg include playing a round of golf at Bent Creek Golf Course and a thrilling white water rafting adventure, courtesy of Appalachian Outdoors.

With the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, you’ll certainly want to explore your beautiful surroundings. Several outdoor activities and scenic spots are at your doorstep, including Clingman’s Dome, Laurel Falls, Newfound Gap Overlook, Cades Cove and Grotto Falls. You can also go horseback riding in the Smokies and visit historic homesteads and mills.

Of course, when you get away for Labor Day it’s important to have a nice place to stay. With two great cities so close together, you’ll have your options wide open. Lodging in Pigeon Forge and lodging in Gatlinburg provide quality yet affordable facilities. There are motels, hotels, cabins and condominiums to choose from. Cove Mountain Cabins, Shular Inn, RiverStone Resort, Rocky Top Village Inn, Park Place Condominiums, Comfort Inn on the River and Quality Inn are just a few of the places to stay in the Smokies.

This Labor Day Weekend, treat your self to something a little bit country and a little bit city. With such a great combination of activities to choose from, you’ll be glad you visited the Gateway to the Smoky Mountains for your Labor Day Getaway!