Planning a Family Vacation to the Smokies? Here's a 3 Day Gatlinburg Itinerary to help you plan the perfect vacation!  

Day One

Begin the day with a hearty breakfast at one of Gatlinburg's many pancake restaurants. Fortify your body and relax your mind as you prepare for one of the best family vacations ever!
Spend the day on top of Harrison Mountain at Ober Gatlinburg! Take the Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway on a picturesque 2.2-mile ride then spend the day on top of Mt. Harrison, where there's year-round fun and entertainment.
There is something here for everyone. Make the most of Gatlinburg affordable family vacations and enjoy ice skating year-round and snow skiing when the weather turns cold. Enjoy the amusement park rides and wildlife habitat viewing area when the weather is warm. Travel to the top of the mountain in one of the nation's newest gondolas!

Day Two

Start your day with a journey into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Gatlinburg is known as the gateway to the Great Smokies and is the perfect place to call "home" while visiting this national treasure. Spend half a day on the trails—which offer everything from light adventure to quiet strolling—a very family friendly vacation activity.
After lunch, tackle an afternoon of outdoor fun! Gatlinburg is home to some of the greatest trout fishing around. There are even locations where only children can fish - giving them a chance to learn and a place that is their own. Gatlinburg is also home to a wheelchair accessible fishing pier so that everyone can join in this family activity.
Plan to spend the evening walking the Parkway—Gatlinburg's Main Street. Enjoy Gatlinburg shopping, go-carts, miniature golf courses, haunted houses, museums and much, much, more! Plan to spend the entire night, until you simply must go to bed!

Day Three

Today is a day for fun and that’s completely affordable! Family vacations in Gatlinburg would be complete without a trip to the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Here, the entire family will delight in learning about the fascinating creatures living in the sea. Special exhibits vary seasonally.
After lunch, plan to visit the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. This 8-mile loop is unparalleled in variety and features the largest group of independent artisans in North America. Established in 1937, these artisans whittle, paint, sew, cast, weave and carve to create original collectibles such as candles, baskets, quilts, brooms, pottery, jewelry, dolls, ceramics, scrimshaw, silversmithing, leather, stained glass, wearable fashions, fine photography, frameable art, oils and watercolors. Your kids will all agree; Gatlinburg is one of the best family vacations they’ve had.

For the best lodging in Gatlinburg, visit Colonial Properties Cabin & Resort Rentals!

100 Things to Do in the Smokies - #98 - The Village, Gatlinburg, TN

The Village - Gatlinburg, TN

Just past traffic light #6, adjacent to the Pancake Pantry, lies one of Gatlinburg's most memorable shopping experiences, "The Village". Here you will find a collection of 27 unique shops and eateries set in a quaint European village atmosphere. The brick pathways, abundant landscaping and bubbling fountains provide a tranquil escape from Parkway traffic. Tucked away in this quaint haven are gift and specialty shops, clothiers, galleries and eateries that break away from the cookie cutter variety of retailers to which most of us have become acquainted. Whether you're looking for a remembrance of your visit or something refreshing to eat or drink, you will find it here. Grab a Village directory as you enter the distinctive brick archway and discover the diversity of these 27 special establishments. A visit to Gatlinburg will not be complete without a stop in The Village. Make sure you visit all 27 shops. You will not be disappointed!

For lodging information visit Colonial Properties Cabin & Resort Rentals

100 Things to Do in the Smokies - #99 - Cooter's Place, Gatlinburg, TN

Cooter's Place

Y'all come on in and make yourselves at home in Hazzard County. Visit the Dukes of Hazzard Museum & Shop, free of charge, and enjoy Cooter's fabulous collection of Props, Costumes, and Memorabilia from the "Dukes". Be sure to visit often so as not to miss regular appearances by Ben "Cooter" Jones and other cast members.  There's even more great family fun at Cooter's Place.  Race the "General Lee" at Gatlinburg's only INDOOR slick track for 40 laps at speeds up to 23 mph in Go-Karts equipped with the finest safety features. Play 18 holes of miniature golf at the Hazzard Country Club with a trip down the "Dukes" memory lane.

For loding information visit Colonial Properties Cabin & Resort Rentals

100 Things to Do in the Smokies - #100 - Forbidden Caverns

Forbidden Caverns

With over 8,350 caves, Tennessee has more caves than any other state in America. The Forbidden Caverns are an ideal attraction for travelers any time of the year since they remain at a cool 58 degrees year round. The site is around a 35-minute drive from Gatlinburg (45 minutes if you’re traveling from Knoxville), and the drive should be enjoyable in itself as you cruise by picturesque views of Mount LeConte and English Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains.

The Forbidden Caverns first use was as a shelter for the Eastern Woodland Indians while hunting and during bad weather and harsh winters. There is a constant stream rolling through the caverns serving fresh water. It is believed that the water comes from an underground body of water located under English Mountain. There is also a limited amount of flint and chert, which were used to make arrowheads, knives and many other handy tools by the Indians. The story has it that an Indian princess was lost in a “hollow mountain of two streams”, which was considered forbidden land (thus the forbidden caverns).
Moonshiners inhabited the cave from the early 1920s until 1943. The isolation and never-ending supply of water made the location an ideal brewing station. In 1964, the initial planning began towards opening the caverns to the public. It took three years of excavating and developing the area, but the Forbidden Caverns were officially opened to the public in the summer of 1967. Visitors are able to see the plethora of unique stalactites and calcite formations that have been there for centuries.
The cavers have been enhanced with lights and hand rails for the areas that are hard to maneuver around. The guided tours usually last just shy of 55 minutes, and there is a souvenir shop and refreshment stand to indulge in after the tour. Tickets cost $14 for visitors 13 and older and $8 for visitors between 5 and 12. Children 4 and under are free. Parking is also free! They are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM until 6 PM April through November. They are closed on Sundays and Thanksgiving Day. You can get more information on their website as well as by phone at (865) 453-5972.

For lodging information visit Colonial Properties Cabin & Resort Rentals

Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the few places remaining in the eastern United States where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings. For many, this famous Smokies' resident is a symbol of wilderness.

Bears inhabit all elevations of the park. Though populations are variable, biologists estimate that roughly 1,500 bears live in the park. This equals a population density of approximately two bears per square mile. At one time, the black bear's range included most of North America except the extreme west coast. Because of the loss of habitat, the black bear is now confined to wooded areas or dense brushland.

All black bears in the park are black in color, but in other parts of the country they may be brown or cinnamon. They may be six feet in length and up to three feet high at the shoulder. During the summer months, a typical male bear weighs approximately 250 pounds while females are generally smaller and weigh less slightly over 100 pounds. However, bears may double their weight by the fall. Bears over 600 pounds have been documented in the park. Wild bears can live 12-15 years or more. "Panhandler" bears, who have had access to human foods and garbage, have a life expectancy of only half that time.

Bears, like humans, are omnivores. Plant materials such as berries and nuts make up approximately 85% of their diet. Insects and animal carrion provide valuable sources of protein for bears.

Bears have color vision and a keen sense of smell. In addition, they are good tree climbers, can swim very well, and can run 30 miles per hour.

Bear BehaviorBears are most active during early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer. Mating usually takes place in July. Both female and male bears may have more than one mate during the summer.

Bears choose a denning site with the coming of cold weather. Dens are usually hollow stumps, tree cavities, or wherever there is shelter. Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep. They may leave the den for short periods if disturbed or during brief warming trends.

One to four cubs are born during the mother's winter sleep, usually in January. Bears weigh eight ounces at birth. Females with newly born cubs usually emerge from their winter dens in late March or early April. Commonly born in pairs, the cubs will remain with the mother for about eighteen months or until she mates again.

Join us in the Smoky Mountains for an unforgettable vacation, Colonial Properties Cabin & Resort Rentals.