Don't Worry About The Snow, Here Are Some Romantic Ideas All The Same

Well, we were hoping to talk about some great Valentine's Day things to do in the Smokies, but the snowfall you've probably been hearing about and watching really has been racking up, and we may have it until Friday (Valentine's Day itself) or even Saturday this week.

No worries though, anytime is a good time for a romantic getaway in the Smokies. Whether you make it strictly for the 14th or the 17th or the 22nd, or any time this month, you will find it just as romantic as it is on Valentine's Day. The ambiance that makes this area so apt for romance continues for the entire month!

So don't let the snow dash any dreams of an awesome Smoky Mountain romance trip. Just make new reservations with any of these excellent vacation providers:

* Smoky Creek Cabin Rentals
* Summit Cabin Rentals
* Green Valley Motel
* Cove Mountain Resorts
* Mountain Air Cabin Rentals
* Pigeon Forge Comfort Suites
* Country Manor Acres

And there's more places where that came from on www.allthesmokies.com. See you next month when the temperatures will be warmer and we'll be seeing some color return to the Smokies!

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Wilderness Wildlife Week 2014

It's been a very quiet start to the new year here in the Smokies. That's the way it's always been, and that's the way we like it! While we love the thrills and excitement the area brings during the holidays and vacation seasons, we love to get a break too, and this month gives us a chance to break away from some of that for quieter reflections of the mountains, and one particularly noteworthy event that allows us to celebrate it as truthfully as we can.

This event is, of course, the one and only Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge. A couple new changes are brought to this year's event - the first being that Wilderness Wildlife Week will be held at the new LeConte Conference Center in downtown Pigeon Forge between the main parkway and Teaster Lane, and the second being that the Wilderness Wildlife Week is sort of a misnomer this year, as www.mypigeonforge.com reports it will go on for 8 days this year, between 1/25/14 and 2/1/14 (though this may be a typo on their end).

Other than that, the 24th annual Wilderness Wildlife Week will largely be everything you've enjoyed about it in the past - lectures, guest speakers, exhibitions, guided hikes and walks, and more than we could reasonably fit in this post here. And it's all still free!

This is the ultimate special event for nature lovers. See more on this at http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/wilderness-wildlife-week/.

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Christmas and New Years in the Smokies 2013

We're posting early this month to cover several Christmas related events going on in the early part of December. Others have already started, but if you've come to this article for ideas to build your itinerary for a Christmas trip to the Smokies, it'd be criminal not to mention them!

First things first, a couple Christmas events have already started, but they are extended well beyond December 25th. Dollywood is, naturally, having their Smoky Mountain Christmas festival from now until January 4th, and all your favorite shows, parades, and lighting structures will be back and on great display. Definitely a must-see for anyone coming to the Smokies. www.dollywood.com

Another new event we have this year, also going on right now, is the new Christmas in Wears Valley in, you guessed it, Wears Valley, Tennessee. At the Wears Valley Ranch each weekend from here to December 31st there will be hayrides, carol singing, storytelling, and all kinds of old school Appalachian culture holiday fun to join in on. www.christmasinwearsvalley.com.

After that, we have the annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade in downtown Gatlinburg on the night of December 6th. This is the best Christmas Parade in East Tennessee with more floats than you can count, all your favorite Christmas characters, and some amazing designs, lights, and treats for everyone to see. www.gatlinburg.com.

The next day, we have a special guest appearing at Cove Creek RV in Wears Valley as part of Christmas in Wears Valley - Bill Landry, the host of "The Heartlander Series" and one of the best storytellers in the area. He will be appearing and signing books at Cove Creek RV on Saturday, December 7th, at 4:00PM. www.christmasinwearsvalley.com.

Finally, there is New Years Eve. Gatlinburg will celebrate it as it traditionally does with music and entertainment downtown and a huge fireworks display on the Space Needle the moment it turns 2014. It's nearly 15 minutes of insane pyrotechnics exploding into the night sky and it's more incredible to see in action than you can imagine. www.gatlinburg.com.

We're keep you informed on new special events starting the new year out next month. As always, keep checking back with Allthesmokies.com for new things to see in the Smokies!

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Special Events For November 2013

Lots going on this month towards Thanksgiving (naturally) and as December starts entering in.

First and foremost, Gatlinburg's trio of events at W.L. Mills Auditorium is back on this year between 11/26/13 to 12/1/13. Gatlinburg Festival of Trees (11/26/13 - 11/30/13), The Great Smoky Mountains Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Show (11/26/13 - 12/1/13) and return performances of The Nutcracker "Sweet" on 11/29/13 and 11/30/13. If you come to visit W.L. Mills Auditorium on 11/29/13 and 11/30/13, you and your family can check all three one the same day under one roof! Visit www.gatlinburg.com for more information on those events.

Then, we have a new event to tell you about in the area. The community of Wears Valley, between Pigeon Forge and Townsend, is starting up a Christmas festival of their own that you simply must see! Christmas in Wears Valley is on between November 29th and December 31st for 2013. It is a weekend event going on each weekend between those dates at Cove Creek RV on the main road through the community. There will be wagon rides, hayrides, storytelling, Christmas Carols in addition to the wonderful things you can find in the area year-round.

There is also going to be a special promotion similar to a scavenger hunt where people who find 10 specially decorated Christmas trees at businesses in Wears Valley will receive a free Christmas In Wears Valley Christmas card, and those who find all 20+ will receive a free Christmas In Wears Valley T-shirt. You can find more information on this event at www.christmasinwearsvalley.com.

Stay tuned with us at www.allthesmokies.com as we get ready for December and the Christmas events going on.

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Harvest Festival in the Smokies 2013

After much speculation and watching, this week is the start of the full Autumn bloom, and we would love to have you out in Pigeon Forge to enjoy it with us! There's also a plentitude of good special events going on from here until the end of the month that really adds to the Harvest Festival or Halloween ambiance.

Here's what we have going on this month:

* Patriot Park Rotary Club Craft Tent *
September 28th – October 26th, 2013

A 28 year old tradition, every Harvest Festival, the Rotary Club sets up a huge tent as a showcase for local artists and crafters to show off their wares and skills in the parking lot of Patriot Park. Admission by donation. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/pigeon-forge-rotary-club-craft-fair/

* Dollywood National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration *
October 2nd – November 2nd, 2013

More Southern Gospel and genuine, homemade arts and crafts from age-old Appalachian family skills than you can find anywhere else in the South. Come for the music, stay for the rides and take home Appalachian souvenirs you can’t get anywhere else! www.dollywood.com

* Ripley's Fright Nights *
October 4th - October 31st, 2013

Ripley’s Haunted Adventure celebrates Halloween with an additional horror show bringing the New Orleans ghost lore to supplement the already skin-crawlingly creepy show with no extra charge every Friday Saturday, and Sunday evening plus Halloween Night. http://www.ripleys.com/gatlinburg/your-visit/ripleys-haunted-adventure/

* Halloween At The Island *
October 31st, 2013

Wow! The newest, hottest spot in Pigeon Forge will be open for families to enjoy Halloween. Free hayrides, ghost storytelling, kids circus, candy stations, costume contest and free rides on the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel for all kids in costume with Adult purchase. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/halloween-at-the-island/.


The Smoky Mountains and their many bountiful colors are waiting for you! www.allthesmokies.com.

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Changing Fall Colors 2013

We don't want cry wolf, but it's been confirmed that the color change has already started in Pigeon Forge and we could see the full Autumn Bloom as early as two weeks ahead of schedule. Those of you looking to get a bright and colorful Autumn getaway in the Smokies might want to start planning now and make your trip sooner.

And what is there to look forward to in the coming weeks? In Pigeon Forge, we have the 10th Annual Heritage Day at the Old Mill on September 28th, 2013, which will include music performances and crafts in a festival setting plus the opening of this year's Rotary Club Craft Tent in Patriot Park. Then, for a full week starting on October 1st, The Christmas Village on the other side of Pigeon Forge will hold MountainFest for another awesome Appalachian culture festival, and just the next day is Dollywood's world-famous National Gospel and Harvest Celebration where the music will play non-stop, booths will set up for more Appalachian artists to congregate and show off their talents, and the rides will be even sweeter! National Gospel and Harvest Celebration is October 2nd to November 2nd for 2013.

You can get more information on these events at www.mypigeonforge.com. Get more information on the Smoky Mountains at www.allthesmokies.com.

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What's New at The Island?

If you've been keeping up with news from the Smokies throughout Spring and Summer, you no doubt have heard the big news about The Island, Pigeon Forge's newest section of town and home to the equally brand new Great Smoky Mountain Wheel. The Island was a project several years in the making and finally came to fruition during the Summer of 2013.

Does it live up to its hype or is it just more tourist-trap tripe? Well, if you already held Pigeon Forge in the tourist-trap esteem, The Island won't do much to change your mind (one wonders why you're reading this blog in the first place) because The Island very much has the spirit of Pigeon Forge in it with quite a few twists. The huge ferris wheel joining the skyline is the first major addition and it is a fun way to see the town both upclose and above along with the mountains in the distance, but The Island brings more to the city itself than just a new ride.

The Island offers a variety of restaurants, most of which are new (but classics like Mellow Mushroom get a new location there) including the Poynor's Pomme Frite authentic German Food, Margeritaville, Dude's Daiquiris, Timberwood Grill, Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon (can you believe we haven't had them before?) and more.

There is also a little stage on the main street where bands play at different times of the day. Night you can be certain of, but at times during the day too. Classic attractions like an arcade, streetside carousel, and trampoline station also make up good fun for the kids and parking is free, plentiful, and even offers a free tram to minimize walking. You almost can't get that anywhere else in town!

Enjoy some of the rest of the pictures here and keep up to date with more information from http://islandinpigeonforge.com/

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