Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Choosing The Right Accommodations For Your Next Trip To the Smokies
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on January 31, 2017
Let's say you and the fam are planning an awesome vacation to the Smokies for 2017. Whether it takes place in spring, summer, fall or winter, one of the first decisions you're going to have to make (other than locking in the dates) is where you're going to stay. That's the foundation on which your whole trip will be built, so it makes sense to give it some thought before pulling the trigger on those reservations.
We thought it would be helpful to share with you an overview of what types of properties are available in the Smokies as well as some of the advantages of each. Hopefully, armed with this information, you'll be able to make a more informed choice when it comes to your Smoky Mountain lodgings.
Even before you pick a specific property, you might want to give some thought to which city you'll be staying in. And a lot of times, that can be based on how you'll be spending your time away from your accommodations. For example, if visiting our Smoky Mountain zip lines is going to be a big part of your itinerary, then it makes sense to choose Pigeon Forge as your home base. If you plan on doing some skiing at Ober Gatlinburg or doing some hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then Gatlinburg might be the best choice. Is it going to be a big shopping trip, during which you'll be hitting all the shops at Tanger Five Oaks Outlets? In that case, Sevierville would be a viable option.
Once you've chosen a city (or even a remote area of Sevier County, say, if you're just looking for peace, quiet and solitude), then you can start sorting out which type of lodging will best suit your needs.
One popular overnight choice in the Smokies is the rental cabin. There are dozens of rental companies in the area that manage hundreds and hundreds of individual properties all over the area. You can find cabins in town as well as out in the boonies. They range in size from one bedroom to five bedrooms and more, making them a versatile option for everything from romantic getaways and honeymoons to large family reunions and corporate retreats.
Cabins offer a lot of the comforts of home – and more – including full kitchens, laundry rooms, game rooms, outdoor hot tubs, fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. And when you have multiple parties sharing a cabin, it can be a fairly cost-effective one when everyone's splitting the bill.
Rental companies also manage properties like chalets, condos and cottages. In many cases, these are just architectural distinctions when compared to the predominant log construction of cabins. However, they do often feature many or most of the same amenities and features. One key difference is that condos – including those at resort properties – often share a building, apartment-style, but even in that case, you'll still find community amenities like swimming pools, game rooms, laundry facilities and more.
Then there's the trusty ol' hotel or motel. The number of hotel properties around here is in the hundreds. That adds up to thousands of rooms, and no matter where you go in the Smokies, you'll find one – everything from large, amenity-filled national chains to small, charming mom-and-pop properties where you're guaranteed to get that personal touch of service.
And speaking of personal touch, don't forget about the bed and breakfast inn. You'll find quite a few of these charming inns throughout the county, usually located in more remote, scenic areas. These places spoil their guests with comfort and amenities, and in addition to a private room, you'll get a delicious meal the next morning.
