Stop for just a minute and listen real close. Can you hear that?  That is Rudolph and the boys warming up for their worldwide tour on Dec 24th.  You can catch a glimpse of old St. Nick on Dec.5 during the annual Christmas parade through downtown Gatlinburg.

The parade will start at 7:30 Friday and will have over 100 parade entries. Lighted floats, marching bands, and giant helium balloons are sure to bring a smile to the whole family. While you are in town to see the parade stay the night and take advantage of all the fun things Gatlinburg has to offer.

There are plenty of cabins and chalets still available for the weekend.  Be sure to call and ask about any specials that we may be running. Chalet Village Properties 1-800-834-8262.

Thanksgiving is upon us and before you know it old St. Nick will be checking his list.  Want to get to the top of list with the family? Bring them to Gatlinburg for some holiday fun.

Magnificent Maple

Traveling up through the Glades yesterday I was fortunate enough to witness something that most will never see.  The leaves are peaking right now and there is snow on Mt. LeConte too.  Getting on the backroads around here is more fun than any local attraction.  While driving with my son I started to notice the breaks in the ridges that were highlighting the bright white snow peaks of LeConte.  Coupled with the fact that the leaves are perfect right now, my 5 year old even noticed how beautiful it was.  If you can pry a 5 year olds attention from his new Batman toy then you can perform miracles.

 Unfortunately the camera on my phone will not take long distance shots but I did however get some good shots of trees.  Hopefully I can get these posted for everyone to see.

My wife absolutely hates the winter time. I personally love it. What better time to reset yourself for the next year.  The smell of a wood fire, crisp winter air to help clean out the lungs and thoughts of the holidays start to surface!!!

Fall Fantasy

October 9th thru 26th the Gatlinburg craftsmen’s fair will be held at the convention center downtown.  If you want a blast from the past about mountain heritage then here is your chance.  Hand made rocking chairs, brooms, wood carvings and corn cob pipes are just the beginning.  There will be over 200 booths set up for viewing and purchasing. 

This event will draw artisans from other states as well.  There will be live bluegrass and country music.  Once your done there be sure to hop a hayride through downtown Gatlinburg.  The fall foliage looks to be some of the finest we have seen in years.  There is never a better time of the year to take a good hike.  The weather is perfect and the views are amazing.

Traffic will be a little hectic so be sure to check out our area map section on the website.  There is a local traffic link to the left of the blog for updates.  Please check the home web page for any specials on remaining cabins.

When has the word plunge brought a warm fuzzy feeling to you in the last 6 months?  Well I may have good news for you.  Earlier I told you about gas being $2.96 a gallon in Lafollete, well it has spread to Newport.  If you are traveling on 40 coming west hopefully you can take advantage of this savings.  At 1:00 p.m. Friday the 10th gas in Newport was $2.95 per gallon. Click here for gas prices closer into Gatlinburg

For those of you wondering if Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville have gasoline the answer is yes.  During the short crisis that we encountered there were just a few stations that truly ran out of gas.   Most all of the stations around here have regular gas online now.  There are a few that do not have mid or premium yet.

If you are coming through the Lafollete area make sure to keep your eyes peeled because there are some stations offering gas for $2.96.  Maybe if we are lucky the savings will come up our way. 

The fall colors are busting in Gatlinburg.  The trees are changing colors daily. It won’t last long so make sure to load the family up this holiday weekend and take a drive to the mountains.

     Those of us that are privileged enough to live or work in Gatlinburg should be ashamed what we take for granted.  No one could convince me that there is a more beautiful place to be in October.  The weather here right now is absolutely perfect.  Low 80s during the day and low to mid 60s at night.  There is a slight breeze blowing right now as I glance out the window.

     The big question from everyone right now is “when are the leaves going to peak?”.  There are so many factors that come into play with the changing of the leaves.  Too much rain, not enough rain, and the wind all play a part in this process. 

     With the rain and cool weather that we have received in the past months, it actually looks like this year should shape up to be one of our best for extended colors.  With impending doom on the horizon from the news and our government, I strongly advise taking a trip into the Great Smoky Mountains and rise above the madness of everday life.  

Peak Perfection

If you can’t get into bluegrass then you can’t get into music period!!! Remember watching Andy Griffith and laughing hysterically at the Darlins? As funny as it was to see this hillbilly parody, the truth is that the majority of the music we listen to today was 100% influenced by bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music.

Bluegrass music does not have a political agenda or care if you drive the newest car. It for sure does not care about the BLING! The men and women who wrote this music crafted simple anthems – love of life, love of family, love your dog, and love to chase that blue eyed girl down the road!!!

In Summer and Fall you can usually find some good bluegrass playing in Gatlinburg. The Elks plaza on Friday and Saturday normally has some pickin and grinnin going on. Linebergers restaurant has a new plaza that allows some local talent to play also. The wonderful thing is that it is free!!! Cop a squat and enjoy. If you’re so compelled, drop a couple of bucks into the tip jar.

Bluegrass music has shaped Sevier County into one of the most popular spots in the world. People come here for a lot of reasons but the one that stands out is pure hospitality. The native people of this area do not know any other way to treat their neighbors. As simple as it is, we still like to sit on the porch and soak up a little life. There is one person that personifies the people of Sevier County. You may have heard of her – I believe her name is Dolly!!!