MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS!

Those of us who live in the cities of the Great Smoky Mountains – Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Kodak, Townsend and Cherokee, NC – are doubly blessed during this winter holidays.

First, we live by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited National Park in the United States, and it is one of the only Parks that has no admission fee! We get to see the beauty of the mountains every day and the special effects that Mother Nature applies to us – especially the snow that majestically covers the upper regions of the mountains normally from Thanksgiving through February each year.

The majestic snow covered Smokies!

Second, the area is blessed to be a tourist destination so we have wonderful attractions, theaters and live shows, tremendous shopping and fabulous dining opportunities. All of these are at our fingertips.

This time of year visitors flock to the Smokies to see the beauty of the mountains and to shop for Christmas. And boy do they have options for shopping! You can outlet shop in one of the countries finest locations, Tanger Outlets in Sevierville, featuring over 100 stores for apparel for adults and children, footwear, jewelry and accessories, housewares and home furnishings and many specialty stores.

In addition to the dozens of unique and specialty stores in the area, we are also blessed with the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, and 8-mile loop of over 100 artisan and craft stores. Many of the artists are making the products in their stores and you can find out the story behind the creation directly from the crafts person who designed and made the piece itself.

The Old Mill during a snow storm

When you get hungry, the Tennessee Smokies offers a wide variety of top-quality chain restaurants, but also many unique and one-of-a-kind eateries like the Old Mill. An historic mill and shopping district with two restaurants – the southern style home cooking of the Old Mill, and the Old Mill Pottery House Cafe and Grill, where they are baking the bread and desserts in the kitchen while you are dining. Many restaurants like Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, T.G.I. Friday’s and Geno’s Pizza are open Christmas Day.

Winterfest lights brighten-up the streets

Winterfest in the Smokies offers activities in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville through February, including Wilderness Wildlife Week, Saddle Up!, Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic, Christmas Lights, Trolley Tours of the Light Displays, Hay Wagon rides, and millions of lights and displays at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas. 

For nighttime fun you an catch a Pigeon Forge Christmas Show at Smoky Mountain Opry, Country Tonite, Hatfield & McCoy’s, the Lumberjack Feud, the Blackwood’s and Terry Evanswood’s The Magic of Christmas.

Find your magic during the winter holidays with us in the Great Smoky Mountains. And from all of us at Best Read Guide we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!