Lodging

Smithmore Castle: Now You Can Rent a Fairy Tale in North Carolina

An Inside Look at a Hidden American Castle There’s a place of opulence in the mountains of North Carolina, offering the chance to view the majestic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains while enjoying the height of luxury. It is a grandiose vision rendered in luxuriant reality as if the architects viewed the massive wonder of God’s creation around them

New Attractions Guide: What’s New, What’s Coming Soon and What’s Going Away in the Smoky Mountains in 2025

A local breaks down what may be the biggest season of change since tourists started flocking to the mountains One thing about life in the Smoky Mountains is that change is always just around the bend. One season, you’re doing big business selling pancakes, racing go-karts or touting your special and authentic brand of moonshine. The next season? Your life

There’s an entire Harry Potter Inspired Village Hidden Near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Did you know an entire rentable Harry Potter-inspired village is hidden near Gatlinburg, TN? In the Smokies, we have a grand tradition of thumbing our noses at things like laws. We have traditionally eschewed the idea that outsiders can come here and tell us what to do. Especially up in the mountains where we are free and hard to find.

mythical rentals in ancient lore village

Sneak Peek: Big Expansion Unveiled at a Hobbit-Themed Attraction in TN

Ancient Lore Village in Knoxville cuts ribbon on its latest expansion As I drove up the winding driveway of Ancient Lore Village, I passed a golf cart in which the person behind the wheel had elf ears. I knew I had arrived at the right place. Ancient Lore Village is something out of a fairytale with cobblestone lining the houses

a pond at Little valley mountain resort

Little Valley Mountain Resort: A New First of Its Kind Inclusive Resort in the Smokies

This Smoky Mountain resort offers everything from fishing to disc golf to swimming There’s a chemistry to building just the right Smoky Mountain vacation and the biggest piece of the formula is where you’re going to stay. Choosing the right home base for the weekend or the week or the fortnight is key. Ideally, you want a spot that offers the

the lobby at the margaritaville gatlinburg

These are the 10 Best Hotels in Gatlinburg, Ranked by a Local

A local talks about his favorite hotels in Gatlinburg Not surprisingly, there are a lot of great options for staying in Gatlinburg. My favorites are along the River Road where the hotels face the river and back into the side of the mountain. They’re close to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and an easy walk over to downtown Gatlinburg. We like

the Embassy Suites by Hilton Gatlinburg Resort downtown

New Luxury Hotel, Restaurant Coming Soon to Downtown Gatlinburg

A new luxury hotel and restaurant are coming to downtown Gatlinburg in March 2024 Hospitality Solutions and Hilton announced recently that they will start welcoming guests to the Embassy Suites by Hilton Gatlinburg Resort, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on March 15, 2024.  Embassy Suites by Hilton is opening on March 15, 2024 in Gatlinburg. It will sit at the base of

Smoky Hollow Outdoor Resort's covered wagons and a firepit

The Stunning Smoky Hollow Glamping Resort in TN You Need To See

A look inside these magical glamping tipis and wagons The road to Smoky Hollow – a “glampground” located in Sevierville, TN – was a long one. More than four years ago, Rebecca Turner and her husband sold their Central Florida home and packed up with their kids to live life on the road full-time in an RV. “We would not

the ancient lore village

The Real-life Hobbit Village in the Smoky Mountains You Must Visit

This immersive hobbit-inspired village will make you feel like you’re living in a Tolkein novel In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell. Nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat. It

cabin surrounded by trees and mountains in gatlinburg tn

9 Best Gatlinburg TN Cabins With Hot Tubs for Any Budget

Finding the right cabin rental for your Smokies vacation can feel like a daunting task with so many options out there, especially when you’re in need of a cabin with plenty of top-notch amenities, like amazing private hot tubs or a jacuzzi tub, for instance. Whether you are enjoying a vacation by skiing the slopes, walking the trails, paddling the