4 Tips for an Amazing Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg

Instead of staying at home for Thanksgiving, why not spend your holiday in one of the most scenic areas in America? The Great Smoky Mountains are absolutely breathtaking during the fall months, making East Tennessee the ideal destination for a family trip this November. To help you plan the perfect Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg, we’ve put together a few tips for your stay in the Smokies:

(See Also: Smoky Mountains Fall Colors Forecast 2014)

1. Invite all your relatives and combine your Thanksgiving with a family reunion.

A Thanksgiving getaway is also a great opportunity to have a family reunion! Gatlinburg is just a day’s drive from over 60 percent of the U.S.’s population, making it the ideal meeting place for families who are spread out across the nation. Here is a quick breakdown of how long it takes to get to the Smokies from some of America’s major cities:

• Atlanta, GA – Just under 4 hours

• Asheville, NC – Just under 2 hours

• Cherokee, NC – 1 hour

• Chicago, IL – 9 hours and 25 minutes

• Cincinnati, OH – 5 hours

• Greenville, SC – Just under 3 hours

• Indianapolis, IN – 6 hours and 30 minutes

• Louisville, KY – 4 hours and 45 minutes

• Montgomery, AL – Just over 6 hours

• Orlando, FL – 10 hours and 20 minutes

Gatlinburg is also just an hour away from McGhee Tyson Airport in Alcoa, TN. Shuttles are available to and from the airport, so relatives who don’t want to drive can also visit the Smoky Mountains with ease.

2. Stay together under one roof with one of our large Gatlinburg cabins.

When you have your entire family with you for Thanksgiving, you’re going to want to spend lots of time catching up! Rather than splitting up in different hotel rooms or condos, make the most your time together by staying in one of our large Gatlinburg cabins. These enormous vacation rentals have ample room for your entire extended family. Here are two of our biggest cabins:

• Roosevelt Lodge is a 7 bedroom cabin with room for 34 guests. Boasting an incredible location beside a hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this sprawling lodge includes indoor and outdoor fireplaces, fantastic mountain views, an excellent game room, and so much more.

3. Make a delicious Thanksgiving feast right in your cabin.

Our cabins have everything you need to cook a Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings! All of our vacation rentals come with fully furnished kitchens, and when you stay at one of our large cabins, you can expect to find the following:

• Two ovens

• Two dishwashers

• Two microwaves

• Cooktop stove

• Large refrigerator

• Large freezer

• Utensils and Cookware

There are numerous grocery stores minutes away from our cabins, so there is no need to bring ingredients and supplies from home.

4. If you don’t want to cook, visit one of these great Gatlinburg restaurants.

Vacationers who want the day off from cooking will be happy to learn that there are lots of excellent Smoky Mountain restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving. Here are a few of our favorite options for a tasty holiday meal:

• The Park Grill

• Old Mill Restaurant

• The Melting Pot

• Seasons of Ober Loft & Lounge

• Calhoun’s

• Blaine’s Grill & Bar

• Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que

• Mama’s Farmhouse

• J.T. Hannah’s Kitchen

• Holston’s Kitchen

To start planning your Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg, check out our Smoky Mountains Cabins page to find the perfect vacation rental for your holiday visit!