When I decided to put this blog together on Gatlinburg, I began thinking, “What’s the best way to describe Gatlinburg?” I could say, “it’s the perfect family vacation destination”, or “Gatlinburg has it all, from skiing to shopping, something for every season.” But for me, Gatlinburg is more than that. Gatlinburg invokes memories that will be with me for the rest of my life.

I grew up in Southwest Virginia, about two and a half hours east of Knoxville. Gatlinburg was a very convenient vacation destination. I can remember going to Silver Dollar City (now Dollywood) and riding the train. To a kid, the train “hold up” was the best. We stayed in a variety of hotels over the years, but I think we had the most fun when brought our little camper along and stayed in the campground. Or how about Ogle’s Waterpark (now a shopping village), Ober Gatlinburg when it’s snow covered, a drive through the mountains to see the leaves in the fall, Dollywood and Dixie Stampede during Christmas, or Ripley’s Aquarium when it’s time to feed the sharks?

My dad always rode motorcycles (I’ve inherited the same bug) and we made the trip over the mountain, with my dad at the reigns and me on the back, to the Cherokee Survivor’s Rally several times. My dad has passed away, but me, my wife and mom repeated the adventure about two weeks ago. The ride over Newfound Gap is amazing. The view is indescribable, so I’ve included some of the pictures from our trip. My 58 year old mother is a biker now! It definitely keeps her young.

There’s also nothing better than spending a romantic weekend in a cabin in the woods and getting in the hot tub on a cool crisp night. It’s always difficult to decide where to eat, there are so many choices. Our favorites are Bubba Gump’s, No Way Jose’s, the Hardrock Café, or Calhoun’s. We’ve also provided many other recommendations for you here. Well, I could go on, but I want you to check out our forum and become a part of our community. Whether you’re looking for a shopping getaway, a ski trip with the family, a golf outing with the buddies, a weekend of whitewater rafting and hiking, or a romantic weekend in the mountains, Gatlinburg is just the place for you.

We want most of all for you to share your experiences with us. Post your pictures. Tell us about your trip. How did you like your accommodations; would you recommend them? You can also use yourgatlinburg.com to plan and book your next trip. Thanks for stopping by, and we hope you enjoy our site.

Best wishes,
Steve Whitt
YourGatlinburg.com