Enjoy a Family Thanksgiving Getaway in the Great Smoky Mountains
By Jon Hoffman © 2018, All Rights Reserved

What makes late November such a perfect time to visit the Tennessee Smokies? Temperatures have cooled, so outdoor activities are more refreshing. Fall foliage season is over, meaning the trails are far less crowded. The leaves are off the trees, making for eye-popping views that stretch for miles. And best of all, it's Thanksgiving: time for a relaxing downhome holiday far away from the hustle-bustle.

What's more, you'll find there's plenty to do and see during the long Thanksgiving weekend. Famous eateries are open for business, and special events are in high gear.

Check Out the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show

Love authentic mountain crafts? Visit the Gatlinburg Convention Center between November 20 and 25, 2018, for the annual Thanksgiving crafts show, one of the biggest in the country.

Here you'll find thousands of handcrafted items made by members of the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, America's largest collective of independent artisans. Shop for beautiful hand-stitched quilts; unique, exquisite jewelry; fragrant hand-dipped candles; hand-thrown mountain pottery; one-of-a-kind weavings; genuine handmade dulcimers; gorgeous, intricate carvings; evocative landscape paintings; and much more.

It's your perfect opportunity to purchase distinctive gifts for all those hard-to-shop-for friends and family members. They'll truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and discriminating taste.

Kick Off the Holiday Season with a Dazzling Drive-Through Light Show

The day after Thanksgiving is the traditional time to gear up for Christmas festivities. So, if you're eager to get into that holiday mood, head to Sevierville (near Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge) for Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland. Reportedly, it's the world's biggest synchronized drive-through holiday light show. And it operates daily from dusk to around 10 p.m. (a little later on weekends).

From the warmth and comfort of your own vehicle, you can view countless colorful, sparkling lights as they dance in perfect time with classic holiday tunes. You'll be feeling festive in no time!

Craving refreshment? Local vendors offer coffee, hot chocolate, and fresh kettle corn. Have younger children in tow? They'll love the petting zoo and pony rides... not to mention their chance for a photo-op with Santa.

 

Christmas Lights

 

Dine Out on Thanksgiving Day at a Fabulous Local Restaurant


Tired of cooking for Turkey Day? Here in the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area, a number of first-rate restaurants offer classic Thanksgiving cuisine, featuring mouthwatering ham and turkey complete with all the fixin's. You won't have to mash a potato, bake a pie, or wash a single dish.

At Seasons of Ober Restaurant, high atop Ober Gatlinburg, you and your family can savor a delectable dinner in an elegant Alpine setting with magnificent mountain views. And at Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge, you can feast on Southern Thanksgiving fare, complete with biscuits and breads made from grains freshly ground at the grist mill right next door.

 

Thanksgiving at Old Mill Restaurant.

Or... Relax and Unwind in Your Cozy Mountain Cabin

Prefer to cook your own Thanksgiving dinner? No worries. Through Volunteer Cabin Rentals, you can book a comfortable cabin with a fully equipped gourmet kitchen.

So, go ahead. Roast your own scrumptious turkey and trimmin's... or have it all delivered to your door from one of our fine local restaurants. Then kick back in front of a crackling fire, watch the game on a big-screen TV, and feel your everyday cares melt away.

Contact Volunteer Cabin Rentals now to reserve your Thanksgiving getaway