Tips for Planning a Holiday Getaway

pigeon-forge-socks-fireplace-couple

The holidays are a perfect time to plan your visit to Pigeon Forge. Winter festivities are on the docket all season long, starting with the 26th annual Winterfest Kickoff on November 10, 2015, in Patriot Park. Come celebrate the start of the season at 5 p.m. with live musical entertainment and free rides on the Trolley Tour of Lights.

But don’t worry if you can’t make it on November 10. The five million twinkling lights that are part of the kickoff display will continue all winter long, along with many other amazing wintertime events. And with our special holiday tips, we’ll help you plan your Pigeon Forge getaway this winter, so you can get your family started on a new holiday tradition you’ll want to repeat year after year.

  1. Book your cabin early so you get the amenities you want. Are you wanting mountain views? An outdoor hot tub? A romantic cabin with an indoor Jacuzzi or a family-friendly cabin with game tables and a theater room? Whatever you need to make your holiday getaway spectacular, we want you to have it. So research your favorite cabin by searching our amenities options and get your name on the calendar today!
  2. Bring your favorite holiday movies. Many of our cabins come with private theater rooms where you can curl up with a favorite DVD and get the movie theater experience without the expensive ticket. So bring your holiday favorites along—White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story. What better way to spend time with the family and enjoy the holiday season than relaxing together with one of these classics in the comfort of your cabin?
  3. Be prepared for winter weather. Remember to pack the right gear for winter weather and weather-related emergencies. You’ll want plenty of layers for around town and blankets for the car. A few board games or decks of cards for the cabin won’t hurt either, in case you get stuck indoors. Also, if you’re planning to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s a good idea to check their website before you head out. They keep up-to-date information on road closures, impending weather, etc., all year long.
  4. Reserve a table if you’re planning to eat out. Plenty of local restaurants—like the well-loved Old Mill Restaurant beside Patriot Park—will be dishing out all your favorite flavors during the holidays, even on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. So if you want to save yourselves the time and headache of cooking holiday meals in the cabin (this is your vacation after all!), then reserve your table early. Or, if the restaurant doesn’t take reservations, call ahead to see what the wait time is like.
  5. Get to the grocery stores early if you’re planning to cook. For those who would rather stay true to tradition and enjoy their holiday meals in the cabin with friends and family, you have this option, too. Our Pigeon Forge cabins come with fully loaded kitchens, so you’ll find all the equipment necessary to whip up your favorite holiday recipes. But be sure to get your menu items a day or two in advance. Grocery stores often close early during the holidays, and you don’t want to find yourself on Christmas Day without a turkey. (I know this from experience!)
  6. Buy tickets to attractions in advance. The holidays are a popular time to visit Pigeon Forge, which means you won’t be the only ones buying tickets for the Dixie Stampede or the Country Tonite Theatre. So research these attractions before you come and buy tickets in advance—that way you don’t miss out on all the fun your family has planned!
  7. Keep up with our blog for upcoming local events. Coming to Pigeon Forge any time of year can be overwhelming. There are so many events and attractions, especially during the holidays, that it becomes hard to keep up with what you should do and where you should go. So let us do the hard work for you with our Pigeon Forge Cabins blog, where we’ve done the research on upcoming local events. All you need to worry about is packing your bags!
  8. Don’t forget the presents! (Enough said.)