Gatlinburg Tennessee

One of the reasons I adore traveling is because it allows me to learn so many new things about the places I visit and the people I meet. I’m constantly reading new travel articles about a wide variety of destinations, and my list of places to go is starting to look as long as my Costco receipts.

How many of you are familiar with Gatlinburg, Tennessee? Before I randomly came across an article about it recently, I knew next to nothing! Gatlinburg is apparently a fairly small town of just under 4,000 people, but it’s a very popular resort town. It’s right on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The town also has a Space Needle which looks very similar to the one in Seattle! As soon as I heard learned about that and the fact that it’s a popular resort town I immediately though “ooh, I wonder what sort of hotels they have there…”

The Mountain Loft looks like a great resort. It’s over 2200 feet above sea level, so it has great views. It’s only five miles from Smoky Mountain National Park and it has jacuzzi tubs, a spa, a sauna and indoor and outdoor pools. It seems to be a great home base from which to explore the area.

I would personally be more interested in staying in a cabin, though – you’re in the Smoky Mountains, after all! Something along the lines of Hearland Cabins seems so much fun to me. I haven’t stayed in a cabin since college, and it was such a great time. When it’s snowy outside, you can stay inside next to the fireplace and drink hot cocoa. Happy sighs. It’s time to get a group of people together and head to Tennesseee!

Ripleys Aquarium Gatlinburg

Photo Credits: James. Thompson, Brent and MariLynn

dog friendly hotel

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a great city for outdoors enthusiasts, and if you’re looking for a pet-friendly city, Gatlinburg is it! Nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg offers a wide range of camping, hiking and boating activities, and at the end of a fun-filled day, you and your pet can hunker down for the night in one of the city’s pet friendly hotels.  As a dog owner, I love the fact that this city offers so many hotels which allow my pooch to travel with me.

The Knights Inn Gatlinburg has a very liberal pet policy – up to two dogs of any size are

Smoky Mountains

permitted for only $10/night. Rates start at about $55/night and you can ask for the jacuzzi suites. Free breakfast and a business center make this hotel a good place for those who want to take their dog with them on business trips, and there’s even an outdoor swimming pool which is open in the summer months.

If you and your furry friend are looking for slightly more posh accommodations, check out the Park Vista Hotel and Convention Center. Take as many of your dogs with you as you like – so long as they’re under 25 pounds, it’s $20/night per pet. You’ll enjoy beautiful views of downtown Gatlinburg as well as 360 degree views of the Smokey Mountains. The hotel provides a designated pet walking area, or you can make the short drive to one of dozens of local hiking trails. While your pet is relaxing in the room, take the family down to the great pool area – there’s an indoor swimming pool, a jacuzzi and even a kids wading pool. Not bad for a hotel with rates that start at $85/night!

The pet-friendly Holiday Inn Sunspree only charges you $15 per stay, not per night, for your dog, and you can bring dogs of all sizes, which is a rarity.  Relax in your room with your pet and surf the Internet for free. Your pooch will even get a little baggie of pet treats! Most of the rooms are oversized, too, so you and your pet will have plenty of room to spread out. Rates start at around $55/night depending on the season.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Photo credits: Jared422_80, Snotgoblin and jrubinic.