Merry Christmas Gallivanters!
The holidays are in full swing, and nothing sounds more appealing to me than sitting by the fire, watching old Christmas movies inside a cozy cabin in the Smokey Mountains.
If you are looking for a place to vacation that feels straight out of a hallmark movie, may I recommend heading to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
You could easily spend a full week or long weekend in these mountains enjoying all that East Tennessee has to offer, but for now, let’s start with a Day in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge at Christmas time!
First Stop – Coffee
2491 Parkway Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Something you may have learned about me from my other “Day In” posts, but coffee is a non-negotibale start to my day.
I always want to encourage you to try local coffee shops especially in a new place, but whenever I’m driving down the Parkway in Pigeon Forge I always want to stop at this Starbucks because I think it looks like a winter cabin! And it is also centrally located for the start of our day.
The Incredible Christmas Place
2470 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
To start our day in Pigeon Forge, make your way over to the mother of all Christmas stores.
The Incredible Christmas Place really is incredible, as almost every room has a different key item of Christmas available for purchase.
One room is just different types of Christmas trees, another room is unique ornaments and an array of lights.
My favorite room is the Christmas Village room, which is home to hundreds of Christmas village sets that have brought to life!
The Inn at the Christmas Place
119 Christmas Tree Lane Pigeon Forge, TN 37868
If you can’t get enough of the Christmas Place, make your way on Christmas Tree Lane (literally) and you can stay at a Christmas themed hotel!
The Inn at the Christmas Place offers a year-round holiday cheer, comfortable, cozy rooms and stunning Christmas decorations for you to enjoy during your stay.
You may even catch Santa coming down to the kitchen for his nightly fresh baked cookie.
The Island in Pigeon Forge
131 The Island Dr, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
The Island in Pigeon Forge is the perfect place to eat, shop and relax.
I’d recommend putting your name of the waiting list for Paula Deans Restaurant, then head to the Ole Smokey Distillery to warm up and sample real Moonshine.
When you are finally called up to dine at Paula Dean’s don’t forget to order the Chocolate Ooy Gooey cake, and you can thank me later.
The Polar Express Train
If you thought the classic Christmas movie “The Polar Express” was creepy, feel free to skip this activity.
For those of you who can’t get enough, you can travel a little over an hour outside of Gatlinburg during your stay and hop aboard the real life Polar Express.
Guests can expect to enjoy some hot cocoa, live entertainment, and even a visit from Santa himself on this 1.25 hour train ride through the stunning Smokey Mountains.
The Village in Gatlinburg
634 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Enter the North Pole itself in the form of The Village in Gatlinburg.
The Village offers a variety of Christmas shops, restaurants and other small businesses for you to explore in an incredibly merry atmosphere.
To finish off your evening, may I recommend checking out The Donut Friar for dessert.
If you make your way to East Tennessee this holiday season, may I be the first to welcome you and say that we hope you come back soon.
I may be biased, but I don’t think you can beat Christmas in the Smokey Mountains!
-Allison
The Gallivanter 