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Pick the right time to visit. For most people, sitting in traffic and working your way through a crowd is anything but relaxing. If that includes you, then our #1 secret for planning a stress-free getaway to the Smokies is to book your stay during the off-season. The most popular times to visit the Smoky Mountains are the summer months (when the kids are out of school and families can travel) and October (when the beautiful fall foliage is at its peak). The holidays can also be a crowded time in the Smokies. So if you want to avoid the high fees, long lines, and bumper-to-bumper traffic, try planning your visit sometime between late January and April instead. Or if you have your heart set on seeing the changing colors of the leaves, try early to mid-September instead of October. Every season in the Smokies is a good time to visit, but if you’re looking to minimize stress, you’ll definitely want to avoid the most popular ones.
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Book your cabin early. Once you’ve decided on the right time of year to plan your getaway to the Smokies, it’s time to pick your cabin. Cabins For You has a wide selection of rental cabins to fit your needs, whether you’re bringing your spouse, your family, or a large group of friends. Be sure to check out the variety of cabins on our website, and when you find the right one, book it early! This is another secret for enjoying a stress-free vacation in the Smokies. By booking early, you’ll not only have peace of mind that you’re getting the exact cabin you wanted, but you’ll also have a good idea of how much money to be saving toward your vacation in the meantime. Having a budget is a surefire way to ease your worries and help you relax in your cabin’s outdoor hot tub during your Smoky Mountain getaway!
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Do your research ahead of time. If you want to induce panic during your Smoky Mountain getaway, arrive to your cabin with absolutely nothing planned! Your guests will wonder what they’re missing out on while you scramble to figure out the best places to eat, the best attractions to visit, and the best way to get around town. OR you can eliminate this stress by doing your homework before you come. Don’t worry—you won’t need to scour the internet and sift through thousands of websites to know what’s happening the Smokies. All you need to do is read the articles we’ve put together for you. We’ve done the research—all you have to do is click and read to find out about the area’s popular restaurants and upcoming events. Our Cabins For You blog is another great resource to keep you up-to-date on the hottest attractions and the best ways to take full advantage of your vacation in the Smokies. Just do yourself a favor, and don’t wait until the last minute to figure out all the fun that’s in store!
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Buy your tickets in advance. After reading through the helpful articles on our website, you’ll have a much better idea of what you’d like to do during your Smoky Mountain getaway. To save you even more time, stress, and possibly money, reserve your seats or book your tickets to these attractions in advance when possible. Popular dinner shows like the Dixie Stampede and Lumberjack Feud will fill up quickly, even in the off-season (see tip #1). So call ahead or visit the attraction’s website to reserve your place as soon as possible. Sometimes by booking online or booking in advance, attractions will offer discounts. You should also ask about group, student, senior, or military discounts, if you or someone in your group falls into one of these categories. Who knows, you might have a little extra dough in your wallet than you expected—and that means you’ll definitely have a lot more peace of mind!
And of course, check our blog, subscribe to our newsletter, and keep up with us on social media to learn more about our Cabins For You Partner Program. We’ve teamed up with the area’s most popular attractions to offer great deals for our guests!
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Stay flexible. When it comes to planning a stress-free vacation in the Smokies, we’ve saved the best secret for last: stay flexible! There are only so many things you can plan—your cabin, your attraction tickets, your itinerary. But you might be surprised by an all-day rain forecast when you had planned to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…or for The Old Mill to have a wait time of over an hour even though it’s not even 5 o’clock. There are going to be disappointments and changes to your schedule. You might end up enjoying a homemade meal in the cabin instead of eating downtown. But that’s not the worst thing in the world! And keep in mind, this is VACATION. This is fun time, down time, relaxing time. Don’t let the things you can’t control stress you out. Just know that wherever you eat, whatever you do, whomever you’re with, you’re going to have a great time in the Smokies!