The beach seems like the obvious choice for a summer escape, but we would like to argue: the Smoky Mountains is the best place to vacation for your family getaway in the summer! With cool cabins, incredible mountain views, and hundreds of fun things to do, Cabins for YOU Smoky Mountain cabins near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg prove that it shouldn’t be all about the ocean in the summer! Check out our top 10 reasons why…
- Convenience
For a large population, the Smoky Mountains is a shorter trip than driving to the coast! From Atlanta, Georgia, the drive is a little around 3.5 hours through scenic mountains and forests, whereas the closest coast is over 4 hours (Savannah/Tybee Island) and the drive, itself, is pretty boring on Interstate 16. Nashville dwellers are looking at a 7- to 8-hour drive to the nearest shore. Skip that long, boring drive and arrive in the Smokies in less time! - More than airbrushed t-shirts, henna tattoos, and hair-braiding…
Among Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg, there are hundreds of attractions to fit any visitors’ taste in fun. You are even likely to stumble into a new source of entertainment! Goats on a roof is a thing? Roller coasters that race through the forests and down rocky mountainsides exist? Shoot zombies in an effort to stop the looming walking dead apocalypse in Outbreak: Dread the Undead next to the Hollywood Wax Museum.After exploring all the wacky and unique fun, get into the local shopping! Whether you fancy yourself an art enthusiast or a fashionista, there is shopping GALORE! Explore the authentic cultural handmade arts of the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community or shop ‘til you drop at the Tanger Outlets, home to hundreds of the most popular brands.
- Stay cool and relaxed in a cabin
Avoid the sunburns and swim in an awesome indoor pool! Many of our Cabins for YOU lodges boast incredible indoor pools where access is private and 24/7. After swimming, no need to shower off sand (that seemingly never goes away) and walk in the hot sun while your clothing gets progressively more uncomfortable; just walk upstairs to your bedroom! Take a nice post-swim nap on the couch while the mountains rest in the distance through the windows. Everyone gets plenty of space in a homey Cabins for YOU cabin, unlike many of the overpriced hotels near the beaches. - Beaches are more crowded in summer
You know the feeling: you already spent 20 minutes finding a parking spot and getting everyone out of the car while trying not to forget anything. You walk to the beach while the sun beats down on you and find those spots your sunscreen didn’t cover. And when you have finally made it with chairs, beach bags, and children in tow, now you have to find a decent spot among the crowds. - The beach is more expensive during summer
Capitalizing on the fact that summers bring in huge crowds to the beach, hotels and other coastal attractions raise the prices by large percentages! For many, it takes more gas to the coast, and then you have to pay more for the hotel or resort you stay in? With Cabins for YOU, split the cost of a large group cabin with a couple other families, or stay in one of our budget-friendly cabins without sacrificing views and convenience! - A foodie’s paradise
While the Smoky Mountains offers delicious seafood, there are so many other options! Cut into a savory, delicious filet at the Peddler’s Steakhouse nestled by a picturesque river in the Smoky Mountains. Enjoy a hearty 4-course Southern cuisine and a dinner show with acrobats, horses, and more at Dolly Parton’s Stampede. Or try Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, German, French, and more! - Mother Earth unobstructed by city lights and buildings
While the endless horizon is blue from one perspective, the long beaches are covered in tall resorts and hotel buildings. The atmosphere of the Smoky Mountains is unobstructed by the invasion of retail spaces and tall buildings. You don’t have to travel very far outside of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to experience peaceful forestry, picturesque mountain views, and babbling rivers untouched by human civilization. It’s Mother Nature in all her natural glory! - Unlimited outdoor fun
Speaking of unparalleled natural beauty, there a ton of ways to explore all the different terrains! There are limited sports on the beach, restricted mostly to the water, whereas the Smokies boasts water sports on the river in addition to leisure and extreme outdoor sports. In the mountains, hike through lush forestry to breathtaking views with a llama as your pack buddy, blaze along the trails in an ATV, and fly through the trees on miles of ziplines! Drop out of a plane and fly through the air for an incredible, adrenaline-pumping experience of the Smoky Mountains. From whitewater rafting to horseback riding, there is so much to explore and crazy-fun ways to do so in the Smoky Mountains! - Rich history
In the Smokies, your vacation is relaxing, exciting, and informative, all-in-one. Travel back to simpler times in America and visit the numerous historic stops nestled throughout the Smoky Mountains. In Cades Cove, explore restored cottages, one-room churches, and farms of an old quiet mountain town sleepily surrounded by majestic mountains and filled with wildlife. Tour the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail where original cabins hide among dense, untouched forestry for a quiet, scenic ride to the past. Plus, downtown Gatlinburg has historic buildings still standing! - Happiness Abounds
The ocean can be very relaxing, but there is something deeply inspiring and peaceful in escaping from crowds, cities, and suburbs to a quiet mountain cabin in the woods. Hiking to the scenic mountain valley of Andrews Bald and breathtaking views of Alum Cave is a thought-provoking, gratifying exercise you can enjoy as a couple or with the whole family. After all your adventures in the Smoky Mountains, lean back in your rocking chair and memorize the uninterrupted starry skies filling your vision.