Mountain Man Memorial March in Gatlinburg
April 22nd, 2012 | 
Author: Courtesy of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce website:
Eighth Annual Music of the Mountains
The following information is courtesy of the National Park Service:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the 8th annual "Music of the Mountains" celebration, which will be held this year April 20th through the 22nd. Over the years, this event has grown to span an entire weekend, with performances of traditional music in neighboring communities, including an entire day of free music at the Sugarlands Visitor Center on April 21st.
The three-day event begins with a concert of Celtic music by the Good Thymes Ceilidh Band on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend, Tenn. General admission is $5. The "Music of the Mountains" program continues on Saturday with a series of free performances of old-time mountain music during the day at the park's Sugarlands Visitor Center. Back again this year will be a Sunday afternoon program at the Smoky Mountain Visitor Center in Cosby, Tenn., where traditional Appalachian religious music will be showcased. General admission is $4.
At Sugarlands Visitor Center, six programs are planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (see schedule below). They are all free of charge and open to the public.The students of the East Tennessee State University Old Time Band will be performing at the event for the very first time this year. The group will play two sets, at 2 and 3 pm.
"The park has offered the 'Music of the Mountains' festival since 2005 to share with our visitors the region's rich musical traditions of the era before modern bluegrass and country music," said supervisory park ranger Kent Cave. "We are delighted to continue partnerships with our neighbors in Cosby and Townsend that presentvarious types of music played here in the southern mountains," said Cave
The schedule of events are:
April 20th – Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Townsend
Admission: $5
7 pm – Celtic Music by "The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band"; come early to enjoy Art on the Porch with members of the Townsend Artisan's Guild
April 21st – Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Admission is free
10 am- Lost Mill String Band
11 am – Brien Fain
12 pm – Boogertown Gap Band
1 pm – Tony Thomas
2 pm – ETSU Old-Time Band
3 pm – ETSU Old-Time Band
4 pm – Mountain Strings
April 22nd – Smoky Mountain Visitor Center, Cosby
Admission: $4
2pm-4pm -"Heritage, Harps and Hymns" – traditional offerings from Cocke County
Spring is Springing Ahead!!! Don’t miss the FUN!!!
Dollywood opening day is this Saturday, March 24.Once again, we are offering the Dollywood "Play Another Day" which gives you a second day free with a one-day admission price…FREE + Dollywood = FUN, FUN, FUN! See our website, or call our office at 866-430-3411 for more information. http://www.dollywood.com
Rafting In the Smokies' season has begun and they are offering a Spring Special through April 30, 2012: Upper Pigeon River is just $29, Lower Pigeon River $25, plus tax, Raft and Zip combo packages $57 Upper River, $53 Lower River, plus tax. Call them directly to book and mention this special: 800-776-7238. http://www.raftinginthesmokies.com After May 1, ask us for a $10 coupon when you check in. (Based on availability)
Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is in April (but lots of blooming happening NOW!) See http://www.gatlinburg.com/events
for details.
We still have openings in our clean and comfortable condos and chalets for your family's spring getaway! http://www.gatlinburgcondosandcabins.com
Posted in Dollywood, Events in Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg events, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smoky Mountains, affordable vacations, cabins in Gatlinburg, clean, condos in Gatlinburg, downtown Gatlinburg, family fun, family fun in Gatlinburg, family vacations, lodging, nature, spriing break, the Smokies, vacation, vacation rentals in Gatlinburg, wildflowers | 
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Kudos From the Gatlinburg Fire Inspector
Last week, as part of the required annual inspection for Gatlinburg's Tourist Residency Permit, Fire Inspector Ralph Ramsey asked us if we did our own cleaning, or had a cleaning service. We introduced him to Steve and Serena Dunn of Dunn's Cleaning and Maintenance Service, who have been cleaning our rental units since May of 2011. Inspector Ramsey proceeded to compliment them and us for having "some of the cleanest rental properties I've seen". He told us that he inspects properties for 50 rental companies in Gatlinburg and "only 5 or 6 others are in the same category as yours".
We were so blown away! Cleanliness is THE most important aspect of our business, and we went through 4 cleaners in the year before finding Steve and Serena. We consider them a gift from God, and we're very grateful to have them!
Come see our condos and chalets and find the HIP difference in vacation rentals! We have condos from studio to three bedroom, and chalets from studio to four bedroom, all located in and around Gatlinburg Tennessee. Our prices make your Gatlinburg family vacation affordable. Book four nights and pay for three OR Book seven nights and pay for five….year 'round, including holidays.
Call us toll free at 866-430-3411 or visit our website to see pictures and descriptions:
http://www.gatlinburgcondosandcabins.com
Tags: Winter Got Lost!
The bulbs in the landscape beds are really confused. They are sending up shoots in mid-January…they think its Spring! This is quite a change after the last two winters, with their record breaking cold temperatures and copious snowfall!
This unusually warm weather makes it a perfect time to visit Gatlinburg! Why not plan a last minute getaway, and take advantage of off season rates and specials. Through February, we offer our "Book Three Nights, Pay for Two" special…a 33% discount from already lower off season rates. This special applies to most of our properties and makes a Smoky Mountain Getaway very affordable. Come visit when the trails are not crowded, when there are no lines, light traffic, and great seats available for the shows! Many of the restaurants are offering buy one, get one specials, too.
Check out our prices and find great value in Gatlinburg!!!
Posted in Arrowmont School, Arts and Crafts Community, Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg attractions, Gatlinburg condo, Gatlinburg discounts, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Ripley's Aquarium, affordable vacations, cabins in Gatlinburg, condos in Gatlinburg, downtown Gatlinburg, family fun in Gatlinburg, family vacations, free nights, hiking in the Smokies, lodging, the Smokies |
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Christmas or New Year’s in Gatlinburg!
It's not too late! If you've waited to book lodging in Gatlinburg the the holidays, we've still got some limited openings at great prices! Check out our website at http://www.gatlinburgcondosandcabins.com for availability and pricing.
We've got a cute studio chalet, The Treehouse, available for the whole week for only $750 including tax and cleaning fee. With a full kitchen, laundry, pool table and hot tub, you can settle in for a romantic getaway, or a small family retreat. Located conveniently between the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts district and Dollywood, its only a short drive to all the fun Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer!
We've just added a two bedroom condo to our rental program, so it is also available for the whole week. Located at Gatlinburg Towers, just four blocks from Ripley's Aquarium, you'll be in the center of all the fun! The tastefully decorated condo sleeps up to 6 people and has a full kitchen, gas fireplace, private balcony, and the building has an indoor heated pool, hot tub, and free parking…all this for only $875, including tax and cleaning fee.
We have other properties available for shorter stays as well. Our goal is to provide clean, comfortable lodging at affordable prices, even over the Holidays.
Have a Blessed Christmas and a 2012 filled with joy!
Featured Chalet: Shaw Ridge
http://www.flipkey.com/gatlinburg-vacation-rentals/p230449/
Some people come to Gatlinburg to paint the town, enjoy the restaurants, shops and attractions our area offers. Some people just want to get away from it all. Whichever describes you, Shaw Ridge is your perfect home base. Sit in that swing, or curl up in the hammock and drink in the incredible view, or shoot some pool before you grill burgers for lunch. Even though you feel on top of the world, you're only 3 miles from downtown Gatlinburg or 5 miles from Pigeon Forge. Compare our great prices! Call toll free at 866-430-3411.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Views From the Space Needle
Night View of Gatlinburg
We're in our fifth year living and working in Gatlinburg…and we had never made it to the Space Needle in downtown Gatlinburg! Until now….and boy is it worth the visit. 360 degree views of Gatlinburg and its surrounding mountains, plus a little history of the town. Take your time and watch it grow dark so you can appreciate both views!
Gatlinburg Nestled in The Smokies
“When Are the Leaves Changing?”
One of the most common questions we are asked at this time of year! This is a great article that explains it very well…hope it helps! Many thanks to Linda Braden Albert!
Color our world: Fall forecast depends on many variables
By Linda Braden Albert | lindaba@thedailytimes.com
A slight chill in the air and fewer daylight hours can mean only one thing: Fall has officially arrived, and with it the potential for a spectacular color display throughout the hills and valleys of East Tennessee.
Nancy Gray, spokeswoman for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, said Wednesday that autumn hues are already beginning to tinge the landscape in the higher elevations of the Smokies.
“Fall color begins at the higher elevations of the park earlier and then moves down the mountainside,” Gray said. “What everybody wants us to predict is that exact timing of when fall color is going to come at the middle elevation, where most of the deciduous trees exist. That normally comes anywhere between the third week of October but has occurred as late as the first week of November.”
Guessing game
Timing of fall color depends on a lot of variables, including temperature, light and the amount of moisture the area receives.
“We had a cool spring and ample moisture through the early part of the summer, and since then, the area has been fairly dry, which is potentially beneficial for seeing a good autumn color,” Gray said. “But really, it’s related to weather conditions that occur just before and during the time the chlorophyll in the leaves is dwindling. The weather conditions become much more important to influence the fall color. We are still a few weeks out from having that influence. But basically, it’s a succession of warm, sunny days and cool nights, but not freezing nights, that help the color display along.”
Wayne Clatterbuck, professor of silviculture and forest management at the University of Tennessee, said, “The best leaf color is with the diurnal change of temperature — cool nights in the 40s and 50s with warm, bright days in the 70s. Early droughts tend to delay the onset of leaf color. Sunlight is also a factor that influences the intensity of the color. Overcast, rainy days tend to dull leaf color, while bright, sunny days enhance leaf color.”
As the night length increases, the production of chlorophyll — the pigment that reflects green light — begins to slow down, leaving the orange and yellow pigments in the leaves unmasked. Red pigments are produced by sunshine, which concentrates the sugars in the leaves and results in the brilliant reds.
Gray said some of the yellows to watch out for will be black gum, hickories, tulip tree, sweet gum and birches and beeches. Reds include dogwood, sourwood, buckeyes and maples.
Off the beaten path
To get the full benefit of autumn colors, Gray suggests taking advantage of some of the less-visited areas of the park and enjoying the landscape with a walk, a picnic or a camping trip.
“Foothills Parkway West offers a lot of color and is a lesser-used area than is, perhaps Newfound Gap Road, going to the higher elevation, or Cades Cove,” Gray said. “The Cosby area of the park is really a fabulous place to go see fall color, traveling up 321 just outside the park. On the North Carolina side of the park, Balsam Mountain is a great place to go, where few people travel. This is really a nice place to get away from the majority of the people that are coming in.” Balsam Mountain Road is off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Cherokee, N.C.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomes more than 1 million visitors each October, with the visitation concentrated on the weekends of the last two weeks of that month. Gray recommends seeking out areas that are not as common or popular.
“But I think having destinations, whether it’s hiking or picnicking or camping, where you can leave your car and get out on foot where you can experience the fall,” Gray said.
Clatterbuck said he prefers areas where there are few people and few vehicles. He said, “The two areas that has some change in elevation with great leaf color are the Cherohala Skyway through the Cherokee National Forest from Tellico Plains, to Robbinsville, N.C., and the Big South Fork Recreation Area north of Oneida on the Tennessee/Kentucky border.”
Gray said the colors are still being formed.
“What we hope for is good weather, moderate temperatures, cooler nights, some moisture but not extreme rains for long periods of time, and not extensive freezing, because that seems to negatively influence the color. But in any event, I’ve never seen a bad fall in the Smokies.”
Posted in Appalachian Trail, Cades Cove, Events in Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, October, Smoky Mountains, affordable vacations, cabins in Gatlinburg, condos in Gatlinburg, fall color, family fun, family fun in Gatlinburg, family vacations, free things to do, free things to do in Gatlinburg, hiking in the Smokies, leaf peepers, lodging, nature, the Smokies |
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Hikers Checklist, Part 2
Required Gear
* Backpack, daypack or fanny pack
* Supportive footwear designed for the length and terrain of your hike
* Extra socks
* Base Layer (polypropylene)
* Mid / Heavy weight fleece or pile jacket
* Rain / wind shells (jacket and pants)
* Wool or fleece hat
* Balaclava
* Extra clothing / layers (polypropylene)
* Gloves
* Water: full canteen(s), water bottle(s) or hydration pack
* Extra food: high energy snacks
* Map and/or Guide Book
* Compass (with the knowledge how to use it)
* Emergency Space Blanket (smaller than a wallet)
* Waterproof matches / fire starters
* Pocket knife
* Flashlight or headlamp with new batteries
* Whistle (in case you got lost)
* Watch
* First aid kit (see below)
* Personal medications
* Moleskin (for blisters)
* Insect repellent
* Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm)
* Baseball style hat / Wide-brimmed hat (protection from sun)
* Toilet paper (in a plastic bag)
* Money / ID
* Many of these items can be found at REI or Backcountry.com
Posted in Appalachian Trail, Cades Cove, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, October, Smoky Mountains, affordable vacations, cabins in Gatlinburg, family fun, family fun in Gatlinburg, family vacations, free things to do, free things to do in Gatlinburg, hiking in the Smokies, nature, summer, summer activities, the Smokies |
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