Take Advantage of the Best Time to Explore the Smoky Mountains

Summer has come to a close. The kids are back in school. You are settling back into your school year routine. But you still feel like you need a vacation! Well, there is no better time than the present. Especially to explore all the treasures and treats to be found in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

Early fall vacations can be the best of all worlds for many families. The weather of early fall is much more comfortable and appealing than that of summer and the crowds are much smaller. Additionally, early fall vacations allow you to reclaim one last little taste of summer before the hectic pace of life returns.

Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area offer a wide variety of great activities that are perfect for fall vacationers. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Literally get a taste of summer by picking your own fresh berries at Tennessee Mountain Mist Farms. (This is only open until Labor Day though). http://www.tennesseemountainmistfarms.com
• Enjoy the crisp cool fall night air at a drive in movie theatre! Relive treasured moments from times past and introduce the kiddos to the fun of drive in theatres. http://bluemoontheatres.com/parkway.htm
• Have a great time while raising money for a great charity (The United Way) at the Taste of Autumn at the Gatlinburg Convention Center on September 15, 2011. http://www.eventsgatlinburg.com/event_detail.aspx?id=7
• Maybe bluegrass is your thing! If so then be sure to catch the Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival, which runs September 15-17 in Kodak and the Bluegrass & BBQ celebration at Dollywood. http://www.dumplinvalleybluegrass.com/ http://www.dollywood.com/festival-q5-0-Barbeque__Bluegrass.aspx
• Fall is also a great time for demonstrations and events in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/events.htm
• And of course, fairs are one of America’s greatest fall activities. The Great Smoky Mountain region boasts two great fairs!
  http://www.myseviercountyfair.com (September 5-10)
  http://www.tnvalleyfair.org (September 9-18)

Between the exciting activities, the great weather and the breathtaking scenery, the Smoky Mountains are a fantastic choice for a fall getaway. So start making plans for a fall retreat now. And bonus—because fall is the off-season for this area, you can often get great discounts on cabin rentals and other essentials. Be sure to contact Eden Crest to reserve your cabin and lock in a great deal today!