Great Smoky Mountain National Park remains the most visited national park in the nation. While a vast majority of its more than 9 million annual visitors arrive in the summer and fall color seasons, winter offers up a unique opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts.

That’s especially true for those who enjoy winter sports activities. Ski season opened at Gatlinburg’s popular Ober Mountain on Jan. 3.

Ober Gatlinburg features nine trails serviced by two quad lifts, one double lift and one surface lift. The Resort also offers terrain for all abilities, from beginners experiencing snow sports for the first time, to seasoned experts headed to the moguls and the terrain park.  

Snow tubing is another popular activity at Ober Gatlinburg in addition to skiing, snowboarding and ice skating.

For more information about Ober Gatlinburg, the aerial tramway, restaurants, shops and more, visit www.obergatlinburg.com/. Or if you would like to learn more about discount Gatlinburg resort accommodations and vacation packages, go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

While much of the nation focuses on the crystal ball drop in New York’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve, the city of Gatlinburg will be celebrating with its own special ball drop.

The Smoky Mountain village will welcome the arrival of 2012 with its 24^th annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show at the base of the Space Needle.

The ball drop from the 342-foot-tall Space Needle at midnight on Jan. 1, 2012 will be followed by music and a dazzling fireworks display choreographed to the music. The event is a Gatlinburg tradition and many restaurants and attractions also offer special celebrations.

It’s all part of the nearly 4-month long Gatlinburg Winter Magic festival that also includes an extravagant display of holiday lights throughout Gatlinburg’s famous downtown Parkway. The custom designed displays feature millions of new LED lights that reduced the city’s energy costs for the 120-day program by 95%.

Displays include animals indigenous to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park such as deer, rabbits and squirrels as well as fanciful snowmen, dancing fountains, children and a rocking horse.

For information on Gatlinburg events, discount attraction tickets and discount family vacation packages, please visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

With the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic approaching in spring 2012, interest in the Titanic story remains as high as ever. The vessel hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sank in icy waters on April 15, 2012.

The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN is filled with amazing artifacts and stories about the ill-fated ship. Now, to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of that fateful voyage, the attraction has opened a special new exhibit that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Oscar-wining feature film, Titanic.

The exhibit includes costumes worn by the film’s stars, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as props and set pieces from some of the movie’s most memorable scenes. The exhibit will remain in Pigeon Forge through April 15, 2013, and is included with the regular price of admission.

For information on Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area attraction tickets and discount Gatlinburg vacation packages, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Don’t look now but with November just a week away, the annual holiday festivities can’t be far behind.Visitors to Gatlinburg won’t want to miss the three-time winner of America’s Best Christmas Event - Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration scheduled to run from Nov. 5 through Dec. 30, 2011.

This year’s celebration offers an entirely new event with the premiere of Dollywood on Ice!, an ice dancing spectacular choreographed to the most popular sounds of the season.

At Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, you’ll experience a winter wonderland the includes four million sparkling lights, more than 20 rides and attractions and an array of award-winning holiday shows such as Christmas in the Smokies and O’ Holy Night.

Visit Santa’s Workshop where you’ll be delighted by larger-than-life toy soldiers, wagons, a dollhouse, sailboats and other classic toys. The centerpiece of the workshop is an 18-foot Christmas tree. Additional holiday happenings include the Parade of Lights that winds its way throughout the park.

For discount attraction tickets and Gatlinburg vacation package information, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

The time is now to visit Gatlinburg. Wherever you are in Gatlinburg, you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous mountain views. And as the fall color season begins to explode throughout the Great Smoky Mountains, the view just gets better and better.

If you’ve never seen the awe-inspiring beauty of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in fall, prepare for one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular pleasures. But the incredible hues of oranges, reds and yellows bursting forth across the landscape are just part of the fun of Gatlinburg in the fall.

There’s no better way to take in the fall colors than with a serene hike along more than 800 miles of scenic trails. Or try an equally scenic horseback ride. For those who enjoy fishing, fall is a great time to catch delicious trout from a clear mountain stream.

Beyond the sheer beauty and fun that nature provides, Gatlinburg is filled with activities for the entire family. Take a ride up the Ober Mountain aerial tram. Or sail down the mountain on a thrilling alpine slide.

Enjoy a round of miniature golf. Or strap on some ice skates for an ice skating adventure. Experience the world’s longest underwater aquarium tunnel or check out one of many unique museums.

The village of Gatlinburg is also filled with shopping, quaint eateries, arts & crafts, and simple, old-fashioned hospitality. See for yourself by joining the many who head to Gatlinburg every fall to soak up the beauty and adventure.

For information on Gatlinburg discount family vacation packages, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Fall is just around the corner and that means fun days ahead in the spectacular Great Smoky Mountains of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.Gatlinburg provides the ideal front row seat for viewing the amazing fall color season in the Smokies. And from September 15 to October 31, Gatlinburg also celebrates its annual Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival.

The beautiful mountain village celebrates the exceptional fall season with a variety of events as the warm days and cool, clear nights help transform 800 square miles of lush green mountain forest into brilliant shades of orange, yellow and red.

One of the highlight festivals is the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair from Oct. 6-23, 2011. The festival, now in its 36^th year, features area artisans and craftspeople demonstrating their special talents and skills while answering questions and selling their unique artwork. Meanwhile, downtown Gatlinburg is decorated for the festivities with elaborate storefront decorations.

For more on Gatlinburg events and resort accommodations such as Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, please visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

There’s something special about the great outdoors. Especially when you can soak up the fresh air and spectacular scenery around Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. 

Few vacation destinations offer as much opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors like Gatlinburg. The area is filled with outdoor recreational opportunities that will excite the whole family.

The Gatlinburg vicinity has hundreds of lakes, rivers, streams and ponds, offering up some of the nation’s best trout fishing. Why not spend a relaxing afternoon with a fishing line in the water along the Little Pigeon River in downtown Gatlinburg.

Another great family activity in Gatlinburg is biking, especially when pedaling around Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a tour of beautiful Cades Cove loop, one of the most picturesque areas in the park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also perfect for hiking. With more than 800 miles of trails, there’s everything from simple, beginner treks to more challenging elevated trails. Whether you want to hike for an hour, a day or a week, you’ll find an option that fits your plans. A Guided Nature Service can help provide a more educational and in-depth look at the Smoky Mountains. Or you can visit one of the park’s many visitor information centers for help in planning the perfect hike.

While out on the trails, you might also want to look to the trees since the National Park is also a premier location for bird watchers. From the foothills to the higher elevations, the Smokies offer a wide variety of topographies to host an extremely diverse number of habitats and microclimates for birds. As a result, nearly 250 species of birds have been found in the park. Approximately 60 species are year-long residents of the park while 120 species breed in the park. Still other species use the park as a vital stopping point during migrations.

Other recreational options in the Gatlinburg area include golf, horseback riding and white water rafting down the Big Pigeon River.

For more on Gatlinburg attractions and Gatlinburg discount vacation packages, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

What do you get when you mix majestic mountains, exquisite fine art, creativity, children’s programs and music? You get the 7th Annual Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival.The special event, set at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a two-day street fair to be held May 14-15 in scenic Gatlinburg, TN.

The event showcases artists at the top of their fields and participating exhibitors are chosen by jury in 16 categories ranging from ceramics and glass to watercolor and woodworking. In all, a total of $10,000 in prizes and purchase vouchers is at stake in this prestigious event.

Admission to the festival is free to visitors. However, the event also serves as a fundraiser for the internationally renowned Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, the Sevier County Arts Council and the Gatlinburg Boys & Girls Club art program.

The Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival also kicks off the first showing of the 2011 version of the popular Gatlinburg Tunes & Tales with performances on both days during festival hours.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience some of the very best arts and crafts in an area well known for its craftsmanship.

For details on Gatlinburg and discount Gatlinburg vacation packages, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area of the Great Smoky Mountains is filled with fun-filled family adventures. There’s a seemingly never-ending variety of outdoor recreation ranging from hiking and exploring the national park to white water rafting, fishing, golfing and more. Or you can choose from a wide variety of theme parks and other attractions.

You’ll also find an exceptional array of shopping options, particularly if you’re in the market for hand-made arts and crafts. In fact, the Historic Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, founded in 1937, is the nation’s largest organization of independent artisans.

You’ll find nearly 100 shops, studios and galleries, not to mention a number of small dining establishments lining an eight-mile loop amidst the area’s beautifully contoured Smoky Mountains.  

These many talented artisans create everything from quilts, old-fashioned straw brooms with hand carved handles, exquisitely woven baskets, beautiful jewelry and hand-dipped scented candles to Victorian ceramic pitchers, pottery, dulcimers, stuffed bears, leather vests and more. You’ll also find a number of exceptional paintings featuring the area’s spectacular mountain scenery.

Whether you explore the craft loop or simply take in one of the many art galleries and boutique shops in Gatlinburg, you’re sure to find a special treasure hand created by a community of crafters like no other in the U.S.

For details on Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Mountains as well as discount Gatlinburg attraction tickets and Gatlinburg vacation packages, you can visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Springtime is a time for rebirth in Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Mountains. Flowers pop out of the ground in vivid colors. Trees turn green with a burst of new growth and leaves. Birds chirp and other wildlife begins emerging from a winter slumber. Frost and snow melts from the high country and sends water cascading down spectacular water falls.

While the Smoky Mountains are best known for the brilliant fall color season, spring may be an even more beautiful time to experience the Gatlinburg area. In addition to the amazing scenery that surrounds you, you’ll also find an abundance of spring events and activities that highlight the town’s annual Springfest celebration from March 11 - June 6, 2011.

Throughout this three-month celebration, Gatlinburg visitors and experience the transformation into spring. While the mountainsides explode in color with wildflowers, Gatlinburg’s streets also bloom with baskets of flowers and plants throughout the city. Live entertainment can be found along city sidewalks, providing a welcoming atmosphere.

Members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community will display their beautiful and unique handcrafted wares at the Gatlinburg Convention Center during the annual Easter Arts & Crafts Show held April 21-24, 2011.

On Easter morning, April 24, visitors can also join in the local tradition and attend Ober Gatlinburg’s 13th annual Easter Sunrise Service. Starting at 5:45 am, you can enjoy a free tram ride to the mountain where the Easter service takes place at 6:30 a.m. Complimentary parking at the resort is also provided for those who prefer to drive. A breakfast buffet is also available at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant.

Another popular Gatlinburg event is the annual Ribfest and Wings celebration on April 28. The smell of hickory-smoked barbeque fills the air and you’ll have an opportunity to sample secret sauces on delectable ribs and wings from more than twenty vendors from all over the Southeast. The festive downtown party also features free entertainment.

The 61st Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage takes place April 27 through May 1. This event is ideal for hikers and nature lovers and offers the chance to see the Smoky Mountains’ delicate wildflowers in bloom. The five-day event offers more than 150 different hiking tours of trails ranging from easy to strenuous, as well as exhibitions, demonstrations, classroom lectures and motor excursions.

Gatlinburg’s bevy of Spring events continues May 13-14 with the Scottish Highland Games. All Scots are invited to join in the Scottish parade to kick off the event. Following the parade, Mills Park in Gatlinburg becomes competitive ground for the annual Scottish Festival & Games where clans meet and activities feature Highland athletic events, bagpipe competitions, highland dancing, border collie demonstrations, entertainment and whiskey tasting, along with food and merchandise vendors.       

Finally, the Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival, a family-oriented festival featuring juried artists from around the country, takes place on Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza and River Road, May 14-15, 2011.

It’s all part of the fun and entertainment that fills the Gatlinburg area in springtime. For more on these events or to get information on discount Gatlinburg vacation packages and accommodations, please visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/ or http://www.gatlinburgvacationstore.com/.