The United States is a nation filled with world-class vacation destinations for travelers to experience. Whether vacationers are looking for the sun, surf and sand of a tropical location or the pristine alpine beauty of a mountain vacation experience, America boasts a sweeping diversity of amazing holiday locales for travelers to explore. Speaking of mountain vacations, there are a few destinations that really stand out in the mix; both for their spectacular natural beauty and for the rich diversity of entertainment found in the surrounding area. The sensational Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina are definitely part of this category. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an alpine playground that hosts tens of millions of Tennessee tourists each and every year. The surrounding cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville offer their own charms- and this only adds value to the excitement of a Smoky Mountain getaway.

While it is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that first drew visitors to this part of the country, the local Tennessee cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge have developed into world-class entertainment centers in their own right. Pigeon Forge is home to numerous live theatres such as the Smoky Mountain Jubilee, the Comedy Tonite Theatre, the Louise Mandrell Theatre and the Ole Smoky Hoedown. One of the most famous, if not the most famous, attraction located in Pigeon Forge, is Dollywood. This is a full-fledged theme park and water park that is named after Dolly Parton, Pigeon Forge’s most famous native resident.

Gatlinburg is a charming Tennessee town that resembles an Austrian alpine village.Throughout the city the architecture is reminiscent of a village you might find bordering the European Alps, rather than the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee! Gatlinburg is home to the Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre & Music Hall, the Smith Family Theater, and the Ripley’s Believe-it-or-Not Theatre. A trip up to the Uber Gatlinburg Ski Resort offers a tremendous view of the scenic city center as well as a panoramic perspective of the surrounding Appalachian splendor. Gatlinburg is also central to the Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts community and as such is home to numerous galleries and artisan shops.

The city of Sevierville may be a little less well known that its two sister cities but it is home to attractions that include the Great China Acrobats, the Forbidden Caverns, the Dixie Stampede, and the Governor’s Palace. Sevierville is the northernmost of the three cities that serve as gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Sevierville is a welcome laid-back alternative to the busyness of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Sevierville is popular for outdoors enthusiasts because of the sensational hiking trails it offers; the most popular of all being the Sevierville Historic Walking Trail. Outdoor enthusiasts also appreciate the Wilson's North American Wildlife Museum.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was officially designated a national treasure in 1930. Since that time, this area - which stretches from East Tennessee into the southern tip of North Carolina - has become a top American vacation destination. The park boats a unique combination of beautiful walking and hiking trails, scenic drives such as the one along the famous Newfound Gap Road, and historical landmark buildings of a bygone era. All of these recreational attractions combine to make the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a national treasure on the scale of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.

While the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is famous for the autumnal flare it shows off between September and December, the park has plenty of idyllic flare to offer visitors through each and every season of the year. The autumn shows off the golden hues of the Appalachian foliage during harvest time; the spring offers fresh emerald splendor, and the summer shows off the area in full, luscious bloom. For many Smoky Mountain visitors one visit is not enough. These vacationers often return during another season to experience the East Tennessee glory in a whole new light.

With so much to offer, it’s no surprise that the Smoky Mountains region is amongst the most popular of vacation destinations for Americans and international visitors alike. Many Tennessee tourists like to cap off their Smoky Mountain vacation getaway with a lodging experience in one of the area’s spectacular Tennessee log cabin rentals. These impressive mountain homes are built so as to seamlessly blend in with the spectacular backdrop of the surrounding Smoky Mountains. Far more than being just a pretty sight on the horizon, these Smoky Mountain cabin rentals also offer true mountaintop luxury. Add the accommodation excellence offered by these Tennessee chalets to the magnificence of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the recreational flare of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg, and it’s no surprise that the Smoky Mountains region has emerged as a top 10 American vacation destination.