There is no reason to let a few rain showers dampen your Gatlinburg getaway! (Pun intended!) For vacationing adults, a rainy day in the Smokies = a romantic retreat!!

Rainy Day = Romantic Retreat

Here are a few suggestions of things to do in-room:

1. Pamper yourselves. Run a warm bath and soak in the tub. Give each other a pedicure, back scrub, or a soothing rub down.
2. Snuggle up and watch a movie. Ready the popcorn and curl up to a good movie showing on one of our satellite stations.
3. Enjoy an afternoon nap. When is the last time you had the time to do that?
4. Order dinner in. Several area restaurants deliver to our hotels. Pizza and a cold beer can be as romantic as your imagination allows it to be!
5. Play cards, tick-tack-toe, spin the bottle, truth or dare!
6. Dance! Get wild and funky or slow it down. Don’t let those lessons go to waste… practice those dance steps.
7. Pour the wine and read or write love letters to each other.
8. Reminisce… see if you both remember the same details of your first meeting, first date, and first kiss. What was each of you wearing, who were you with, where were you, etc.
9. Did you know that the fingers, upper lip, nose, forehead and palm have the most concentrated touch receptors? Interesting… when is the last time you paid attention to your spouse’s forehead? Elbows?
10. All of the above.

Prepare for your own impromptu romantic getaway by packing these things before you leave:
Tealight Candles, Lotion or Massage Oil, Popcorn, Deck of Cards, CD Player & Discs, Bottle of Wine, Pens & Paper

When you arrive, pray for rain!

Traditional Gatlinburg Shopping

Reagan’s Carousel Mall has been remodeled, renewed, and renamed The Shops at Carousel Gardens.  Enjoy fine art, elegant shopping, and fabulous food right across the street from Twin Islands and just a couple doors down from Crossroads Inn.

The reopening of this shopping center brings the “Heart of Gatlinburg Home” by showcasing traditional arts and artisans of the Smoky Mountains.  Browse for a Smoky Mountain souvenir, heirloom gift for a summer bride, or just relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy the God given talents of local artists displayed throughout 76 nooks.

Twenty-nine artists’ creations are displayed on the shops’ two levels, including paintings, prints, pottery and hand-crafted works of art.  You’ll also find one-of-a-kind gifts, antiques, and collectibles offering a touch of Appalachia.  The mall offers Lu Lu’s Cookie Gallery with specialty coffees, fresh baked goods and delicious treats, and Sweet Pea’s Cafe & Antique Lounge for a wonderful meal so that you can browse and shop for as long as you like!

Smoky Mountain Ziplines is an attraction you should plan to experience! If you’re looking for something different to do in the Smokies, this is it. Call ahead to schedule a tour that will not disappoint!

Smoky Mountain Zip Lines is located just 1.5 miles from the Pigeon Forge Parkway at traffic light #10. You can’t miss the building because it’s a beautiful log building with a great big, welcoming front porch and ziplines off to the side. Inside you’ll find a souvenir shop and cold drinks, and receive a hospitable greeting from the staff. Once you read the safety sheet and pay for your tour, trained guides will gear you up and you’ll pile into the back of a military personnel mover and head to the top of a mountain.

Training Line Prior to Soaring the Canopy Tour at Smoky Mountain Ziplines

Once at the first of two training lines, your guides will instruct you in braking and using hand signals to help your maneuvers and to maintain safety at all times. Our guides were Jimmy and “Hit Man” and they were awesome! They made the entire 2.5 hour tour fun with their sense of humor and antics, but their top priority was always our safety.

We soared through the treetops of the mountainous terrain on 14 ziplines! We traveled from “post to post,” experiencing higher, longer and faster lines each time. Our group had an absolute blast! The next stop was the four side-by-side super ziplines that were 100 feet high and 800 feet long. Talk about flying… it was an experience we can’t wait to have again!

If all that fun doesn’t convince you, then keep reading. Nearly everyone with average mobility and strength can participate in a zipline adventure. The age limit is 8 years old, but younger guests can ride if comfortably harnessed to a guide. The weight limits are 80-250 lbs., but heavier guests may be accommodated if their bodies are proportionate and can be harnessed. Unlike some other zip companies in town, the Smoky Mountain Ziplines are set up so that there is no strenuous hiking between runs. There is one, grassy 50-foot walk that is slightly downhill about midway through the tour where you’ll find complimentary cold, bottled water and a restroom, and that’s it. This company also has taken all safety requirements and recommendations, and doubled them to adopt their own. The Smoky Mountain Ziplines attraction is top-notch! You’ll be assured a great time, top industry safety standards, trained guides, and a true vacation value. If you have questions, call ahead at 865.429.9004 or visit the web site at www.SmokyMountainZiplines.com. Ross and Kerry will be glad to have you!