Dollywood sign outside theme park

10 Reasons to Visit Dollywood on Your Vacation

August 20, 2019

The Great Smoky Mountains are known worldwide for their never-ending ridges of blue, foggy valleys and stunning vistas. However, often when the Smokies are mentioned people also think of one of our most famous residents, Dolly Parton. Along with the mention of Dolly also comes the thought of Tennessee’s most popular theme park, Dollywood. With a few million people visiting the park every season, it’s pretty clear that there are some pretty special things happening behind the gates of most successful amusement destination in the Smokies!

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outside of The Appy Lodge Gatlinburg hotel

3 Reasons to Take Advantage of Our Gatlinburg Hotel Deals

August 6, 2019

If you’re like most folks you work hard for your money and even though vacation time comes with treats and splurging some, it also comes with a budget. At The Appy Lodge we completely understand and not only do we want you to have a high quality and authentic experience with us, but we want you to save so you can play while in Gatlinburg!

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foothills parkway in the great smoky mountains national park

4 Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for Families

July 26, 2019

The Appy Lodge was not only created as a place to pay homage to the Appalachian Trail but also with a hope to encourage guests to fall in love with the great outdoors. We want your family to have a great experience in Gatlinburg and leave with unforgettable memories of your time in our beautiful Smoky Mountains. Our Happy family would love to see your children year after year and have the opportunity to watch them grow into great stewards of the mountains. That’s why we have put together a few of our favorite things to do as a family in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We know that if your children spend time in the mountains as they grow up that they will not only have lifelong memories of time with you, but they will also pass on their love for park to their children. A cycle that we hope will continue for many generations to come!

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No way jose's in gatlinburg

4 of the Best Restaurants in Gatlinburg to Visit for Lunch

July 19, 2019

If you’ve ever been to Gatlinburg then you know that choices for dining in the area are abundant. Our beautiful Smokies town has everything from the best breakfast spots in east Tennessee to excellent dinner options like a Peddler, Park Grill and even fondue experience at The Melting Pot. However, it’s the in-between that we wanted to share with you in this blog post! A delicious lunch should be on the priority list as well and we’ve put some of the best spots in town together to point you in the right direction the next time you’re staying with us at The Appy Lodge!

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Rainbow Falls Trail in Smoky Mountains

3 Challenging Hikes in the Smoky Mountains You Should Try

July 11, 2019

Are you heading to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and looking for a hike that is much more than just a walk in the woods? Do you have a list of peaks to bag in the Southern Appalachians? If so, we have 3 hikes that will be perfect for you! Each destination can only be reached by taking routes that are rated as strenuous, but also have incredible visual payoffs waiting for you at the end of a beauty filled journey!

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Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway sign

4 Top Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains with Toddlers

June 28, 2019

The Smoky Mountains is a great destination for all ages, but here at The Appy, we know that sometimes finding the right activity for the little ones can be difficult at times. We have put together a list of things to do in the area that is not only perfect for toddlers but also fun for the entire family!

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Gift shop in The Appy Lodge

3 Reasons to Stay at Our Gatlinburg Hotel When You Hike the Appalachian Trail

June 21, 2019

In 2018 The Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomed over 11 million visitors, many of which arrived with dreams of experiencing one of America’s most loved footpaths, The Appalachian Trail. At The Appy Lodge, we love all of the trails in the park, but we are a bit bias when it comes to the 71 miles of the AT that pass over the ridges of the Smokies. You see, the entire reason that we were created was to pay homage to the Appalachian Trail, all of the people throughout history that made the trail possible and to the Appalachian mountains. If you’re heading to the Smoky Mountains this year, we would love to share the story of the Appalachian Trail with you by having you as our guest. Here are a few reasons why a stay with us should be included in your AT adventure!

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Tom and Earl's Back Alley Grill in Gatlinburg

3 of the Best Hidden Gem Restaurants in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains

June 14, 2019

Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains is filled with wonderful places to dine with everything from chain restaurants to local spots. As everyone knows trying to choose a place to eat can be a difficult task, especially when travelling with others. We wanted to not only give you a headstart on deciding where to eat but also share with you a few of the best gems in town!

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charlie's bunion in the smoky mountains

3 of the Best Spring Hikes in the Smoky Mountains

May 28, 2019

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, covering 520,000 acres and making up one of the most phenomenal outdoor playgrounds in our country. It’s a park that is filled with history, wildlife, wildflowers, waterfalls, rivers, breathtaking views, and absolute magic. It’s an area so vast that everyone can find something that they love and one of the best times to explore the park is in the spring. As the mountains come back to life and the spring greens fill in the forest canopy, the Smokies puts on one of it’s best shows of the year. At The Appy Lodge, one of our missions is to encourage our guests to go outside and play as well as fall in love with the great outdoors! Below, you will find 5 incredible hikes to take this year in the Smokies!

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aunt mahalia's candies in Gatlinburg

3 Top Candy Shops in Gatlinburg to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

May 22, 2019

Everyone knows that once you’re on vacation calories don’t count and your sweet tooth craves treats that you wouldn’t even think of back home. While strolling the streets of Gatlinburg, you’ll want to stop in at these 3 candy shops to check out their selection of delicious sweets! Pick up a few for your trip and grab a few extras to share with friends when you return from your trip to the Smokies!

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anakeesta in gatlinburg in summer

4 of the Best Summer Activities in Gatlinburg for the Family

May 9, 2019

Gatlinburg and the Smokies are two of the top destinations for many families during the summer time. While vacationing in the area, you’ll find an unlimited amount of fun and places to explore, but we wanted to give you a few ideas to help you get your itinerary for this year planned! We hope that a few activities spark your interest and that we welcome you as our guest soon!

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NOC store in Gatlinburg

4 of the Best Shops in Downtown Gatlinburg

April 25, 2019

Downtown Gatlinburg is filled with wonderful shops and places to browse. With crafts, candy, gifts and more around every corner it’s almost impossible to narrow it down to just a handful. However, we have put together 4 of the best shops in downtown Gatlinburg to start you off! Each shop has a unique charm as well as a wide variety of items for you to take back home with you after your vacation in the Smokies.

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The Appy Lodge hotel in Gatlinburg

3 Top Things to Know About our Hotel in Gatlinburg

April 17, 2019

Our hotel has plenty of great features that we would love to share with you, however, there are a few things that we feel make our hotel in Gatlinburg unique. Here are 3 of the top things that we want you to know about The Appy Lodge.

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Clingmans Dome in the morning

3 of the Best Activities in Gatlinburg to See the Sights

April 9, 2019

Planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg is fun and exciting, but at times it can also be a bit overwhelming when trying to choose how to spend your time while on vacation. Even if you spent months in the area, you still wouldn’t be able to see and do everything that the Smokies has to offer. With so many choices available we wanted to help get you started with some suggestions on some of the best activities to put on your itinerary while staying with us at The Appy Lodge.

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Smoky Mountain view from Brushy Mountain

4 Interesting Things About the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

April 3, 2019

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most visited national park and with 520,000 acres of lush landscape and beauty, it’s easy to see why. In 2018 the park welcomed 11,421,200 million visitors. The second most visited national park, the Grand Canyon, had half of the number of guests. Due to the park being our right next door to the city, a large percentage of those traveling to experience the Smokies choose to stay in Gatlinburg. That’s why we wanted to put together a few interesting facts about the Smokies and the beautiful mountains that we call home. We want you to have fun facts to add to the excitement of your vacation and when you arrive at The Appy, we want you to feel like you have arrived at your home away from home. As you read along, we hope that you’ll enjoy getting to know the Great Smokies!

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