Thanksgiving is meant to be a time to celebrate with family for a moment of joy. But for many, the holiday brings just as much stress as it does comfort. Cooking in crowded kitchens, rushing between obligations, and spending hours cleaning up after guests can put a damper on your holiday cheer. This year, make the holiday easier by celebrating in one of our Gatlinburg vacation rentals.
Gatlinburg offers a beautiful backdrop, cozy accommodations, and the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure right in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains. The right rental can help you leave behind the hassle and enjoy a Thanksgiving that’s both peaceful and memorable. Take a look at what is waiting for you this Thanksgiving with one of our properties:
Room for the Whole Family
One of the biggest challenges of hosting Thanksgiving at home is the space. We often struggle to find enough room for everyone. Vacation rentals in Gatlinburg are designed with gatherings in mind. Our luxurious mountain lodges feature multiple bedrooms, large living rooms, and open dining areas. Instead of squeezing everyone into one small space, each guest can have their own private retreat while still enjoying time together in common areas. Imagine hosting dinner in a cabin with cathedral ceilings, a stone fireplace, and mountain views stretching for miles. Family members can relax by the fire after filling up on their meal while others step out onto the deck to breathe in the crisp autumn air. There’s less stress and more comfort for your holiday celebration when you choose our Gatlinburg properties.
Fully Equipped Kitchens for Your Feast
Preparing a Thanksgiving dinner is never a small task, but our Gatlinburg vacation rentals make it easier. These properties come with fully equipped kitchens featuring full-size appliances, cookware, and plenty of counter space. Some properties even come with multiple ovens that make roasting a turkey, baking pies, or experimenting with Southern-inspired sides extremely easy. Some cabins even include outdoor grills or smokers, perfect for trying a mountain-style Thanksgiving twist. And if you’d rather skip cooking altogether, you can check out what Gatlinburg has to offer; many local restaurants and caterers offer holiday meals to-go. You can still enjoy a festive spread without the hours in the kitchen!
Property Ready to Host
One of the least enjoyable parts of Thanksgiving is preparing for the arrival of the family. Cleaning up your home can be a monumental task if you have not been preparing in advance. Take the stress away by booking one of our vacation properties that comes ready to host. The interior is cleaned from top to bottom, making sure you are ready to start the holiday season. Instead of spending time cleaning, you can lounge in a hot tub or simply relax with a movie by the fire.
Home Stocked with Entertainment Options
Keeping everyone entertained during the holiday weekend doesn’t have to be a challenge in Gatlinburg. Many vacation rentals in our selection include features like game rooms, home theaters, and hot tubs. This allows the kids to play pool or foosball while adults enjoy a glass of wine by the fire. Gatlinburg itself offers endless opportunities for family fun too nearby in the area. You might take a scenic drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit the SkyBridge for stunning views, or enjoy a stroll along the Parkway to explore shops and attractions. The mild fall weather makes it a wonderful time to explore the outdoors, giving your family activities that go far beyond the usual Thanksgiving routine.
Pet-Friendly Options
Leaving your dogs behind during the holidays just doesn’t feel right so make sure to bring your friendly pups along. Several of our Gatlinburg vacation rentals feature pet-friendly options. With mountain trails, open spaces, and cozy cabins, pets can be part of the holiday fun without the stress of boarding or pet sitters.
Enjoy a Natural Beauty Backdrop
The Smoky Mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop for the holiday season. You will find that the leaves have turned rich shades of red and gold, and the views are nothing short of spectacular here in November. the scenery makes the day feel even more special whether you’re taking family photos on the deck of your cabin or watching the sunset over the mountains.
Make Memories That Last Here in Gatlinburg
Thanksgiving is the time of year where you can connect with loved ones and reflect on gratitude. Spending the holiday in one of our Gatlinburg vacation rentals allows you to focus on those moments without the usual stress. Skip on juggling chores and instead relax by playing board games, sharing stories by the fire, and making memories in a beautiful mountain setting. Book your favorite vacation rental with us today to see how the new family tradition of spending Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg can be a reality.
Are you ready for a new kind of adventure for this year’s holiday season? If so, come spend your Thanksgiving holiday with us here in Gatlinburg. You will find plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday here with friends and family. Just take a look around the city for restaurants open on Thanksgiving and events to attend. Here is your guide to Gatlinburg Thanksgiving taking place this year.
Thanksgiving Day Restaurants
One of the best reasons to travel during the holiday is to avoid making a Thanksgiving meal all by yourself. While you can easily do that in our vacation rentals you will also be happy to learn that many restaurants in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge remain open on Thanksgiving. This allows you to spend your holiday relaxing instead of working hours in the kitchen. Many casual restaurants in the area offer a relaxed meal full of your favorite dishes. This includes Chesapeake’s, Big Daddy’s Pizzeria, Ole Red Gatlinburg, Smith and Son Corner Kitchen, and The Park Grill. Pair your Thanksgiving meal with a craft beer at Smoky Mountain Brewery. Or try a special Thanksgiving menu at The Melting Pot. You have plenty of options to pick from. Reservations are highly encouraged when dining out on Thanksgiving Day.
Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K
Visitors will find there are quite a few turkey trots taking place in the cities that surround Gatlinburg. A turkey trot is an annual Gatlinburg thanksgiving race that lets you help a local nonprofit while building up your appetite for the big meal. The closest 5K taking place around Gatlinburg is the Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K happening in Sevierville. This annual 5K run benefits the Sevier County High School Foundation and STEM Scholarship so you know it’s for a good cause. Everyone who registers in advance will receive a knit beanie cap and participation medallions. There will also be awards for top finishers in a variety of age brackets. Come enjoy this 5K race that will take place on Thanksgiving Day at 8:00 am. Location to still be determined with advance registration required to participate.
Gatlinburg is Your New Thanksgiving Tradition
As you can see there are plenty of ways for you to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday when you come visit Gatlinburg. Our vacation rentals will keep you comfortable for the holiday and close by these many ways to celebrate the day with.
Just like that, the fall season is already here, and with it comes Thanksgiving in just a few weeks. Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to spend time with your family and experience something new such as a vacation getaway to Gatlinburg. Our vacation destination has plenty of exciting events and activities to keep you busy all stay long. Take a look at how to spend your Gatlinburg Thanksgiving holiday with us:
Gatlinburg Festival of Trees
Here in Gatlinburg, we absolutely love the winter season, including Thanksgiving that leads up to the rest of the holidays. One of the events that help us kick off the winter season is the Gatlinburg Festival of Trees. This yearly event will take place at the WL Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg. You can expect a variety of Thanksgiving- and Christmas-related activities. The big attraction is seeing over 75 different Christmas trees be lit up and decorated for a memorable sight. Let the children enjoy the craft area or take photos with Santa on select dates. Live entertainment will be offered throughout the week too. This year’s Festival of Trees will take place from November 22nd through the 27th.
Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K
Our neighbors in Sevierville will be hosting their annual Smokey Bear Turkey Chase 5K again this year. No Thanksgiving holiday is complete without a 5K to help your body kick start the day before filling up on delicious food later in the day. All proceeds of the Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K go towards STEM scholarships for students in need. The race will start with a shotgun start and will be held no matter the weather. The Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K will take place on November 24th (Thanksgiving Day) at 8:00 AM.
Thanksgiving Meals
No Gatlinburg Thanksgiving is complete without a feast, so make sure to use our vacation rentals to host the perfect meal. Each property is fitted with a gourmet kitchen that will have all of the essentials needed to cook a meal; all you need to do is stop by the local market for your ingredients. Many local restaurants also host Thanksgiving meals for those who wish to skip cooking while they are on vacation. Make sure to book one of our vacation rentals today!