They say that, "Dogs are man's best friend (and women's)!" I have a story about that relating to dogs and my area, the Smoky Mountains. A happy, but neglected dog visited my folk's cabin on Cosby Creek last week. He had fleas and was malnourished, but my Dad gave it some food and flea treatments immediately, he had from extra rations from the family dog, Floppy. After asking around about the dog, they called "BOBO," it seemed it had been wondering around the community alone for a few weeks. My Dad loves dogs, and seems to turn into a child as he plays with them each morning and evening. Pets definitely help their owners relieve tension from a stressful day at work. This boxer-mix slowly started to look and feel better after a few days at the family home. My folks then brought it back home to Sevierville where they brought it back to health.
The family dog, Floppy, didn't seem to appreciate Bobo's presence or sharing the attention with my father. Floppy snarled and looked confused for the following week, even though BoBo enjoyed his new family and new surroundings. Concerned for Bobo, but also worried about the feelings of Floppy, my father decided to bring the Boxer to the local Veternarian for treatment and its shots. My father asked the Vet if he would get the word out about Bobo and see if there might be a suitor for adoption. My mother was also concerned that my father was growing attached, but they had little time to care for more than one high-maintenance dog. I thought of a mutual friend out of Knoxville that had sent her dog back to Florida, after a relationship break-up. She was very emotional over the loss of her pet. I decided to call her and let her know about the rescued pet. After first declining the offer, she called back and said that her sister wanted a dog and would come see it. She drove from Knoxville to Sevierville that same evening and BoBo, the boxer, was happy to get the attention of everyone that came to see it. My mom dressed Bobo up in a Halloween bandana, and he definitely put on a great show smooching the young girl as she came on the porch to visit and review the dog. The two sisters immediately tooked to the dog, and quickly said they would take it in assuring us they would jog with the dog, feed it well, and show it love in their indoor home. My parents were happy, although my father seemed anxious and emotional, about watching his new friend go to another home with new, caring owners. Just then, I realized how the new best friends knew their separation would be for the best. Finally, both my parents were content to clean Bobo up, nurse him to health, and find some new, young owners that would love him. Dogs are clearly man's and woman's best friend!
Being in the vacation business, I see how much people care for their pets every week as they inquire about pet-friendly cabins at my cabin rental company. Did you know there is now one dog for just about every five human beings in the country. Nearly 60% of American households include a dog. Moreover, approximately 15 million American families regularly travel on vacation with their dogs. Nearly 15 % of homes in the programs of national vacation home programs are pet-friendly, while nearly 25% of Aunt Bug's Cabin Rentals, LLC in the Smoky Mountains accept pets (namely dogs). Its nice to see people caring for their dogs at home and away from home. Most pets are well-behaved and the dogs generally do not cause a problem at our vacation homes. There are many nice mountainous and flat outdoor spaces to walk dogs brought to the Smoky Mountains. There is also a pet-friendly path to walk or hike in the National Park just past Light #10 in Gatlinburg, TN. Its a beautiful, easy walking path that would stoke the interest of any pet-owner and their curious dog. Feel free to check out a nice site to assist pet owners at http://www.travelpetfriendly.com/. This may help your family find a nice getaway for you and your pet. Also, don't forget to donate or assist your local Human Society. You can find information about Humane Societies across the nation at http://www.hsus.org/. You can also look to adopt a pet at http://www.petfinder.com/.
Luxury Vacation Cabin Rentals
Gatlinburg, TN
Friday, October 24, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
ATTRACTIONS IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK (PART I)
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its surrounding cities, of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, offer tremendous vacation experiences for the entire family. As I take reservations at the premier luxury log cabin rental company in the Smokies, Aunt Bug's Cabin Rentals Llc, I'm usually on the receiving end of a question about our amazing tourism and "what's to do" for the families that travel here. Personally, I believe it depends on the family and their interests. You see the Smoky Mountains, at the South end of the Appalachian Trail, offer tremendous outdoor activities for the nature-loving families. Also, the tourist attractions, shopping outlets, and wide variety of eateries and theatres offer families with more commercialized desires lots of alternatives during their vacation to Tennessee. The commercial district will be discussed in Part II of this blog on attractions in the Smokies!
My brother, Billy Bob, and I love to go to the Park to research hiking trails at the Sugarland Visitors Center at the gate of the National Park. The Park Rangers there are very helpful at assisting travellers with information about the weather, types of hiking trails, directions, wildlife, animal presence in the Park, and sight-seeing. The National Park supports wildlife that includes the white-tailed deer, black beer, elk, fox, raccoon, possum, trout, and amazing diversity of bird life. You won't want to miss the waterfalls, mountain views, diverse wildlife, botanical gardens, or Cades Cove historical district. It's amazing to think the Great Smoky National Park, which covers over 800 square miles of nature, is not only older than the Grand Canyon but draws double the amount of visitors each year!
I, definitely, recommend the Cades Cove pioneer district which features log cabins, churches, mills, and settings of the 19th century. This is the most visited place in the Park and serves a good history lesson for what it was like to live in Southern Appalachia before Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge were even settled. Once Cherokee Country, the thousands of Cherokees were driven out of this part of Southern Appalachia in the 1830's. This 6,800 acre settlement peaked at about 700 inhabitants prior to the Civil War. I strongly recommend hiking and bike tours at Cades Cove for the entire family.
Also for novice hikers, I recommend the Clingman's Dome Lookout Tower because its a short, paved hiking trail to the top and the lookout is tremendous (sight line of nearly 22 miles). Abram Falls provides a beautiful picture-taking opportunity for the family that can push through the semi-adventurous five mile hike. Grotto Falls and Laurel Falls also have drawn lots of travellers to their beauty each season. Enjoy the waterfall with your family and bring your camera!
My brother, Billy Bob, and I love to go to the Park to research hiking trails at the Sugarland Visitors Center at the gate of the National Park. The Park Rangers there are very helpful at assisting travellers with information about the weather, types of hiking trails, directions, wildlife, animal presence in the Park, and sight-seeing. The National Park supports wildlife that includes the white-tailed deer, black beer, elk, fox, raccoon, possum, trout, and amazing diversity of bird life. You won't want to miss the waterfalls, mountain views, diverse wildlife, botanical gardens, or Cades Cove historical district. It's amazing to think the Great Smoky National Park, which covers over 800 square miles of nature, is not only older than the Grand Canyon but draws double the amount of visitors each year!
I, definitely, recommend the Cades Cove pioneer district which features log cabins, churches, mills, and settings of the 19th century. This is the most visited place in the Park and serves a good history lesson for what it was like to live in Southern Appalachia before Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge were even settled. Once Cherokee Country, the thousands of Cherokees were driven out of this part of Southern Appalachia in the 1830's. This 6,800 acre settlement peaked at about 700 inhabitants prior to the Civil War. I strongly recommend hiking and bike tours at Cades Cove for the entire family.
Also for novice hikers, I recommend the Clingman's Dome Lookout Tower because its a short, paved hiking trail to the top and the lookout is tremendous (sight line of nearly 22 miles). Abram Falls provides a beautiful picture-taking opportunity for the family that can push through the semi-adventurous five mile hike. Grotto Falls and Laurel Falls also have drawn lots of travellers to their beauty each season. Enjoy the waterfall with your family and bring your camera!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
SMOKY MOUNTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
Well, I must say, I'm not originally from the Smoky Mountains. God's path and Life's circle just led me back here. If you've never been to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, I highly recommend a visit to the Tennessee/North Carolina area to visit this amazing National Park. I love the city. I love the beach, but there is nothing quite like the four seasons here in Tennessee. As first a tourist, and now a local, I can recommend some terrific things to do in the area. Also, I do earn a living as a property manager here. Mention my blog and you should qualify for a special at my company, www.auntbugs.com. My name is Brian! Thanks for stopping by today. Here are my recommendations of the day:
- BEST LOCAL AMUSEMENT PARK: DOLLYWOOD
- BEST PIGEON FORGE RESTAURANT: LITTLE TOYKO
- BEST GATLINBURG RESTAURANT: CHEROKEE GRILL
- BEST PLACE TO WATCH A GAME: SMOKY MOUNTAIN BREWERY
- BEST PLACE TO SEE A BEAR: GSM NATIONAL PARK
- BEST PLACE TO EAT PANCAKES: PANCAKE PANTRY
- BEST PLACE TO RENT A CABIN: AUNT BUG'S CABIN RENTALS
- BEST PLACE TO ENTERTAIN (PF): WONDERWORKS
- BEST PLACE TO ENTERTAIN (GB): RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM
- BEST PLACE TO EAT ON A RIVER: THE OLD MILL RESTAURANT
- BEST PLACE FOR THANKSGIVING MEAL: APPLE BARN RESTAURANT
VACATION IN THE SMOKIES (PIGEON FORGE)
My post of the day relates to a discussion I was overhearing on an airplane. I was flying back from Florida to Tennessee. The woman was a "northerner" (yankee, if you will) who frequently visited the Smokies. She was bragging about the area, but criticized Pigeon Forge and its traffic problems. This seemed to alarm the woman who was visiting the Smokies for the first time.
I regret not turning around and correcting the "northerner" lady for her negative statements about the dynamic tourist mecca I work in, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. You see the local government spent a ton of money on a six lane bypass from Sevierville to the Southern end of Pigeon Forge, which is in proximity to the Dollywood entrance! I would say the vast majority of visitors know nothing of this bypass which was recently named "Veteran's Boulevard." It's smooth sailing from the North end of it (coming off of US411 Dolly Parton Parkway) to the end of it (which meets Dollywood Lane at the golf course). This will easily save travellers anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour. Most locals will not even tell you about this road because this is their secret way home avoiding all the car show traffic, snowbirds, and head-turners who frequent "The Parkway." The Parkway is the main strip down the middle of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. This road is highway US441.
The business I work for is primarily a property management rental company which specializes in Smoky Mountain log homes and chalets. We rent out vacation homes that have full kitchens, grills, deck furniture, hot tubs, jacuzzis, pool tables, air hockey, indoor/outdoor pools, rock-climbing walls, and the list goes on. Most people love the privacy & convenience of cooking their own meals with their families at a cabin rental (in comparison to a hotel room). Our business is ironically located on "Veteran's Boulevard" at 3121 Veteran's Blvd., Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. You'll see our log cabin office with a large inviting sign with our name on it: AUNT BUG'S CABIN RENTALS, LLC. We hope you will visit sometime soon! Don't hesitate to visit our website: http://www.auntbugs.com/. Also, don't be afraid to take the bypass and save yourself much time from Sevierville to Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg.
So now you know! And when someone acts like the traffic is awful in the Smokies, you can tell them you know how to bypass the traffic and enjoy Pigeon Forge! Tell them something THEY DON'T KNOW!!! :)
I regret not turning around and correcting the "northerner" lady for her negative statements about the dynamic tourist mecca I work in, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. You see the local government spent a ton of money on a six lane bypass from Sevierville to the Southern end of Pigeon Forge, which is in proximity to the Dollywood entrance! I would say the vast majority of visitors know nothing of this bypass which was recently named "Veteran's Boulevard." It's smooth sailing from the North end of it (coming off of US411 Dolly Parton Parkway) to the end of it (which meets Dollywood Lane at the golf course). This will easily save travellers anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour. Most locals will not even tell you about this road because this is their secret way home avoiding all the car show traffic, snowbirds, and head-turners who frequent "The Parkway." The Parkway is the main strip down the middle of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. This road is highway US441.
The business I work for is primarily a property management rental company which specializes in Smoky Mountain log homes and chalets. We rent out vacation homes that have full kitchens, grills, deck furniture, hot tubs, jacuzzis, pool tables, air hockey, indoor/outdoor pools, rock-climbing walls, and the list goes on. Most people love the privacy & convenience of cooking their own meals with their families at a cabin rental (in comparison to a hotel room). Our business is ironically located on "Veteran's Boulevard" at 3121 Veteran's Blvd., Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. You'll see our log cabin office with a large inviting sign with our name on it: AUNT BUG'S CABIN RENTALS, LLC. We hope you will visit sometime soon! Don't hesitate to visit our website: http://www.auntbugs.com/. Also, don't be afraid to take the bypass and save yourself much time from Sevierville to Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg.
So now you know! And when someone acts like the traffic is awful in the Smokies, you can tell them you know how to bypass the traffic and enjoy Pigeon Forge! Tell them something THEY DON'T KNOW!!! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)