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Our Gatlinburg hotel is far more than just a place to sleep during your time in the Smokies. Here are 3 fun facts about our lodging that makes us stand out and creates a home away from home that you’ll want to return to year after year.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is packed full of beauty and opportunities for adventure. The area and its history also come with never-ending facts and information. Here are 10 of our favorite interesting facts about the park!

1. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America. In 2019 the park welcomed 12,247,743 visitors, that’s over twice as much as the second most visited national park, the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

2. The park is currently home to 20,203 species. Discover Life in America is a nonprofit that is located in the park and has the job of keeping count of all of the species in the park as well as documenting species that are new to the Smokies as well as new to science. You can visit their website for updates and to find opportunities for getting involved as a volunteer or as a participant at one of their many events.

3. The Great Smoky Mountains straddle the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. One half of the park lies in each state and you can visit the border at Newfound Gap during your stay with us. Don’t forget to take a picture on each side of the sign!

4. The Smokies have sixteen peaks that are above 6,000 feet in elevation. Kuwohi is the highest, Mount Guyot is second and Mount LeConte is the third highest peak. Kuwohi is also the highest point on the Appalachian Trail.

5. Native Americans wandered the Smokies long before the settlers arrived. The Cherokee were the dominant tribe and referred to the mountains as “Shaconage”, meaning “place of blue smoke”. Today the Eastern Band of the Cherokee that remained in the area called the Qualla Boundary home. Take time during our visit to spend some time in Cherokee, NC, and learn more about the story of the Cherokee, their culture, and life today.

6. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres of land. Within the area, you’ll find countless trails, waterfalls, overlooks, pristine streams, wildlife, flora, and pieces of the past around every corner.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America. Take one scenic drive through the park and you will easily see why so many people are drawn to the area. However, to truly experience the charm and beauty of the mountains you must take a walk among the trees. We have put together 10 of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains to get you started on your own adventures in our little corner of Appalachia!

When you stay at the Bearskin Lodge, you definitely won’t go hungry during your vacation! Each morning at our hotel begins with a Grab-and-Go breakfast. For lunch and dinner, guests can stroll over to one of the fantastic restaurants located in the heart of the city. To help you make the most of your getaway, we have put together a guide to five of the best downtown Gatlinburg restaurants near our hotel.

The Smoky Mountains have been the destination of romantic getaways for decades and will continue to be long into the future. Couples from all over the world have fallen in love as they’ve strolled the streets of Gatlinburg, have become engaged in our hills and many have said their vows with a backdrop of our stunning blue ridges behind them. Those same lovers have returned with their children and some even with their grandchildren, making it very apparent that Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains is place for sweethearts to make memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives as well as leave traditions and a legacy behind for all of those in their life. We wanted to share with you a few of the reasons that couples love to include us when planning their escape to the mountains!

Year after year millions of families come to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in hopes of making memories that will last a lifetime! Spending time on a trail is an excellent way for families to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with each other! Here are 5 family friendly hikes that will help to make your next vacation in the Smokies unforgettable!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is filled with great things to do for guests of all ages. However, we wanted to list a few of the top things for families to do while visiting the park. A trip to the Smokies is one that families will remember for years to come and often becomes a family tradition that is carried on for decades! Here are some experiences that you won’t want to miss on your next family vacation to the Smoky Mountains!

A trip to the Smokies is an excellent way to balance out the great outdoors, fun attractions, great dining experiences, and opportunities for you to shop til you drop! We wanted to help you find the best places to go shopping in Gatlinburg. There’s definitely a little something for everyone around every corner in our beautiful town!

If you are planning a summer trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, you will likely want to know of some great places to go swimming in The Smokies on hot days. There are various swimming holes throughout the Smokies that offer both fun and beauty, so you will be hard pressed to find an area that doesn’t have a spot to cool down. Here are the top swimming holes in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Ice cream is a great treat for any of season of the year, but it’s even more wonderful after a day of exploring the Smokies in the summertime. We wanted to put together a list of 3 of our favorite ice creams shops in town. Each location has something special to offer, so you can’t wrong with trying just one shop. If you’re in town long enough, give each of them a try!