Twelve reasons to shop Sevierville at Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas can be daunting – especially for overwhelmed holiday shoppers. But popular shopping and vacation destination, Sevierville, Tennessee, can help you make the lords on your Christmas list leap with joy this holiday season. Here are 12 reasons to shop Sevierville this Christmas season. Click here for the full article.

1) With over 150 name brand outlet stores, Sevierville is the outlet shopping capital of the Great Smoky Mountains. www.tangeroutlet.com.

2) Location, location, location – Sevierville is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is only a day’s drive from over one half the nation’s population.

3) Boutiques and specialty stores abound in historic downtown Sevierville.

4) Hidden food finds in historic downtown

5) Something old, weird or just plain cool is waiting for you at flea markets like Flea Traders Paradise and the Great Smokies Flea Market www.greatsmokiesfleamarket.com.

6) Spend the day shopping and the night gazing at millions of twinkling lights during Smoky Mountain Winterfest in Sevierville (now through Feb. 28).

7) Dining at Applewood Farmhouse is a tradition for many folks who visit the Smoky Mountains. This 1920s farmhouse sits amongst 4,000 apple trees and serves up original recipes including Applewood Julep and Apple Fritters to start every meal www.applewoodfarmhouserestaurant.com.

8) Shopping is a blast – but so are great family friendly attractions like NASCAR SpeedPark www.nascarspeedpark.com, Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Mini-Golf and Five Oaks Riding Stables www.fiveoaksstables.com.

9) Find the perfect gift for the outdoorsman or outdoorswoman on your list at the all-new Bass Pro Outdoor World (one of the largest in the chain) www.basspro.com, Orvis Company Store www.orvis.com or Smoky Mountain Knifeworks (an 88,000 square foot knife showplace that includes the just opened National Knife Museum) www.eknifeworks.com.

10) Catch a Christmas show in Sevierville. Whether you laugh it up with Mistle Toe Roaster (a clean, blue-collar music and comedy show) www.mistletoeroaster.com or enjoy James Rogers’ Smoky Mountain Christmas www.fixin2rain.com, you’re sure to get in the holiday spirit.

11) Find hidden gems of stores on Highway 66 (the main route into Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains).

12) Learn to play reindeer games! Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Petting Zoo features a veritable menagerie including live reindeer, camels, cows and goats. In addition, get up close and personal with zebras, kangaroos and ostriches www.deerfarmzoo.com

Gatlinburg , Attractions , Entertainment , Internet , Tips , Dining

Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival 2006

Enjoy a family holiday like no other with a heartwarming lineup of Christmas shows, holiday foods, and thrilling rides. A visit to Dollywood will make this a Smoky Mountain Christmas you and your family won’t soon forget!

Here are just a few of the picutures that we took this year (2006) at the Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival that runs through Dec. 30th.

Gatlinburg , Pigeon Forge , Attractions , Photography , Entertainment , Children

On Saturday, December 9, The Sugarlands Visitor Center will host a "Festival of Christmas Past" celebration from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Visitors can join in conversation with area residents, sing along to Christmas Carols and traditional songs, or just reminisce about days gone by.

Musicians and dancers will recreate the old-fashioned songs and dances, and will sing and play traditional music with old-style instruments.

Storytellers, cooks, quilters, weavers, painters, and many others will demonstrate their arts and crafts as well. Click here for a detailed schedule of events!

Gatlinburg , Smoky Mountains , Attractions , Photography , Entertainment , Tips

Pittman Tree Now Ripley's Christmas Centerpiece

It is common knowledge that trees cannot drive cars. If they could, though, where would they go?

Perhaps, like more than a million people do every year, they might make a trip to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. That's where a bark-covered piece of Pittman Center history ended up after its first road trip. A Norway spruce tree that had stood beside Town Hall for more than three decades had begun to cause some concern for local officials. Click here for the full story.

Gatlinburg , Smoky Mountains , Attractions , Photography , Entertainment , Tips