Now that we’re getting into the season when folks are getting serious about their vacation planning, we thought it would be a good idea to remind you that we usually have some kind of seasonal special going on our Wears Valley cabin rentals.

Right now, we’re offering free nights in April and May, depending on how many nights you book with us. For reservations on stays through May 30, you’ll get a 10-percent discount on a three-night stay, you’ll only pay for three nights with a four-night stay, you’ll pay for four nights with a five-night stay, and if you book a six- or seven-night stay, you’ll only pay for five.

Keep in mind that this is a special Internet deal, so you’ll need to mention that when calling to make your reservation. It only applies to currently available cabins and not any previous bookings. Unfortunately, this deal does not apply to any holiday nights.

And by booking your trip for April or May, you’ll enjoy the warmer weather here in the Smokies, but you’ll get to enjoy the area before the crowds of peak season start arriving. We hope to see you soon!

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While the majority of folks traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains travel here by car, there are other ways of getting to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. For those who want to let someone else do the driving (or flying), here is a quick overview of what’s available.

• McGhee Tyson Airport – This regional/national airport is your best bet for flying in. A number of major and budget airlines serve the facility. Once you’re on land, you can either rent a car at the airport or pay a shuttle service to transport you to your lodging destination in the Smokies.

• Megabus – This very affordable bus service has become a popular method of traveling from city to city. Those arriving in Knoxville get off the bus at the downtown transit station and then must arrange for a taxi or shuttle service to get to their final destination.

• Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport – This local air facility is actually located in Sevierville but offers handy proximity to Smokies accommodations and even can offer rental car services on site.

Once you make it to the Smokies, our cabins in Wears Valley, TN are easy to find. Just check in at our rental office, and we’ll provide you with a map to get to your individual cabin unit.

Looking for a fun hike to a cool waterfall destination this winter? Consider one of the better-kept secrets in the Smokies—Spruce Flats Falls. One of the best things about this hike is that you don’t have to venture terribly far into the national park to find it, which makes it convenient to most of our cabins in Wears Valley.

You can go through either the Wears Valley or Townsend entrances to the national park. Once you’re in the park, head west toward the Great Smokies Institute at Tremont. Park in the lot and start up the gravel road, following the signs toward the falls. You’ll make a couple of turns along the way at various signposts, but as long as you follow the arrows toward the falls, you’ll be OK.

This trail, which is about a mile from start to finish, isn’t marked on most maps, but the path is unmistakable. The first two-thirds is moderately uphill, and once you crest the ridge, you’ll have a slightly steeper downhill trek as you near the falls. The falls themselves are 40 to 50 feet in height and cascade down multiple tiers of hillside before collecting in a pool at the bottom. You can approach as far as the pool itself at the bottom of the falls.

This is a moderately strenuous hike with some fairly steep uphill and downhill sections and sharp trail drop-offs. But most folks shouldn’t have trouble with it, and if you bring a camera, you’ll get some great pictures in the process. There are even some decent mountain views along the way. Happy hiking!

If you’re staying in one of our Wears Valley cabin rentals this weekend, you might be interested to know that you won’t be very far away from one of this region’s premier annual festivals. The Foothills Fall Festival, October 12-14 is a weekend full of world-class concerts, juried arts and crafts, kids’ activities and much more.

The event, which takes place in downtown Maryville, is presented on such a large scale that it can’t be contained in one area. The concerts are staged at the outdoor amphitheater at Jack Green Park, and the arts and crafts fair will be set up along Broadway street downtown. The kids’ Adventure Lane area—featuring rides, inflatables, activities and games—occupies 16 acres along the Maryville-Alcoa Greenway.

The festival is popular, in part, for the big names that take the concert stage each year. This year’s headliners include Gary Allan, Train and Darius Rucker. Meanwhile, the arts show features nearly 100 selected vendors from around the Southeast. All participants feature creative, hand-made products in a wide range of media, including pottery, baskets, photography and fine art, jewelry, woodworking and much more. Free entertainment such as craft demonstrations, street theater, face painting, musicians and more can be enjoyed by guests visiting the arts fair.

Learn more at www.foothillsfallfestival.com.

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Anyone who makes a reservation to stay in one of our Wears Valley cabins through September 30 qualifies for a number of special moneysaving deals. If you book a three-night stay, you get half off the third night; if you book four nights, you only pay for three; if you book five nights, you only pay for four, and if you stay six or seven nights, you only pay for five. So if you’re staying a full week that’s a savings of nearly 30 percent.

To receive the discount, please mention the special Internet deal when you make your reservation. This offer is valid only for remaining cabins, and unfortunately, it cannot apply to a booking you may have already made within that time frame. The offer cannot be combined with any other offers or specials, and it does not apply to holiday nights.

And we think that Wears Valley is the perfect setting for a September visit. Our cabins take advantage of the beauty of pastoral valleys and towering mountains, which are all right outside your window. You’re also just minutes from a handy, infrequently used entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, giving you easy access to picnic areas, hikes and the historic Cades Cove community.

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Guests who check in to one of our Wears Valley cabin rentals this summer are bound to face some warm temperatures, but we’ve got just the ticket for keeping your cool and doing some major de-stressing in the process.

Beneficial To Life Therapeutic Massage offers massage services to our guests right in their cabins! If you’re tired, stressed, tense or have sore muscles, these professionals’ trained hands can help you refresh and rejuvenate in the cool comfort of your vacation accommodations. There’s no need to get into heavy traffic or go to another location.

Pamper yourself with an hour or more of a wide range of treatments, including Swedish and deep-tissue massage, hot-stone massage, spa services, aromatic salt scrubs and steam tunnel therapy. Prices are structured to accommodate side-by-side couples with one-hour massage/scrub packages for two starting at only $270. Add a candlelight dinner to any of the packages for only $115.

When you call us to book your cabin, be sure to ask about the massage and spa options we have available, and we can set those up at the time you reserve your lodging.

Our company deals primarily with Wears Valley, TN cabin rentals, and while many of our guests choose our properties for their remote, scenic locations and mountain and valley settings, most of our visitors are still interested in getting out and exploring the area and finding attractions.

Fortunately, there are lots of fun activities for the whole family right here in Wears Valley, which means you don’t even have to venture into Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg to have yourself a good time.

The biggest attraction here is the natural one—Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and most out-of-towners don’t realize that there’s a seldom-traveled entrance to the park here in Wears Valley. As a matter of fact, it’s just down the road from our rental office. Ask us about it when you stop in, and we’ll give you directions.

Many of the man-made attractions here still take advantage of our natural resources, history and culture. You’ll find places where you clip on to a zipline to find a few thrills or saddle up a horse and explore the wilderness. We’ve even got a new attraction coming this summer that promises ziplines, a chairlift and mountain biking.