Discover the Holiday Inn Club Vacations® resort network in the United States with a Holiday Inn Club membership. This month we take you to a place where the mountains and valleys stretch into the distance; where forests come alive in the spring and summer, are transformed by a palette of golds, russet and scarlet in the fall and the mists and deep silence of winter under a sudden snowfall. The mountain air is pure and crisp, so breathe deeply as you head off along the path in search of nature. Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee sits on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with over 800 square miles of hiking trails to discover.
This mountain lodge-inspired resort offers one, two and three-bedroom villas. Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, the Splash Hollow play area, community room, special activities, grills, fire pit, marketplace and a fitness center. There is a separate Signature Collection Reserve building with two, three and four-bedroom luxury villas, unique design features and exclusive benefits.
This is a place to relax, reconnect with nature as you explore the national park and to enjoy fun time with the family, sharing stories about the day’s adventures over mugs of cinnamon-spiced hot chocolate around a roaring fire.
Stretching between Tennessee and North Carolina, these ancient mountains are rich in biodiversity and heritage. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 100 waterfalls, caves and historic communities. There are 1,500 species of flowering plant and over 4,000 non-flowering plant species. The woods are alive with birdsong, 240 species of bird have been registered, including wild turkeys, cardinals, indigo buntings and long-eared owl and the area is an important stopover and feeding area for migratory birds flying south for the winter. Deer, elk, bobcats and black bears roam the forests, there are also beavers, otters, flying squirrels, groundhogs, chipmunks and rare salamanders.
Admire the woodlands in all their splendor – wildflowers, rhododendrons and azaleas in the spring, an evening of fireflies and stargazing in the summer to the fall foliage, winter mists and snow. If you do travel to the resort in the winter, activities include skiing and snowboarding at Ober Gatlinburg, or enjoy ice skating and hiking.
Whatever the season, start your exploration of the southern stretch of the Appalachian Trail. Apart from hiking and birdwatching, there are many other fun activities in the area. Dare to walk across the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America in Gatlinburg Sky Park and climb up to the viewing point for breathtaking views of mist-shrouded mountains and forest as far as the eye can see. Take the family to Dollywood® theme park in Pigeon Forge; December visitors won’t want to miss the famous Christmas Festival. Other attractions include Ripley’s Aquarium® of the Smokies, museums celebrating Smoky Mountain heritage, craft breweries, ziplining, whitewater rafting, horseback riding and fishing. Take scenic valley drives to the historic community of Cades Cove and other highland villages and viewpoints.
Discover the possibilities that Holiday Inn Club membership offers
Visit the Sales center on your next vacation to learn more about Holiday Inn Club membership and the benefits it offers.