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The Stellar Stay Journal

Everything you need to plan the perfect Smoky Mountain trip

There is a lot to love about the Smokies, and a little local knowledge goes a long way. The journal is where we share it. You will find seasonal guides to the best things to do near the cabin, family friendly itineraries for rainy days and sunny ones, our favorite places to eat in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, easy hikes and scenic drives through the national park, and simple tips for getting the most from your stay, from firing up the grill to keeping the kids happy in the game room.

A laptop and smartphone on a desk, set up for comparing vacation rental prices online
Booking Fees Explained: What You Actually Save Booking Direct
Service fees, platform mark-ups and where your money really goes. A plain look at what changes when you book.
  • Direct Booking
A wooden mountain cabin surrounded by trees, the kind of stay found around Sevierville, Tennessee
What to Expect When You Stay: Your Stellar Stay Guest FAQ
Check-in times, the pool, dogs, deposits and winter driving. The questions guests ask most before booking a Smoky Mountain.
  • Guest FAQ
Open meadow and split-rail fencing in Cades Cove with the Great Smoky Mountains rising behind
Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A First-Timer’s Guide
An 11-mile loop, black bears at dawn and the most photographed valley in Tennessee. How to do Cades Cove.
  • Adventure
The Dollywood Express steam train pulling passenger cars through the Tennessee mountains near Sevierville
Things to Do in Sevierville, TN: A Local’s Guide for Families
Dollywood, Douglas Lake, outlet shopping and the quiet corners in between. Here is how families actually spend their days.
  • Things To Do
Appalachian hillside in full fall color with orange, red and gold foliage across the ridges
Fall in the Smoky Mountains: When the Color Peaks and Where to See It
Smoky Mountain fall color arrives in waves down the mountainside. Here is when to come, where to drive and.
  • Seasonal
Layered blue ridges of the Great Smoky Mountains fading into haze at the horizon
The Best Time to Visit the Smoky Mountains: A Month-by-Month Guide
Wildflowers, fireflies, fall color or a quiet winter cabin — an honest month-by-month look at when to visit the.
  • Seasonal
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