by Neilia Sherman
Sevierville, Tennessee, is Dolly Parton’s hometown and a great place for a relaxing vacation.
The accommodation of choice in these parts is cabin rentals that are located amongst the mountains with breathtaking views. Highly recommended is the Oak Haven Resort, which is located very close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The luxurious cabins are very modern and some have been built within the last year. The resort boasts an outdoor pool and lovely spa for pampering and relaxation.
I was on a girlfriend’s getaway during my visit to Oak Haven and our six-bedroom cabin had plenty of space for both privacy and hanging out together. There were chairs and swings on the wraparound porch and the basement had a pool table, a hot tub and even an old-fashioned pacman video game.
The luxurious kitchen was open concept and only a few steps away from the living area with its big screen TV and comfortable leather sofas. All of the bedrooms had televisions with DVD players and the master even had its own private Jacuzzi bath.
If you can tear yourself away from the cabins, there is a lot to see and do in this area. I am not terribly into theme parks, but I loved Dollywood–Dolly’s own theme park because of its relaxed country feel and authentic atmosphere.
Entertainment-wise-you’ll hear lots of bluegrass and country often sung by Dolly’s own relatives, who still live in the area. There are also master crafters throughout the park who demonstrate centuries-old crafts such as glass blowing, blacksmithing and woodcarving.
The 125-acre park is surrounded by the mountains and beautiful greenery and the rides are slow paced and lots of fun.
The main reason that Sevierville makes for a great girl’s getaway is the shopping. There are two major outlet malls in the area, the Five Oakes Tangers Outlet Centre and the Governor’s Crossing Outlet Mall along with lots of speciality stores such as the Scrapbook Superstore and numerous antique shops. The historic downtown area is quaint with cute shops such as Purple Cat, Common Good and Second Thoughts.
Of course, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a must-see.
I was surprised to learn that this is the most visited National Park in the USA. However, with the interesting history and gorgeous scenery it is easy to see why. The Park is one of the most topographically, biologically, and climatically diverse areas in North America .
There are even professional storytellers who will go with your group on a guided driving tour and tell “inside” stories about the folk heroes and the establishment of the park.
If you go:
For further details on or for a free Sevierville Vacation Planning Guide with accommodation listings, email info@VisitSevierville.com or call
Toll-Free, Visitor Info- 1-888-SEVIERVILLE (738-4378)
Visit Sevierville online at: http://www.seviervillechamber.com/
Visit the Dollywood theme park: http://www.dollywood.com/
Stay at the Oak Haven Resort: http://www.oakhavenresort.com/
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/
Copyright 2007 by Neilia Sherman. Published August 27, 2007. All Rights Reserved. Photos copyright Neilia Sherman (Dolly, Cabin, Mountains) & Oak Ridge Tennessee Photo Source Guide (fiddler).
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