Pigeon Forge July 4th Independence Day celebrations and cabin rentals

Pigeon Forge is an All American City with its family friendly attractions such as Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have one of the best July 4th celebrations in the Smoky Mountains and if you act fast you can still rent a fabulous cabin in the mountains minutes away from the 19th Annual Patriot Festival!

Act fast as there are less than 20 cabins and chalets available for rent in Pigeon Forge Tennessee for the July Fourth weekend. From cozy 1 bedroom cabins to 2, 3, 4 and 7 bedroom huge cabins there are still rental cabins available for the Independence Day holiday to fit anyone's style and budget but they won't last long!

The will be plenty to do if you take the whole gang to the Smoky Mountains and the July Fourth celebrations planned for Pigeon Forge will be fantastic and best of yet - free!

Patriot Park is will be the place to be on Independence Day and the fun starts at 1 pm when the Twirling Medallion Majorette and Drum Corp coming to Pigeon Forge all the way from Virginia with Tina Hughes's Baby Doll, Tiny Tot, along with Junior and Senior Majorette Groups, and The Drum Corp will be taking center stage in beautiful Patriot Park near the Old Mill right off the Parkway.

Next at 3:45 pm 40 members from the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus will be performing a medley of both patriotic and gospel music under the direction of Dr. Deborah Hicks the Associate Professor of Music and Director of Professional Entertainment Program from Walter State Community College.

Nothing is more American than country music so an up and coming country artist from Knoxville, Tennessee Homer Hart will entertaining the crowd starting at 4:30 pm.

Next at 5:15 it's time to offer a spectacular tribute to our Armed Forces along with our beloved National Anthem performed by the cast of "Swing Time" from the Grand Majestic Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Watch and listen as they take you through a fun filled time travel adventure with the sounds of the band sounds of American favorites Glenn Miller, Judy Garland and the Andrew Sisters and then they will rock your world to the sounds of the 50's featuring the classic music of Elvis and even Buddy Holly.

4 of the original lead singers of the Rhythm and blues sensation "the Temptations" joined with Nate Evans, fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with "Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions", to form the Temptations Revue and starting at 5:30pm they will perform some of their timeless tunes and tell Motown stories "the way they do the things they do".

Next to perform in Patriot Park for the 4th of July is another new up and coming country music artist Sarah Darling. Beautiful to the ear and the eye Sarah has appeared in a number of country music videos, with Kellie Pickler, Joe Nichols, David Ball, and Big and Rich and has even modeled so be sure to catch her performance starting at 6:15.

From and up and coming country music star to a seasoned professional with 19 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts John Berry takes the stage at 7 pm with his powerful and distinctive voice. John has a string of hits such as "What's In It for Me", "You and Only You", "Standing on the Edge of Goodbye", "I Think About It All the Time", "Change My Mind", and "She's Taken a Shine".

For the Grand Finale of the live entertainment at the Patriot Park Independence Day Celebration in Pigeon Forge prepared to be rocked by the Classic Rock All Stars - a supergroup up hit makers of the 60s and 70s. The high energy rock and roll set they will play starts and 8:15 pm and with musicians Pete Rivera, Dennis Noda, Jerry Corbetta and Mike Pinera the Smokies will never be the same!

And did we mention the fireworks? The Smoky Mountains fireworks display will begin at 9:45pm. Prepare to be dazzled!

Though the 4th of July Pigeon Forge celebration schedule and the performing artists are subject to change or cancellation without notice, the lineup is so great we hope nothing will change.

What we know won't change is the great value and service you will get when you rent a cabin or chalet in Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains for the 4th of July Independence Day Holiday or any time of the year!

July 4th Events in Gatlinburg and Smoky Mountain Rentals

The 4th of July is a great time for a family to get away and take a vacation and the Smoky Mountains is a favorite destination of many because of the fun events, perfect location and you can still find a few great cabins and chalets for rent in Gatlinburg.

4th of July Independence Day events start earlier in Gatlinburg Tennessee than anywhere else in the nation with the famous Nations First 4th of July parade taking place at midnight to an estimated 100,000 spectators.

Gatlinburg's 34th Midnight Independence Day parade will also include a special 75th Anniversary event in celebration of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To commemorate this historic even there will be a Presidential Motorcade with vintage automobiles and vintage motorcycles to escort the motorcade with everyone wearing costumes from the 1930s.

The recreation of the FDR presidential motorcade will be part of a mile long parade that will also include a large contingent of our armed services men and women, marching bands, equestrian displays and of course parade favorites: elaborately decorated parade floats and helium balloons.

The city of Gatlinburg is already starting to get decorated with flags and red white and blue and before the parade even begins on the night of the 3rd, the whole parade route in the city of Gatlinburg will feature pre-parade entertainers will get everyone excited about the parade to follow.

Gatlinburg is a great location as you can enjoy so many family friendly activities such as the Great Smoky Mountains national park, many Ripley's attractions such as the world class Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Believe or Not Museum, the Glades arts and crafts community, tons of fine restaurants and close by there is white water rafting, horseback riding and so much more.

Right now there are still a few 1, 3, 5 and 8 bedroom cabins and chalets for rent in Gatlinburg available on the Fourth of July independence day weekend - all just minutes away from all the action.

Fourth of July in your own cabin in the Smokies, what could be better?

Help the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Get a Discount on a Cabin Rental!

Everyone wants a cheap price on vacation accommodations and why not? What's even better is when you can find low cabin rental prices in a popular place such as the Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg in the Smoky Mountains and it's even better when you can get a special discount on a cabin rental!

The Great Smoky Mountains national park is the most popular national park in the United States hosting almost 10,000,000 visitors a year and never charging anyone a cent to enter the park. The park is very under funded and the best cabin rental company in the Great Smoky Mountains: America Mountain Rentals wants to help the park and save tourists who stay in the Smokies money - all at the same time!

Times are tough for most everyone and it's even tougher for people to help contribute to the national park so America Mountain Rentals in Pigeon Forge Tennessee in the heart of the Smoky Mountains is giving a 10% discount off the price of a cabin or chalet rental to anyone who is or becomes a member of the Great Smoky Mountains most important organizations that help the National Park: The Friends of the Smokies or the Great Smoky Mountains Association.*

Membership to either organization is tax deductible and as low as $25 a year and for such as low price you will earn a 10% discount off of the already low cabin rental prices on more than 150 beautiful feature packed vacation rentals in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville Tennessee.

All of these cabins and chalets rentals in the Smoky Mountains feature the three things: location, location, location, all being only minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountains national park, Dollywood theme park, Dolly's Splash Country, the Glades artist community in Gatlinburg, tons of outlet stores along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Douglas Lake and so much more.

When you rent a cabin in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg from American Mountain Rentals you can expect clean well maintained vacation rental accommodations most with stunning mountain or wooded views with the amenities you expect from a luxury cabin rental company such as private secluded locations, hot tubs, game rooms and pool tables, fireplaces, Jacuzzi's, spacious living areas, fully equipped modern kitchens, TVs with DVD players along cable or Satellite service so every vacation in the Smokies will bring back fond memories.

When you drive, hike or bike in the Great Smoky Mountains national park you expect to see stunning vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains and beautiful waterfalls in rivers teeming with local brook trout.

You also expect the hiking and horse trails to be clean and well maintained so they are not only enjoyable but they are safe as well. Of course you also want to see our majestic eastern hemlock trees reaching high up into the sky and the elk that have been extinct for centuries in the Smokies roaming freely again.

Thanks to Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountains Association who fund all of these projects to keep the GSM National Park as nice as it is as well funding scientific programs, educational materials and many of the seasonal personnel throughout the park.

Now you can help fund these projects and more with a tax deductible membership for as little as $25 and get a 10% discount on the best cabins for rent in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville. Help the Great Smoky Mountains national park and get a fantastic discount on a cabin rental in the Great Smoky Mountains, what are you waiting for?

* All new rentals on any of the more than 150 cabins or chalets American Mountain Rentals rents qualify for this special discount which cannot be combined with any other discounts or used on holidays.

Smoky Mountains firefly show in Elkmont near Gatlinburg

You can't come to the Smokies in spring and not see the synchronized firefly show in the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains national park near Gatlinburg Tennessee.

No one is really sure why the lightning bugs are only synchronized here in the Smoky Mountains, in small areas in Kentucky and Asia. There are more than a dozen species of lightning bugs but only one of these fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, the Photinus Carolinus, gives us the light show that attracts thousands of visitors a year.

The peak of the lightning bugs synchronized light show is happening right now so shuttles are running from the Sugarland's Visitor Center off Newfound Gap Road to firefly viewing area in Elkmont in order to accommodate the almost 1,000 people a day who may come to see lightning bugs along the Little River flash in unison for hours.

The green light called bioluminescence the synchronized firefly uses to attract its mate is caused when an enzyme produced by the beetle is mixed with oxygen. As long as you stay away from bright lights you can see the fireflies light up from quite a distance and in various shades of from light green to blue.

While the lights from the lightning bugs will seem sparse and random at first, slowly the lights start to flash and roll up and down the mountainsides and fields in waves and at times in patterns, then huge sustained flashes and then total darkness. Random light flashes from the fireflies start again and then the whole light show begins all over.

You can't bring a cooler on board the shuttle tram which is the only way to get into Elkmont until Monday the 15th of June but you can bring a picnic in a carry on bag or backpack. Many people who come to the firefly show in Elkmont take along a blanket and enjoy a picnic dinner near the Little River, or along the hiking trail.

Since the beginning of the firefly viewing area is a hiking trail on an old road bed which is paved, it is accessible for people of all ages and levels of mobility. The trail is miles long and though most people who come to the lightning bug show stay close to the trail head near the parking lot, there is plenty of room for everyone to stretch out.

If you walk further down the trail there are plenty of boulders to sit on along the Little River and enjoy the fireflies, and a few log benches as well. To enjoy the light show look to the right side of the trail away from the river.

You can bring along a flashlight but you need to use one with a red lens cover or if it has a red led. Dark red cellophane works well too. If the light is not covered it can disrupt the fireflies from flashing and will make it harder for you and those around you to see well in the darkness.

The shuttle trams start running at 6 pm from the Sugarland's Visitor Center parking area for a $1 a person round trip to the Elkmont Firefly light show viewing area. The trams return back with the last tram arriving back to the Sugarlands around midnight.

Want to avoid the crowds? Check out the light show on your own next week starting next Monday. Until then the only way to get into Elkmont during the evening will be with the shuttle. The firefly light show will still be fun for all of next week too.

If you are staying in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg or Sevierville the firefly light show in the Great Smoky Mountains national park should not be missed!

This weekend Cosby is the place to be in The Smoky Mountains!

Cosby in the Park will be taking place again this weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and everyone big and small will have a great time with music, guided hikes, and entertainment, demonstrations and kids activities and the price for all of this can be beaten - it's all free!

Cosby is one of the quietest sections of the Great Smoky Mountains national park and is about 10 miles from the City of Gatlinburg off of 321 and boasts a large beautiful picnic area where most of the children's activates and demonstrations are taking place, an outdoor amphitheater, some of the best hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and one of the prettiest cascades/waterfalls in the park: Hen Wallow Falls.

Listen to the live Appalachian music playing in the amphitheater against the backdrop of huge trees and a deep green forest bursting with spring wildflowers, babbling creeks and streams with old fashioned log footbridges and water splashing over moss covered boulders and forming small waterfalls and reflecting pools.

The free Cosby in the Park performances all take place in the outdoor amphitheater throughput the day and I can tell you have seen every one of these great musicians perform before and all of them are excellent.

Here is the schedule of musical events taking place at Cosby in the Park:

• 10:00 am - 11:00 am Lost Mill String Band
• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm The Green Family Band
• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm David McClary and Mountain Strings
• 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Boogertown Gap

One of the best wildflower walks is the 1 mile nature trail right behind the Cosby picnic areas and amphitheater. Walk past along deep lush growth, beautiful wildflowers some growing on moss covered logs, and the stone walls and foundations from the early settlers who one lived in what is now the Cosby section of the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

At 12:00 pm enjoy a guided 1 hour 1 mile stroll on this beautiful trail with Morgan Briggs and Matthew Briggs. To join this hike, meet at the Amphitheater. Miss the guided hike? feel free to explore it on your own.

Another guided moderate hike will take place from 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm and will conducted by Shane and Judy McGaha and Alma Williamson offering a walking tribute to one of the local heroes of Cosby Ella V. Costner which will end up at her grave. To join the hike, meet at Cosby picnic area pavilion.

To really get the most out of this hike you should attend the talk given by Sheila Evans from 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm in the Cosby picnic area on Ella V. Costner, known as the "The Poet Laureate of the Smokies".

If you don't want to go on the hike you can stay in the picnic are and attended an Introduction to Beekeeping given by Charlie Monday and the Art or Dowsing from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm.

There will be plenty of ongoing demonstrations all day in the picnic area:

• Introduction to Beekeeping - Jon and Sherry Holt
• Blacksmithing - Clayton Sharp
• Quilting - Maria Holloway and Ellen Ogle
• Blacksmithing and Blade Making - Len Landrum
• "Old Timey Stuff" - Morgan and Matthew Briggs will display items of daily living from the past
• Cosby History Exhibit-Judy and Shane McGaha

The kid's activities will go on all day from 10 am to 4 pm in the picnic area as well. Children who come to Cosby in the park will enjoy fun activities such as sack races, old-timey toys, games and face painting thanks to Carolyn Templeton, Dianne Goss, Robin Goddard, and Gay Thompson.

For those who wish to listen to Mountain stories in words and music by Kathy and Mike Gwinn, attend the "Hills and Hollows" stories from 1 pm - 2 pm.

Other activities for Cosby in park will take place at the amphitheater stage

• 11:00 am - 11:30 am Introductions/Dedication of Event
• 11:30 am -12 pm Duay O'Neil "Under the Apple Trees" presentation
• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Curtis and Lynn Osteen

For the best deal on family friendly entertainment in the Smoky Mountains be sure to attend the Cosby in the Park free celebration this Saturday May 16th from 10 am to 4 pm. Come early stay late - you will have fun!

Rent a Huge Luxury Cabin in the Smoky Mountains for less than $25 a person!

It what can only be described as they best deal on a luxury cabin rental in the Great Smoky Mountains: King of the Mountain - a huge 8 bedroom log cabin is rent for only $499 a night during the month of May!

Since the King of the Mountain cabin holds up to 22 people, if you fill this cabin up with your friends and family it will cost less than $25 a night per person to rent this spectacular beauty!

Think about it. You can bring a huge group together to enjoy the beautiful Smoky mountains during springtime and enjoy the million dollar views of the mountains from more than 1,800 feet of deck space and from every room in this huge log cabin for rent - and you will save a bundle at the same time.

It not just the great views and the giant deck with an oversized hot tub, outdoor furniture and gas grill so you can all enjoy a cookout, it's the huge spacious and beautiful interior of this cabin you will love too!

Stunning wood floors, walls and ceilings are the perfectly finished off with the huge log furniture, open spaces and the plentiful large windows letting the stunning view of the Smokies to permeate into every room.

The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable and there is room for up to 22 people to sleep in this big 8 bedroom cabin in Gatlinburg Tennessee with 6-1/2 bathrooms.

There is plenty to see and do right around the King of the Mountain Log cabin being so close to Dollywood and all the attractions in Pigeon Forge and Americas favorite place to enjoy the outdoors, the Great Smoky Mountains national park along with more family friendly entertainment than you can see in a month and it is all just minutes away.

So why leave this big cabin high up in the Smoky Mountains because you have everything you need right here: A large living room, a fully equipped modern kitchen, big dining area and even a game room!

Everyone will love hanging out in the living room which has a big screen high definition television mounted over the fireplace and plenty of seating with the 3 sofas, 2 loveseats, and 2 recliners.

Some of the more adventurous will want to go to the game room where they can play some exciting games of pool, or just sit back in the comfy chairs.

This $499 per night rental special is only good if you book right now to stay this month. Offer not valid on Memorial Day Weekend.

Where else could you find such a big luxurious cabin for rent in the Great Smoky Mountains with fantastic views for such a cheap price? You can even get discounts to Dollywood too!

Rent This Luxury Cabin Now

Great Wildflower photography without a long hike in the woods!

Spring is a wonderful to be in the Great Smoky Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains national park is one of the best places to see a huge variety of beautiful wild flowers in the Southeastern United States. Photographers wait all year to come here to the Smokies and may hike miles to find the wild flowers that are looking for.

Well we will let you in on a little secret, if you rent a cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains, you me be able to take see stunning wildflowers and other fantastic nature photographs right from a cabin in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge or Sevierville!

To prove this point we picked out a location that is so close to both downtown Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge you can see it in the distance. You can also see from this mountain the famous triple peaks of Mt LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and Bluff Mountain near Wears Valley.

Here we found a few outstanding log cabins for rent - all with great views and facing west and semi west for great sunsets from the decks of these vacation rentals that all have hot tubs outside.

3 of these great cabins are all on the same street walking distance from one another and here is where I started to look for wildflowers that were only a short walking distance from these cabins in the Smokies.

I first looked with about 100 yards in both directions which was hard to do as the weather in the Smokies today was perfect and I could see all the way out to the Cumberland Plataea from all of these cabins.

Right next to the cabins were flowering trees and bushes and I took the picture of the dogwood tree with large white flowers and the red and yellow Columbine flower across the street.

Along the street you will see a rock wall and if you walk uphill along this rock wall you will see the nature has created a beautiful rock garden with Hepatica, wood anemone and great chickweed. There is also a beautiful contrast of colors and patterns on the leaves of wildflowers just waiting to bloom!

A few paces up on the left are vines with beautiful showy trumpets of yellow with a red throat. Stop here for a while and keep your eyes open as hummingbirds have been on this mountaintop now for almost a week and if you are careful you will see them darting around looking to get a tasty snack. Make sure you look out here at the awesome view too.Walking maybe another 75 more feet uphill is you will have passed by at least 8 clumps of common blue violets which have been blooming for weeks.

A little further up and you will see the fresh green and red leaves just unfurling to catch the light and warmth of the sun poking out between sprays of more Great Chickweed dancing in the afternoon breeze.

Walking higher up on the right are 3 clumps right now of a sure sign of spring in the Smokies - some Fire Pink flowers that are actually bright red.

Ok we only have a little ways more to go to get to the top of the mountain! Enjoy the view on the left and the other wildflowers on the right. Be sure to be careful or you may miss the pretty Daisy Fleabane some of which was poking out by some moss along the side of the road.

Ok not much further to go to get to the peak where you make a rich down the new paved road and you will see one of the best vistas in the Smokies and score of flowering bushes!

So what are the names of the cabins for rent so close to all of this beauty?

Angels Abode which is a 3 Bedroom Log Cabin for rent in Pigeon Forge with 3 Bathrooms and sleeps 8 people

Divine View which is a 3 Bedroom Log Cabin for rent in Pigeon Forge with 3 Bathrooms and sleeps 8 people

Evening View which is a 3 Bedroom Log Cabin for rent in Pigeon Forge with 3 Bathrooms and sleeps 8 people

Both smaller and larger vacation rentals units are also close by at American Mountain Rentals Cabins in the Smokies.

The Spring Rod Run: Cruzin the Strip on the Pigeon Forge Parkway in Tennessee in style

Twice a year the Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains becomes a classic car and hot rod Mecca for car enthusiasts and gearheads of all types. If Detroit made it, you will find it here on display or for sale at the Spring Rod Run.

All weekend long Pigeon Forge is playing host to the 2009 Spring Rod Run in the Smokies and in a matter of hours hundreds and hundreds of cars of all makes models and year - detailed to the max will be cruising up and down the Pigeon Forge Parkway US 441. This is a sight to behold whether you love classic cars or not!

If you miss the show of mile and miles of killer cars cruising the parkway at night, you can catch it tomorrow night. Since many people who come to the spring rod run stay longer to take a vacation in the Smokies, expect to see beautiful cars all around Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville all week long.

It's sure great to have one of the biggest car shows in the Southeast going on in the beautiful Smoky Mountains during spring while the weather is comfortable and the scenery is breathtaking. Between the fresh green grass of spring and the blooming cherry, dogwood and redbud trees and the majestic Smoky Mountains. Even without all the cherry cars, there is beauty everywhere you look!

Thousands of cars line up along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge - most with the showroom quality shine and gleaming chrome - tons of it! So much bright gleaming chrome a dark pair of sunglasses is in order for anyone wanting to look at all the cars in the Rod Run show.

Side to side the cars are lined up and you will see miles of the most incredible cars from every era and in all sorts of condition along the parkway and as many cars as there are here for the show, there are stories about each car and an owner wiling to bend your ear about it.

Most of the cars are heavily customized or completely restored - some are even rotisserie restorations where the car is stripped down to the frame and one part at a time restored to what it looked like when it rolled off the assembly line decades ago.

First of all you can't see the whole spring rod run in one day - it's impossible. While the whole Pigeon Forge Parkway has cars parked along side it with the owners relaxing in folding chairs many with umbrellas, the show really begins at traffic light #3. In Pigeon Forge and in Gatlinburg the traffic lights are numbered so you don't have to remember street names.

Some cars are grouped together by make and model as clubs tend to stick together: the Ford pickup trucks, corvettes, California hot rods, Packard's, old Caddies, new Mustangs they're all here!

Count of having to move your car a few times as you certainly won't want to walk the whole way both sides and the back to your car. Yes, there are classic cars for the Pigeon Forge rod run on BOTH sides of the parkway!

If you want a snack or a meal during the day or into the night you have hundreds of restaurants or places to buy a snack or a refreshing cool drink along the parkway in Pigeon Forge.

What could be more fun than the family friendly Rod Run in Pigeon Forge? And the price - it's free!