Sunday, July 26, 2009

Cabins for rent where you can see the synchronized fireflies in the Smoky Mountains

No one would believe an old time resident of what was to become the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains national park when he claimed that he could sit on his porch a see the fields and mountainside light up with synchronized fireflies in the spring, after all this phenomenon was only recorded by scientists in Asia on the other side of the world.

Scientists came to the Elkmont section of the Great Smoky Mountains national park in the 1990's and saw for themselves that 1 of the 14 lightning bugs which lives in the park does in fact synchronize its flashing with the surrounding firefly beetles.

The flashing from the fireflies which is used to attract a mate slowly grows in intensity as one by one the fireflies see each other flashing and attempt to be the brightest prettiest flasher. As fast at the flashing increases in intensity, suddenly the flashing from the lighting bugs will stop for a few seconds and darkness envelopes the area only to be broken by the beetles flashing which start flashing all over again.

Coming back year after year and studying the fireflies in Elkmont the experts discovered that though the Asian lighting bugs synchronized in the trees, the lightning beetles in the Smokies flashed for their mates up in the hills and higher up in the bushes and trees and as the night progresses the males move closer and closer to the ground where the females have been sitting flashing to attract a mate.

Once the word got out about the beautiful light show the synchronized fireflies in Elkmont put on in late May and into June, the crowds started to come. At first it was manageable but then as people saw the amazing light show and told others the crowds that came to the Elkmont area in the Great Smoky Mountains national park were soon just too much to handle.

The national park service in cooperation with the City of Gatlinburg Tennessee decided to have visitors who came to see the fireflies in Elkmont park their cars in the national parks Sugarlands Visitor Center and take Gatlinburg trolleys as a shuttle to Elkmont to alleviate the crowding.

While this system worked for a while and everyone was happy, more than 1,000 people a day attempt to take the trolleys which can no longer add on more shuttles due to space and time limitations as well as the environmental and safety issues of too many people in such a small area.

Each year as more people know about the synchronized fireflies in Elkmont, the available seats on the trolley shuttles which are only $1 round trip, sell out faster and faster leading to a disappointment for many who have come to the Smokies to see the lightning bugs perform the fantastic mating light show.

Further studying of the lightning bugs in the Smokies shows that once the temperature reaches around 50 degrees the lightning bug emerge from the ground in a few other places in the Smoky Mountains other than Elkmont if the conditions are just right.

These special lightning bugs can't just be seen any place in the Smokies, the water, soil, elevation and surrounding area has to be just right. While most areas where these synchronized fireflies can be found are remote areas of the national park inaccessible by most and unsafe at night to wander around in, there are a few places where they can be found outside of the park.

Amazingly, they can be found in a small valley outside of the park just off the section of the Foothills Parkway called the Spur located between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Here for now the conditions are perfect and the fireflies can be found right by 3 cabins for rent in a field around a small creek!

Just imagine in the last week in May when the fireflies start to emerge (Exact time is dependent on previous weeks soil ambient temperature) that you will be able to see the nightly light show gain in intensity which remain strongest for about 21 days and finishes by the end of June.

Of course the other 13 species of firefly beetles found in the area will still put on a show for you throughout the summer while you sit out on the deck, sipping a cool glass of iced tea and enjoying nature's beauty and the peace and quiet of this secluded area of the Smoky Mountains.

The cabins where you can see the synchronized fireflies range in size from 1 bedroom cabins that accommodate a couple in comfort to huge 4 bedroom family friendly log cabins for rent that can hold many!

Imagine enjoying the best of the Smokies all day and the synchronized fireflies at night without ever having to leave your vacation rental! Year round these cabins for rent in the Smoky Mountains are a great choice given their fantastic location - close to Dollywood, Splash Country, Ripley's Aquarium and the other Ripley's attractions, the Great Smoky Mountains national park, hundreds of great restaurants and tons of outlet stores and quaint shops around the area.


Related Stories:
Fireflies synchronized light show season starts in Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Synchronous fireflies and admirers about to invade the Great Smoky Mountains national park

Smoky Mountains firefly show in Elkmont near Gatlinburg

Elkmont Section of national park yearly visit by synchronized fireflies

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Synchronized Fireflies

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Free Nights Stay on a Vacation Rental in the Smoky Mountains July - September 2009

Everyone is looking for a bargain on their family summer vacation and in these tough times and who can blame them? Well now someone is doing something about it! American Mountain Rentals the premier Smokies Cabin and Chalet Rental company is offering huge unheard of discounts in the summer and early fall peak vacation rental seasons!

Free Nights Stay on a Vacation Rental in the Smoky Mountains July - September 2009

For any new reservations for 3 nights or more on a Smoky Mountains Log cabin or mountain chalet in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg or Sevierville in July, August or even in the fall season in September, you will get at least 1 free nights stay!

  • Stay for 3 nights and get the 4th night for Free
  • Stay for 4 nights and get the 5th night for Free
  • Stay for 5 nights and get the 6th night for Free
  • Stay for 6 nights and get the 6th night 1/2 off and you get the 7th night Free

What will you do with your extra free nights stay? Perhaps you want to purchase some discount Dollywood Theme Park tickets or Splash Country Water Park tickets and either make the little ones you take on vacation eyes sparkle in delight or relive your own childhood in America's beloved theme park right in the heart of the Smokies and just minutes from any chalet or cabin rental. Some cabins for rent so close to Dollywood - some are walking distance!

cabins for rent so close to Dollywood some are walking distance

Maybe you will want to spend that extra free day's night stay being lazy along a river in the Great Smoky Mountains national park which just tuned 75 - or take an exhilarating hike up to the 2nd highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi.

Picnicking, auto touring or biking in Cades Cove, hiking on more than 800 miles of stunning trails, fishing for trout in the Smokies creeks, streams and rivers, exploring historical buildings and just enjoying the beautiful scenery at every turn are waiting for you in Americans most visited national park: the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Maybe you just want to be lazy on your free days stay and take the kids and yourself to one of the swimming pools and lounge in the sun and splash and swim in the pool. There are almost 40 beautiful cabins and chalets for rent with free swimming pool access ranging from charming 1 bedroom units on up to a huge 8 bedroom vacation rental lodge that has!

floating down the Little River on a tube

Like your water sports in a natural setting? Spend that extra free day on your Smokies vacation floating down the Little River on a tube just enjoying the green canopy of trees overhead and the cool clear water on the river. Tube rentals and shuttles back and forth all day long are as cheap as $8 a day in Townsend Tennessee - just minutes from any of the cabins for rent in Pigeon Forge.

White Water rafting in the Smokies

Want a little more excitement in your water sports on your free days stay in the Smokies? You can go for some world class 4 and 5 white water rapids or if you want try your hand at Kayaking in the Smokies. There are guided white water rafting and Kayaking trips or just bring your own!

Maybe you want to take all that money you saved on your free nights stay in a cabin in the Smokies and go on a shopping spree in one of the many outlet stores in Pigeon Forge such as the Belz Outlet Mall, the Tanger Five Oaks Mall and Tanger Outlet Center or any of the other outlet stores along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge or Sevierville. There are also hundreds of shops in Gatlinburg and of course the Smoky Mountains artist community just outside the city limits of Gatlinburg.

Then again, why all the running around on your free day and nights stay in the Great Smoky Mountains? Stay at your cabin in the Smokies and enjoy the views of the mountains, woods or river, lounge around in the hot tub and after you get out grill up some homemade BBQ and enjoy it outside in the fresh air.

watch a movie or shoot a game of pool or even play Foosball in the game room

Inside you can relax and watch a movie or shoot a game of pool or even play Foosball as many of the cabins and chalets in the Smokies for rent have a game roomIsn't the whole idea of a vacation in the Smokies to take it easy?

So how great is this exciting free night's stay in a cabin in the Smokies? It's so good that you better act fast as this offer for a free nights stay in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg can be withdrawn without notice and is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other discounts or special offers.

Enjoy the vacation or getaway of a lifetime and get a free nights stay

What are you waiting for? Enjoy the vacation or getaway of a lifetime and get a free nights stay!

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