The holidays are here again and if you’re looking to trade the hustle and bustle for a cozy getaway, Tennessee has a variety of resorts and vacation rentals with decor, activities, and packages that will make the holiday season extra special. From Smoky Mountain log cabins to historic hotels with visits from Santa, these holiday getaways in Tennessee are just what Santa ordered.
Gaylord Opryland Resort
Housed within a series of massive glass atriums, Gaylord Opryland Resort offers travelers more than nine acres of dining, shopping, entertainment (including an indoor water park), a full-service spa, indoor gardens, guest rooms, and family-friendly holiday fun. New this year is Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf, an interactive journey with more than a dozen activities based on the hit holiday film. Guests can also go ice skating, ice tubing, or take the ice bumper cars for a spin. When you’re ready to come in from the cold, you can decorate gingerbread houses, take photos with Santa, or take a riverboat cruise through one of the atriums to view the holiday decor and lush gardens.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa
When you stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, the holiday magic of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas doesn’t have to end when the park closes for the evening. After a day spent exploring the park, you can take the trolley to the DreamMore Resort for even more festivities. When you book the special Christmas Tree Decor Package, you’ll be greeted with a fully-decorated Christmas tree, a letter from Santa’s elves, and Christmas treats when you enter your room. The hotel also hosts daily activities for families like storytime with Santa’s elves, holiday crafts, and hot apple cider served in the lobby every afternoon.
Always Christmas Cabin at Bear Creek
The halls are always decked at this Christmas themed cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, but it’s even more festive when surrounded by the wintertime beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Inside this two-bedroom, two-bathroom cabin, you’ll find wreaths, holiday-themed bedding, and a fully-trimmed tree next to the stone hearth fireplace. You can bundle up and enjoy the view on the patio or throw on your swimsuit and warm up in the hot tub on the screened-in deck. The cabin sleeps up to eight guests and is conveniently situated near many Pigeon Forge attractions and restaurants.
Inn at Christmas Place
The Inn at Christmas Place celebrates Christmas every day of the year. Guest rooms and suites are done up in reds and greens and come complete with festive greenery and a Christmas tree. The holiday decor extends to the public areas of the hotel, including wreaths, garlands, trees, and a glockenspiel in the lobby that plays Christmas carols hourly between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Throughout the month of December, hotel guests can visit with Santa, decorate cookies and gingerbread houses, and get gift wrapping and bow tying tips.
The Read House
The Read House hotel has a 1920s era art deco flair and the boutique hotel’s holiday decor has the same sophisticated style. Throughout December, the Read House hosts a variety of events that will get you in the holiday spirit. Families can book the Elf Tuck-In Package that includes a holiday craft workshop and a bedtime story and tuck in with Santa’s elves. On Dec. 10, guests can attend the Holiday Jubilee, a complimentary evening with live entertainment, hot cocoa and cider, and pictures with Santa. The following morning, you can join Santa and Mrs. Claus for breakfast in the hotel ballroom (reservations required).
Mountain Views Await ~ Gatlinburg Cabin w/ Hot Tub!
If your idea of a perfect holiday is escaping to a rustic log cabin with dramatic mountain views as far as the eye can see, this four-bedroom vacation home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee will be your dream come true. When you’re not enjoying the great outdoors, you can play pool, soak in the hot tub, or relax on the cozy couch by the fireplace. All you need to bring is your family and the presents because the cabin is decorated for Christmas, including a tree with all the trimmings.
The Peabody Memphis
The Peabody is a historic Memphis landmark, possibly most well known for the famous Peabody Ducks who march through the lobby to swim in the lobby fountain every day. For a limited time, guests can book a “Home for the Holidays” package that comes with unlimited coffee and hot chocolate, complimentary parking, and a commemorative ornament to bring home. If you plan your visit around the annual tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 26, you can book a Light Up the Holidays package that includes exclusive viewing of the ceremony. The ceremony is only open to hotel guests and includes snacks, drinks, music, a visit from Santa, and the nightly duck march.
Mayberry Cabin
Mayberry Cabin has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and sleeps up to 10 guests, making it perfect for a group of friends or a vacation with extended family. Your Christmas tree will be ready and waiting for you upon arrival, along with a game room, hot tub, and furnished patio overlooking the Smoky mountains. The cabin is located in the Bear Creek Crossing Resort, so you’ll have access to the resort’s indoor swimming pool.
Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort
Wilderness at the Smokies is so much more than just a place to rest your head at the end of the day. This resort has indoor and outdoor water parks, laser tag, a ropes course, mini golf, an arcade, and play areas for the little ones. Water park admission is included with your stay, but most of the other activities carry an additional fee. For the holiday season, a portion of the outdoor wave pool is transformed into an ice skating rink, kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and special holiday meals are available. The resort also offers multiple holiday packages that include things like a Christmas tree in your room, milk and cookies, and more.
