Seneca

Come for the views, stay for the comforts and conveniences. That sums up Seneca, a one-bedroom log cabin amid the grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Photos don’t do justice to the sweeping vistas visible from Seneca’s wraparound deck and, thanks to the huge windows, even from inside the cabin. Bring your morning coffee outside, get comfy in one of the deck chairs, and watch snow-white clouds drift over the mountaintops as wrens and warblers greet the day. Then at night, luxuriate in the deck’s hot tub beneath the stars, the cool breeze an ideal complement to the steamy jets of water massaging you after a day of hiking, rafting or skiing.

From the living area’s amply cushioned sofa and armchair, you can revel in the sunset over the mountains while basking in the warmth of the wood-burning stove. If you can tear your gaze from the scenery, settle back and watch a movie on the 40-inch flat-screen TV with cable and Blu-ray player, surf the web via the free Wi-Fi, or simply open a bottle of wine and enjoy each other’s company. How often do you get a chance to really relax back at home?

Seneca’s kitchen is fully equipped for all your culinary efforts, whether they entail crafting a gourmet dinner for two or reheating leftovers from the previous night’s restaurant meal. Appliances, pots and pans, gadgets and tableware, you’ll find them all right here. That includes a dishwasher because scrubbing plates is nobody’s idea of a fun vacation activity. If you reel in some trout from one of the nearby streams, you can cook it on the outdoor charcoal grill for a true Smoky Mountain feast.

After dinner, head upstairs for a game of pool in the loft. If you have friends staying in any of the nearby cabins—Bearway to Heaven, Dreamweaver, Majestic View and/or Naughty by Nature can be packaged together with Seneca—invite them over. There’s plenty of room for everyone to kick back and chat between shots.

Seneca’s bedroom on the main level is just as charming as you’d expect from a mountain cabin—and even more luxurious, thanks to the log-frame king-size bed. Fall asleep watching your favorite late-night show on the flat-screen TV, and wake up to sunshine streaming through the window blinds. The room is so comfortable and inviting, with its planked wood walls, floor and beamed ceiling, you might want to snuggle under the blankets till late morning. Go right ahead—you are on vacation, after all! Once you do decide to emerge from your cocoon, the beautifully tiled dual-head shower will make getting ready to start the day an unexpected pleasure.

And regardless of how pampering that bed is, you will want to get out and about. There’s so much to see and do just minutes away. At the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can hike, bike and ride horses among wildlife, wildflowers and waterfalls. Downtown Gatlinburg offers a wealth of restaurants—dig into a juicy steak one night, barbecue ribs the next, and everything from pizza to pancakes in between—along with an aquarium, mini golf and other attractions. Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Area, the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Loop, go-karting, ziplining, golf and so much more are only a short drive from the cabin.

Seneca is a perfect home base for a perfect weekend getaway or a weeklong vacation, whether your preferences run toward peace and privacy or being on the go. So, book your stay today, before someone else beats you to it!