Bear's Den

A stay at Bear’s Den is the stuff happy memories are made of. Tucked away among towering trees, the two-bedroom log cabin is a woodland wonderland, yet it's less than five minutes from the excitement of downtown Gatlinburg.

As soon as you drive up to Bear’s Den, you’ll be charmed. It looks exactly as a mountain log cabin should. A large covered front porch spans the width of the home, with wooden rockers and log stools inviting you to kick back, take a deep breath of fresh mountain air, and unwind among the sunshine and the singing of the birds. The only thing that could make the porch even more inviting is a hot tub—and there it is, a roomy hot tub! Relaxation is practically guaranteed!

Bear’s Den is just as wonderfully calm and rustic inside. The great room glows with burnished wood-planked walls, floor and vaulted ceiling. The leather sofa and the armchairs are as comfortable as they are handsome, the gas fireplace will be especially welcome after a day of skiing and snowboarding, and there’s loads of room for the kids to sprawl out on the floor with their toys and games. Oops, did you forget to bring the games? No worries, Bear’s Den has several shelves of board games for the whole family to play. You can play a different one every night after dinner at the oak dining table, which seats six guests.

Because Bear’s Den is so close to downtown, you’ll have scores of restaurants just outside your doorstep. But sometimes nothing’s as cozy as enjoying a family dinner in, which is why the cabin has a fully equipped kitchen. A refrigerator and oven/stove, microwave, gadgets, cookware and tableware: you’ll find everything you need right here. And that includes a dishwasher so that there’s no bickering over whose turn it is to wash the dishes.

Bear’s Den has two en-suite bedrooms, one on the main floor and the second upstairs in the loft. Each has a king-size bed, plenty of storage, a ceiling fan and its own full bathroom. The loft suite is a true haven. For one thing, it’s the only room upstairs, so you’ll have maximum privacy. For another, it has a 32-inch flat-screen TV with a DVD player and, even better, a private jetted tub. When you return from white-water rafting, golfing, or walking every square inch of Dollywood, you might want to make a beeline straight for a soothing soak.

Among the cabin’s other amenities are free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, a washer and dryer and a gas grill so that you can enjoy a Smoky Mountain barbecue. When you arrive, you’ll find plenty of clean towels, the beds perfectly made up and extra bedding too. There are even hair dryers in the bathrooms, and if you have additional guests, you can open up the great room’s sofa—voilà, a bed for two more!

Perhaps the cabin’s greatest convenience is its location. It’s so close to about everything Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have to offer. In just a few minutes you can drive to the Guinness World Records Museum, an aquarium, mini golf and more of downtown’s attractions. Tack on another couple of minutes, and you’re at Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Area or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you can hike, bike or ride horses among wildflowers, waterfalls and wildlife ranging from elk to bears. Dollywood, outlet shopping, the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Loop, fishing, ziplining, concert venues, golf and more are all within easy reach.

It’s impossible to be bored when you stay at Bear’s Den. Even a rainy day indoors will be packed with fun and laughter. And isn’t that what a family vacation is all about? So book your stay today, and get ready to make some wonderful memories.