Having a Blast

At Having a Blast, up to 20 people can relish both the bucolic beauty of the Smoky Mountains and the luxurious amenities of a five-star hotel. The three-story log lodge, which looks out onto Bluff and Cove Mountains, includes five primary suites with private Jacuzzis and decorative fireplaces, a home theater, a pool table, Netflix, free Wi-Fi and much more.

Let’s start our tour of Having a Blast with the great room. Located on the wheelchair-accessible main floor, this space is large enough to accommodate three sofas. The double-height ceiling keeps the ambiance open and airy, while the decorative fireplace makes the room especially inviting on brisk winter evenings. When you’re not gazing out the windows at the mountains, you can watch a movie on the flat-screen TV. The room includes a library of books and games, plus a mini hand-carved table and chairs where little ones can play.

The dining area is spacious as well. Between the long table and the adjacent breakfast bar, the room seats a small crowd. The kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances, cookware, tableware and plenty of granite counter space so that you can easily host a holiday feast. You can cook and dine outdoors as well. The main level’s rear deck is outfitted with a grill and picnic tables.

The game room makes up much of the downstairs. When you’re not shooting pool at the billiard table, you can play cards at the poker table, challenge yourself at the sixty-game arcade or stretch out on the couch and listen to your favorite tunes on the satellite radio.

Also downstairs is the home theater. Plush sofas ensure that your movie-watching experience is a comfortable one. The 73-inch HDTV with surround sound accommodates 3-D, so if you have 3-D movies and glasses, bring them along. The room also has a Blu-ray player, a library of movies and Netflix. There’s even a wet bar for making popcorn or storing drinks.

The five primary suites are spread out among the three stories. Each bedroom includes a king-size bed with a hand-carved log frame, a stone-surround decorative fireplace, a flat-screen TV with a DVD player and a VCR and a private bathroom. As if that weren’t luxurious enough, every en-suite bathroom boasts a jetted tub along with a shower and a large vanity with a granite counter and plenty of storage. One of the two suites on the main floor is wheelchair-friendly, with grip bars in the bathroom. The two suites on the top floor open directly onto the front balcony, with incredible views of Cove Mountain. In addition, three of the cabin’s sofas open into queen-size beds.

Upstairs includes a sleeping loft with queen-size bunk beds that can accommodate four people. One advantage of sleeping here is that it opens onto the upper rear deck with rockers. These might be the best perches for admiring the star-studded night sky, except perhaps for the hot tub on the lower deck. Luxuriating among steamy bubbles while owls hoot and crickets chirp will soothe both body and soul. So will a steam shower in the sixth bathroom! You and your special someone can both sit among the twenty-four massaging jets of water while listening to the built-in radio. Talk about pampering!

Given all these luxuries, you might want to spend your entire vacation in the cabin. But then you’d be missing out on the many nearby attractions. The waterfalls, wildlife and wildflowers of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are less than 20 minutes away, while the rides and shows of Dollywood are just 25 minutes from the cabin. Also close by are the Titanic Museum, WonderWorks, dinner theaters, shops, restaurants and more.

One thing is for sure—when you stay at Having a Blast, you’ll, well, have a blast. So book your stay today, before someone else beats you to it!