Winter 2008 - Serenity Ridge Newsletter

Serenity Ridge, Your Log Cabin in Gatlinburg, Tn

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Serenity Ridge newsletter! We are so excited to introduce you to all of the wonderful features and amenities that Serenity Ridge, and the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area have to offer! I think, that as a family, winter is our most favorite time of year in the Smokies. We love the dichotomy of the gentle, tranquil calm that blankets the region in contrast to the festive “hustle and bustle” of seasonal activities ringing in the holiday season. Here are some of the Miller family “musts” during the wintertime season at Serenity Ridge...

The Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Parade

This December marks the 33rd annual holiday parade in Gatlinburg. Bundle up the kids, and pack some lawn chairs, blankets and a few thermos of cider or hot chocolate. That’s all you need for an evening of holiday fun! The Gatllinburg Fantasy of Light Parade procession is long and varied, from marching bands and boy scout troops, to elaborate holiday floats and musicians. Of course, the culmination of the parade is a visit from the parade’s MVP, Santa Clause!

Wilderness Wildlife Week

Sponsored by the city of Pigeon Forge, this January event is a tribute to Pigeons Forge’s wonderful neighbor, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Throughout the week over 100 nature and wildlife experts host walks, lectures, seminars and hikes. Wilderness Wildlife Week offers many kid friendly activities, and all of the events are completely free! What better way to appreciate the Smokies than to get out in it and discover it!!

Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights

Take a ride on the “Jolly Trolley” though Gatlinburg’s magical display of holiday lights. Over 3 million of them to be exact! Get off the beaten track of downtown Gatlinburg, by traveling Hwy 321 and through the historic Arts and Crafts District, where twinkling lights provide a quaint and nostalgic to adorable cottages and cabins. The Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights departs 3 times nightly from the Trolley Center at Ripley's Aquarium Plaza. Be ready for some impromptu choruses of holiday carols!

A Drive through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park or Cades Cove

Escape the hectic pace of everyday life and uncover the uncompromising beauty of the mountains. Even when the lower lands are dry, the higher elevations are adorned with unblemished snow; and the mountain trees, barren of their leaves, are fascinatingly intricate and shimmering from a faint frost. Some of the best views of majestic Mount LeConte and far-off multilayered Great Smoky Mountain National Park mountain ranges can be seen during this time of year! So put on those earmuffs and take a drive up to Clingman’s Dome! You will be glad that you did!

Equally as grand, is a leisurely drive through Cades Cove. The best times to visit are in the early morning or in the twilight of the afternoon. That is when the area’s wildlife comes out to play! Deer, turkey and elk sightings are prevalent - so, don’t forget the binoculars and the camera! Serenity Ridge, Your Log Cabin in Gatlinburg, Tn.

Finally, one our family’s most favorite “musts” during this time of year is to do nothing at all! We find the cabin so cozy, that we often have no desire to venture out into the “real world”! The stacked stone, floor-to-ceiling fireplace is always host to a warm and inviting fire, and we snuggle together to play family board games, construct jigsaw puzzles or participate in competitive games of “Crazy 8s” or "Uno".

Last year, while at the cabin one chilly December evening, we decided to build our traditional family gingerbread house. We love to do this each holiday season - the boys get a huge kick out of getting to decorate the house however they like. Often half the candy ornaments intended for the house wind up in their mouths or on the floor, but regardless, the house always winds up looking terrific! This night, it had begun to gently snow, we had a crackling fire going in the fireplace, and we had found some war-time, big-band holiday music on the radio. We were all laughing and singing along as we worked on the house. I paused to scan the scene - the warm glow of the fire, the rustic cabin, the twinkling of the Christmas tree, the hushed melodies on the radio, the silent snowfall, and my family’s happy faces and I realized – I had found my perfect memory of Christmas. Right at Serenity Ridge! And it is our sincerest hope that your stay at Serenity Ridge provides you, and yours, with a host of “perfect memories” as well!

Warm Regards,

Blaise and Dina Miller