Are you in Gatlinburg to see the fall foliage?  Take  a break and come join the Tailgate Party at the Edgewater.   Enjoy free snacks while watching the Tennessee vs Alabama football game on the “big screen”.  Beverages will also be available for purchase.  Come support your favorite team.  Tailgate party will begin one hour before the game.

The Gatlinburg Craftsmen Fair, held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, is a unique event where craftsmen from all around the country not only sell their wares, but they also demonstrate their talent. Visitors coming to this fair, which was named a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 event, can expect to see a variety of arts and crafts and listen to country and bluegrass free concerts throughout the event.

Pottery, stained glass, jewelry, leather goods, and hand carvings are just some of the amazing pieces from truly talented artisans that will be on display. Each exhibitor is juried for quality and unusual skill, so visitors will have a chance to see the nation’s best crafts people.
The Gatlinburg Craftsmen Fair is held twice a year, in the Summer and in the Fall. The Fall fair is scheduled from October 11 to 28, 2012 and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Daily country and bluegrass free concerts are held at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. and noon and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

If your Gatlinburg vacation doesn’t coincide with the Gatlinburg Craftsmen Fair, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy arts and crafts. Gatlinburg is home to the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community is a historic 8-mile loop that has been designated as a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. The trail is celebrating its 75th anniversary of cultural heritage. Along this historic arts and crafts trail, visitors can see artisans who whittle, paint, sew, weave, carve, and quilt, to name a few.
The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community trail is also home to restaurants, cafes, candy shops, a tearoom and a soda fountain. The arts and crafts trail is the perfect Gatlinburg location to pick up one-of-a-kind souvenirs. If you love edible souvenirs, such as jams, jellies, pulled taffy, or nuts, then you’ll find a satisfying treat to take home with you. Handmade jewelry, pottery, or stained glass also make wonderful keepsakes that serves as a reminder of your Gatlinburg vacation.

Minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, The arts and crafts trail can be accessed by car or by trolley.
When planning your Gatlinburg arts and crafts vacation, it’s best to stay in the heart of the city. The Edgewater Hotel & Conference Center, located on River Road next the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, the hotel offers free parking so your shopping adventure will go smoothly. Free continental breakfast ensures you that you’ll be able to shop to you drop and thoroughly enjoy watching talented craftsmen create works of art. With free WiFi at the Edgewater Hotel, you’ll be able to Tweet and post your arts and crafts finds on Facebook.
If you’re an Arts & Crafts lover, then start planning your Gatlinburg vacation today.

The Smoky Mountains is one of the few remaining places where black bears live in their natural surroundings. Visitors flock from all over to visit Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains in hopes of catching a glimpse of a black bear. According to counts and statistics, there are approximately 1,500 black bears that live in the Smoky Mountain National Park, making that about two black bears per square mile. They reside in densely wooded areas, but visitors occasionally are treated to a bear sighting as they forage for food. Feeding bears or other wildlife is strictly forbidden in the Smoky Mountains.

The Smoky Mountains are knows as the Salamander Capital of the World. With at least 30 species of salamanders, seeing one on your hike to a waterfall is almost a certainty. The Smoky Mountains are home to the largest salamander in North America, the Hellbender. The Little River watershed is the perfect environment for this species, which grow to more than two feet long. They feed off crayfish, aquatic insects, and even small fish.

Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountain National Park is home to red wolves. Sightings are rare since they almost always run away when humans are around. The best chance of spotting one is at dusk.

Dusk and sunrise are good times to view white-tailed deer. Though timid, deer have learned to tolerate visitors and some people are treated to viewing them as close as ten or twenty yards away as they munch on acorns and green vegetation.

The forest and open fields in Cades Cove and the Smoky Mountains are the perfect environment for both red and gray foxes. The gray foxes are more common, but their fur blends with the background, so spotting one may be a challenge. The red foxes are beautiful and have black legs and a white-tipped tail.

Nocturnal animals, such as raccoons and bobcats, may not be easily visible to visitors, but be assured they make the Smoky Mountains their home. Campers should take notice, raccoons will often steal food or other objects that are left out in the open.

Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in early summer can witness a special light show. The Smoky Mountains are home to 14 species of fireflies, one of which is the only species in North America known for their ability to synchronize their flashing light pattern. Their light patterns are part of the mating display that helps males and females recognize each other. This fascinating display has become such a popular attraction that there is a reservation system for Elkmont firefly viewing.

With more than 2,000 miles of streams, the Smoky Mountains is home to a variety of fish. Trout fishing is a popular past time among visitors who can step out of their downtown Gatlinburg hotel room and step into a stream full of brook, brown, and rainbow trout.

When visiting Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains, keep your ears and eyes wide open. You just never know what type of wildlife you’ll see.

Since winter is considered the off-peak season in Gatlinburg, not only can vacationers enjoy fun and relaxation, they can also get it at a discount. For example, Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center, in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, offers special vacation packages during the winter months. Their Valentine’s Special focuses on relaxation and romance featuring a specialty room with a cozy fireplace, private hot tub, and a “sweet” surprise for guests.

The Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center also offers several Mountain Fun value packages featuring room specials together with tickets to Gatlinburg’s finest attractions. The Aquarium Experience package is perfect for those who enjoy one of Gatlinburg’s favorite attractions, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. The Aquarium is open year-round and features salt water creatures like sharks and rays. Their penguins are sure to be a hit for the animal lover in your family.

The Dixie Stampede package from the Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center features tickets to the perfect wintertime attraction. Dixie Stampede is an indoor experience, dinner and a show, Dolly Parton-style.

Gatlinburg visitors who select the Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center’s Titanic Experience special package can enjoy’s the area’s newest attraction, the Titanic Museum. This Museum is a must-see for vacationers who enjoy a little fun with their history.

Another popular destination in the Gatlinburg area are the outlet malls. Visitors flock to big name outlet stores such as Nike, Under Armour, Reebok, Polo, Nautica, Coach, American Eagle, Aeropostale and more. Many of these retail centers offer clearance sales so that you can stock up at a fraction of the price.

A visit to Gatlinburg isn’t complete without a Smoky Mountain experience. While the weather may be a little chilly, typically, it is still moderate enough to enjoy a hike or a picnic in the mountains. Cades Cove, one of the Smoky Mountains most popular and scenic drives, is the perfect winter destination to enjoy the mountains is a peaceful, serene environment.

Seeing Gatlinburg’s attractions during the winter has many advantages. First, the traffic to and from these attractions is at it’s minimum. Fewer visitors during off-season means fewer cars and less traffic headaches. Another advantage is there are fewer visitors at each attraction. In the Smoky Mountains, when there is fewer visitors, there are more opportunities to see wildlife.

Fewer vacationers during the off-season usually means shorter lines to the area’s famous attractions. Some of these attractions and restaurants also feature winter specials and discounts to attract off-peak visitors.

To take full advantage of the benefits of vacationing in Gatlinburg during the off-peak season, it’s best to stay close the the action. The Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center offers convenience and all the amenities you enjoy from a mountain vacation or long weekend.

For all of you local residents, the Edgewater is also a great location to host Christmas or any other holiday events. We know that sometimes your home isn’t the best location to host the whole family for several days at a time during the holidays, so The Edgewater is happy to help out and host the entire family. Imagine opening Christmas packages in the morning with your family and hitting the slopes of Ober Gatlinburg in the afternoon as a Christmas celebration. The Edgewater can make that possible. They will make anything you need possible as they strive to be the best hotel in Gatlinburg!

For you holiday lovebirds The Edgewater offers a great “Cupid’s Honeymoon Club” package which comes complete with a specialty room equipped with a private hot tub, crackling fireplace, and a bottle of complimentary champagne. A sweet surprise will await you on the pillow. Imagine snuggling up with your honey on a cold Gatlinburg night knowing that everything was perfect. The Edgewater will make your special occasion unforgettable!

Last but not least you folks looking to explore Gatlinburg’s local trout fishing area should definitely give the Edgewater a visit. Their unique river-side location makes fishing from the front yard of the hotel not only possible, but very successful! The hotel’s fishing location is so good, you may forget about all of the other great fishing locations in our area. Some of the local’s favorite fishing locations include: from National Park Boundary downstream to West Prong Little Pigeon River, Roaring Fork from National Park Boundary downstream to West Prong Little Pigeon River, and LeConte Creek from Painter’s Branch downstream to West Prong Little Pigeon River. If you’re looking for a Gatlinburg hotel on the river to do your fishing, The Edgewater has you covered! Regardless, we know that you will enjoy your fishing trip in Gatlinburg.

One Edgewater Hotel feature that guests love is the indoor swimming pool. Being able to swim year-round is a big plus for guests of all ages. Pool-side Jacuzzis are also a great way to wind down after a busy day of conference activities. The teenage conference goers love the game room and arcade at the Edgewater Hotel. They can get their video game fix after a fun-filled day of hanging out with friends throughout the event. Parents who send their children to youth conferences appreciate the safety features of the Edgewater Hotel. Rooms have interior doors so kids can feel safe staying away from home. Each room is equipped with micro-fridges, perfect for storing left-over pizza to eat as a late-night snack. Also, microwaves and coffee makers are in each room, making it a home away from home throughout the conference. The complimentary continental breakfast in the morning is an added benefit for all guests, especially those on a budget. This hot and cold breakfast is a perfect way to start off a day filled with conference activities. Plus saving the expense from eating breakfast at a restaurant each morning is a smart and tasty way to save money.

The Edgewater Hotel’s location is perfect when conference attendees have free time. The Hotel is located at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the perfect spot for hiking, picnicking, and just hanging out in nature. Right on the Pigeon River, the scenery of the Edgewater Hotel couldn’t be more ideal. The Edgewater Hotel has such a rich history of being the host hotel for youth conferences, that staff members have many stories where a parent or chaperone stayed at the Hotel during a youth conference and are now bringing their children to the Edgewater for a youth convention. “It’s a great human interest story,” the Edgewater Hotel manager says, “They’re introduced to the Edgewater through a youth conference and then they re-visit the hotel with their children.” The Edgewater Hotel is proud to build long-term relationships with convention and conference attendees.

Ponder this: You’re at the cabin rental office at the end of a long drive to Gatlinburg and the rental agent explains that the cabin you were scheduled to stay in has experienced some foundation issues since it’s on the side of a mountain. But, they have another unit. When you get the alternative cabin, it is nothing like the one you thought you were staying at Or, you could stay at the Edgewater Hotel and Resort which offers stability, comfort, convenience, and cleanliness. Imagine this: You’re visiting Gatlinburg and your children, who absolutely love penguins, are excited to go to Ripley’s Aquarium. If you’re staying in a mountain cabin, you have to drive for 30 minutes (while your children are asking “when are we going to get there?”) to get to downtown Gatlinburg and then you have to look for another 15 minutes for a parking spot. Or, you could walk out of the Edgewater Hotel and walk next door to Ripley’s Aquarium.

When considering where to stay during a Gatlinburg getaway, some factors to consider are convenience, value, and relaxation potential. The Edgewater Hotel and Resort offers visitors the convenience of being close to all the Gatlinburg attractions, like shopping, restaurants, and family activities. Another advantage to staying in downtown Gatlinburg compared to a mountain cabin is the value. Staying in the flatlands is a much more economically-friendly choice rather than paying a premium price for a mountain view. Visitors to Gatlinburg who can avoid the city’s traffic snarls can enjoy the maximum relaxation potential possible. Being able to leave your car in the garage and walk to your destination is a great way to prevent and relieve stress. Visitors to Gatlinburg can enjoy all the benefits of a mountain vacation trip when staying in the heart of city at the Edgewater Hotel.