GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE, USA -- Only about 3500 people call Gatlinburg, Tennessee their permanent home, yet the town boasts over 11,000 hotels rooms. This means visitors have scores of lodging options from family friendly motels to romantic bed and breakfast inns, to world class luxury hotels to wonderful mountain chalets that can house one or more families in luxury.

Gatlinburg's main drag is littered with motels of varying quality and price ranges. A good family friendly place with lots of amenities is the Greystone Lodge. Conveniently located just steps from Ripley's Aquarium of the Rockies and a short stroll from the rest of downtown Gatlinburg's attractions, the Greystone has a heated outdoor swimming pool and offers amenities and options like free continental breakfast, Jacuzzis, fireplaces and king suites, and rooms with balconies overlooking the creek that cooperatively winds its way through Gatlinburg's downtown tourist district.

Bed and Breakfast Inn fans will love the outstanding service and personal attention they receive at the Eight Gables Inn. Innkeepers Don and Kim Cason also run the on site Magnolia Tea Room, open for lunches for the general public and offering guests fine dining dinner options (with advance reservation). Breakfasts here are decadent feasts of perfectly prepared creative morning dishes. This romantic scenic location also offers indoor and outdoor full service wedding and party facilities.

For Gatlinburg's most sophisticated upscale lodging, look to The Lodge at Buckberry Creek, nestled on 90 acres of pristine mountainside property and offering spectacular, uninterrupted views of Mount Le Conte. Owner Buddy McLean has spared no expense in constructing and decorating the Adirondack style lodge in the mountains of Tennessee on the property that has been in his family for three generations -- even going so far as to import actual Adirondack bark-on timber for the lodge's construction. It may not be authentic to Tennessee, but the upstate New York décor and architecture fit perfectly well in this southern mountain setting.

All the rooms here are gorgeously appointed mini-apartments, each with its own unique décor and complete with full kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and luxurious baths outfitted with extra large whirlpool tubs. The views from this rustic yet elegant and luxurious mountainside retreat are unparalleled, as are the inn's services and amenities. It all comes with a hefty price tag, at least by Gatlinburg standards, but still reasonable by "big city standards," especially for a resort of this caliber.

Note: While some people love the décor of the Inn at Buckberry Creek, some will not. Vegans and those who are creeped out by taxidermied animals, pass on this one, as these pieces do adorn the walls and rooms of the inn's common rooms and even some of the guest rooms. If it makes you feel any better, interior designer Jeannie Johnson, assures me that most of the pieces are vintage, gained on numerous east coast and Adirondack antique shopping trips she made while designing and decorating the inn's interiors. The others are stuffed animals that were either roadkill or found deceased by the Friends of the Smokies. The taxidermy sales help support this worthwhile nonprofit organization.

Ultra Unique Party & Wedding Location

If, by chance you're looking for an ultra unique locale for a small to mid sized party, the inn has one of the most unusual and breathtaking, not to mention remote, party sites ever. Remote isn't quite accurate, the site is really only a 5 minute (or less) ride away from the main lodge - but what a ride! Guests, as well as staff and provisions, must travel down a steep bumpy dirt road in an authentic Pinzgauer truck (a German made vehicle originally constructed for the Swiss Army). After the short ride, the Pinzgauer deposits passengers at a magical outdoor setting - not unlike something you'd imagine in A Midsummer Night's Dream. A babbling creek sends crystal clear water dancing over river rocks, forming pools perfect for afternoon fishing under the canopy of shade trees. A beautiful wooden deck and covered outdoor pavilion, complete with fireplace, outdoor kitchen and dining tables and chairs for guests add an elegant degree of comfort and civility to this otherwise natural location. With catering provided by Chef Toby Willis and his able crew, you'd be hard pressed to find a more eccentric or impressive party location anywhere.

Vacation Home Rentals

Large families or groups of friends traveling together should consider renting a vacation home as they'll save a bunch of money and gain some great amenities. Jackson Mountain Homes rents log cabin style mountain chalets for groups of all sizes - from one bedroom to six, plus extra sleeping space on pull out sofas! The immaculate homes are located about 5 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg on the tree covered slopes of nearby Jackson Mountain. All have large porches outfitted with swings and rockers overlooking spectacular mountain vistas in the daytime and breathtaking night skies after the sun sets.

The rentals come complete with everything you'll need to set up housekeeping, including a fully outfitted kitchen (even dishwasher), dishes, linens, fireplace, satellite television, VCR, DVD player, stereo and CD player, washer and dryer, billiard table, outdoor gas grill and hot tub. Rates for renting a vacation home are surprisingly reasonable and when you divide the cost between 2 or 3 families, this is one of the best travel bargains around, and the quality of the accommodations is truly outstanding.

Practicalities

The Greystone Lodge is located right next to the Aquarium of the Smokies at 559 Parkway in Gatlinburg. Call 800-451-9202 or 865-430-4471 or visit www.greystonelodgetn.com.

The Eight Gables Inn can be found at 219 North Mountain trail. Call 800-279-5716 or 865-430-334 or visit www.eightgablesinn.com.

The Lodge at Buckberry Creek is located at Wiley Oakley and Campbell Lead Roads (outside of town in the mountains), call 865-430-8030, or 866-30-LODGE, or visit www.buckberrylodge.com.

Contact Jackson Mountain Homes through their Gatlinburg office at 1662 East Parkway. Call 800-473-3163 or 865 -436-8876, or visit www.jacksonmountain.com.

For further information and reservations, contact the City of Gatlinburg Department of Tourism and Convention Center at 800-568-4748 or click to www.gatlinburg-tn.com .

If you plan on driving to Gatlinburg, be sure to check out the time saving article below. If you plan to fly, US Airways serves nearby Knoxville, for reservations call 1-800-428-4322 or visit www.usairways.com.

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Cheri Sicard, in addition to being the editor of FabulousTravel.com and its sister site, Fabulous Foods.com is the author of The Great American Handbook: What You Can Do For Your Country Today and Every Day. To learn more about Cheri, click here.