Disclosure: We received a complimentary stay at Big Bear Falls cabin through American Patriot Getaways in exchange for our review. All opinions are 100% our own, and honest as always.

My family and I spent a few days in Gatlinburg awhile back and we had such a great vacation! We stayed at the Big Bear Falls Cabin in Gatlinburg, rented through American Patriot Getaways. It was pure bliss to get away for a few days.

The guys at American Patriot Getaways sent me over everything I needed prior to our arrival. Our packet included the directions to the cabin from the highway along with simple entry instructions once we arrived.

The Big Bear Falls cabin was about 8-10 minutes off the highway. It was nice to be away from all the traffic, and up in the hills a bit, but the ride was fine. A little curvy and uphill, but we didn’t have any trouble getting in or out at all.

There’s quite a few steps up to the front and back porch of the cabin. These are visible from the images from the American Patriot Getaways website when looking at the Big Bear Falls cabin, so we knew about them already. Carrying our luggage and bags of groceries up on that first trip was a doozy, but the daily in and out was perfectly fine.

The front porch gave the perfect first impression. Loaded with lots of personality and rocking chairs, it grew to be our favorite sitting spot. Walking into the front door took my breath away! Such a beautiful and cozy cabin…I couldn’t wait to just kick off my shoes, relax, and enjoy some much needed quality family time.

The kitchen was complete with everything you’d need to prepare a big breakfast or dinner. They have it stocked with plenty of cookware, mixing bowls, pans, and all the extras like can openers and measuring cups and spoons. I loved their hutch! It was full of pretty dinnerware!

The cabin has a double fireplace. It’s one big fireplace that is visible from both the master bedroom and the living room! The cabin comes equipped with satellite TV and internet. The internet connection was very good and we never ran out of things to watch on TV. They even had a few DVD’s and games in the cabinet for us to watch and play if we wanted.

The master bedroom has a large dresser with tons of drawers and plenty of room for clothing. It also has a huge jucuzzi tub right in front of the fireplace! Perfect for chilly nights!

The 2nd bedroom, upstairs, is pretty big too with lots of space! The guest bathroom is right outside the 2nd bedroom door.

I have to say that the majority of our free time was spent upstairs playing pool. I never get to play because we don’t have a pool table at home, so I would play anytime someone else was ready too. Heck, I even played pool by myself. ALOT. Haha!

We spent time out on the back porch in the hot tub at night. Such a nice way to relax and unwind after a long day spent shopping and sight-seeing! There’s a brand new grill set up to enjoy too!

On our 2nd or 3rd day there – we were lucky enough to see a momma and 2 baby bears walking up our driveway!! They were at the end of the driveway, heading up a hill. I had to zoom my phone camera in super close, so the pictures aren’t the best. We watched the rest of the time that we were there, but never did spot them again.

Overall, the Big Bear Falls cabin is definitely one that I’d love to come back to! I felt right at home there and we can’t wait to visit again! If you’re looking to stay in TN for an upcoming holiday getaway with your family, we highly suggest American Patriot Getaways! They work hard to make sure their guests are happy! Check out their Pigeon Forge Cabin Rentals or their Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals to find the perfect cabin for your family!

Disclosure: I received free tickets to the Titanic Museum in exchange for our review. However, all opinions are 100% my own and honest, as always.

7 Reasons to Visit The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

My family and I just recently got back from a nice little vacation to the Smoky Mountains. Boy oh boy, was it nice to get away for a bit. The weather was complete PERFECTION while we were there too. One of our stops was at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN. This was such a neat attraction and I’m super glad we went.

If you’re a fan of the movie and all of the history that IS the Titanic, then you MUST go when you get a chance. You’ll feel many emotions, all rolled up into this one experience. Here are 7 reasons to visit the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge.

1. The Crew Dressed to the Nines

Upon arriving at the Titanic Museum, we were greeted by the crew-members who were dressed to the nines. The gentleman that greeted us, gave us the rundown of what to expect once entering the Titanic. He gave us our passenger boarding passes with a brief history of the passenger. We were also each given a speaker device to listen to as we ventured through the ship. You could stop at any spot along the way, press the button, place the speaker device to your ear, and hear all of the history in that location.

As we entered the ship, we were then greeted at the ticket podium by the maids. They donned their beautiful maid uniforms and the head pieces to match.

2. The History

If you’re a fan of the Titanic, then you’ll love all of the history inside this attraction. There’s just so much to see, read, learn, feel and experience. This is where the speaker device really comes in handy. With each stop, you can hear more and more history – even about your passenger, from the passenger card you were given upon entering.

3. Millions of Dollars in Original Titanic Artifacts

On display throughout the entire ship, you’ll find millions of dollars of original artifacts from the Titanic. Old dishes, jewelry, books, clothing, silverware, cameras, and on and on. There are also artifacts that come and go from one Titanic Museum to another. For instance an old bible that was salvaged, and a violin! It’s a great idea to visit TitanicPigeonForge.com when you’re planning to visit to see what beautiful artifact may be on display.

4. The Grand Staircase

Oh, what a beauty! You have no idea until you’re standing right there, at the foot of the Grand Staircase. It takes your breath away! Greeting you there, is another maid and she spends just a couple of minutes telling you about the Grand Staircase.

You’ll never believe what the flooring is made from!! I wouldn’t have guessed it in a million years!

5. Super Kid-Friendly

The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge is very kid-friendly too. As you walk throughout the ship, there were neat little trivia questions on the wall with answers below that you rolled, to find the correct answer. The kiddo really enjoyed reading these and looking for the correct answer. Also, towards the end of the tour are some pretty cool hands-on experiences for the kids, and adults alike.

6. Feel the Iceberg and the Cold Water

These are the hands-on experiences I just mentioned. Towards the end of the tour, you happen upon the giant iceberg that you can touch and feel. Brrr. So cold. Just past the iceberg, they have a section of water that you can dip your hands into….and it’s COLD! Bitter cold. The water is the actual temperature of the water in the ocean that night. When you dip your hand in, it’s not so bad — or so you think. Try dipping your elbow in. Brrrr!!!

7. Find Out Your Fate

At the beginning of the tour, you’re each given a passenger card with the history of the person. At the end of the tour, you’ll come to the Memorial Room where you can find your fate on the wall. All of us survived, except for my husband…poor guy!

On your next trip to the Smokies – make sure to stop by the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge with your family. It’ll surely be an experience you’ll never forget!

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