|
About the Valley
Welcome to the December issue. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends—we spent Christmas with our family in Pine Cone Lodge and it was a wonderful weekend. For this issue, we have included some January events in Pigeon Forge and Townsend.
OUR CHRISTMAS WEEKEND
We decided to invite our family to spend Christmas weekend with us at Pine Cone Lodge. The number of people at the lodge ranged from 7 to 13 during the 4-day stay. Everyone (from age 3 to age 81) enjoyed themselves. We have so many activities to offer—from video games to movies, books to read, a pool table, and a game table with plenty of games. The hot tub was a big hit with the younger visitors, while the older folks really enjoyed sitting in front of both the indoor and outdoor fireplaces. Cooking was easy in the fully equipped kitchen—there is a large selection of cooking pans and utensils for a meal of any size. We also did some cooking in the outdoor kitchen—the Jenn-Air grill was great. Everyone helped decorate gingerbread houses in the sunroom—we made 5 houses in all and we all had great fun.
This weekend gave us a chance to enjoy the lodge ourselves and see how others would enjoy all the activities available. There is plenty of room for the entire group to be together but also plenty of places for smaller groups to play. We are including some new photographs of the lodge.
Here are some pictures that we have taken of the fireplace, game room, and outdoor fire pit. Professional pictures will be appearing soon on our web site www.chestnutridgecabin.com and also on the web site chestnutridgecabin.com . Check these sites for great pictures and information on rates and availability.
  
  
PINE CONE LODGE is spacious enough for 14 but cozy enough for a family of 4.
To view more pictures or check availability, please visit www.chestnutridgecabin.com .
We hope you will think of Pine Cone Lodge when you want to bring your family and friends to the Great Smoky Mountains.
But also don’t forget about Laurel Glen, our 3-bedroom, 3-bath cabin also in Wears Valley. It also offers great activities with a hot tub, pool table, movies, and video games. There is a small year-round stream plus outdoor fire pit for outdoor fun. To check availability of Laurel Glen cabin, visit us. We also have many pictures of Laurel Glen on our website, www.chestnutridgecabin.com.
SHOPPING IN PIGEON FORGE
Plan to visit Pigeon Forge outlet malls for the BEST SHOPPING experience. Pigeon Forge has more than 200 stores offering everything from designer clothes, home furnishings, and luggage to tools, toys, and much, much more. You can truly shop till you drop. There are also gift shops, art galleries, and mountain handicrafts galore.
Here is a list of Pigeon Forge and area outlet malls:
Belz Factory Outlet World
2655 Teaster Lane.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863
(865) 453-3503
Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet Mall
2850 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863
(865) 428-2828
Tanger Outlets, Pigeon Forge
161 East WearsValley Road
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863
865-428-7002
1-800-408-8424
Governor's Crossing Outlet Mall
212 Collier Drive
Sevierville, Tennessee 37862
865-429-2320
Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Center
1645 Parkway
Sevierville, Tennessee 37862
865-453-1053
1-800-408-8377
MORE ABOUT WINTERFEST!!!
As part of the Winterfest activities, Pigeon Forge is sponsoring its 17 Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week from January 13-21, 2007, at the Music Road Hotel and Convention Center.
This program includes a series of outdoor activities designed to connect visitors with the Great Smoky Mountains. Nearly 100 experts on nature and the great outdoors will host walks, hikes, seminars, and lectures on a wide variety of topics, such as Smoky Mountain history and plant and animal life. A number of programs are designed for children.
Guided hikes through the Great Smoky Mountains range from easy walks to more strenuous, longer hikes. The topics vary with the individual hikes.
The Wilderness Wildlife Week offers activities for all ages and they are free of charge. For more information, visit http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events_winterfest.aspx or call 1-800-WINTERFEST or the Pigeon Forge Office of Special Events at 865-429-7350.
We will highlight more Winterfest celebrations in the January newsletter. For more information on Winterfest, visit http://www.smokymountainwinterfest.com.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN HERITAGE CENTER
The Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, located in Townsend, is hosting the Smoky Mountain Quilters Association on Saturday, January 13, 2007, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Quilts will be on display and you can also watch Association members make a quilt to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Both adults and children will have the opportunity to learn quilting. You can bring your own quilts to be examined by experts, who will share information about the patterns. For more information, contact the Heritage Center at 865-448-0044 or visit http://www.gsmheritagecenter.org.
ONE LAST ITEM - A RECIPE FROM OUR FAMILY!!!
When we all get together, we always enjoy this recipe for onion dip that I learned from my Grandmother:
2 8-ounce blocks of cream cheese
1 medium sized onion, chopped (do not grate or it will be bitter)
Mayonnaise (approximately ½ cup, with more or less for desired creaminess)
Couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce
Soften cream cheese and mix all together with a mixer until a smooth, creamy consistency. We enjoy this with chips, crackers, or vegetables. We hope you will enjoy it with your family also.
Thanks for subscribing to About the Valley. We look forward to bringing you more news next month. As always, if you have any questions or comments or want to share your favorite place to visit in the Smoky Mountains, e-mail us at .
Chestnut Ridge Cabins
|
|
|
