Must Have Smoky Cabin Features

One expense you won’t be able to avoid when visiting the smokies is the place you’ll stay. Since you’re already paying for it, we recommend you choose cabins with entertainment included in them so you don’t have to pay extra. Some common examples of this involve mini golf, private cinemas, game rooms, or arcades. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg both offer mini golf courses and full arcades for kids to enjoy. As businesses, they need to turn a profit. This means you’ll spend a significant amount of money on this entertainment. You’ll also be exposed to other people wanting to use the same equipment and you may find yourself rushed or competing with others to use the entertainment. You can save money, but still have the same fun,  booking a cabin that has these same items. Look for the following in the cabin you book to save money and still have fun.

1. Game rooms

   

   Smoky mountain cabins often have game rooms with tons of fun items. This can include billiards, air hockey, foosball, streaming TV’s, shuffleboard, darts, wall games, ping pong, and more. While most game rooms are pretty basic, some have taken the extra step to make them very fun. Look for cabins with game rooms large enough to offer sufficient seating for your parties as well as the types of games your party will enjoy playing. I recommend finding areas that also have streaming TVs so you can listen to music or watch TV while playing the games or waiting your turn. This game room has billiards, air hockey, 75' streaming TV, wall chess, a bar top, LED lighting, a fireplace, deck access, an arcade system and speakeasy decor. Located minutes from Gatlinburg. 

2. Arcades

Many cabins have an arcade game, sometimes with multiple games on them. Some of the more decorated cabins have full arcade spaces or rooms with several machines in them. Many of the Coast to Coast Getaway properties have professionally designed arcade spaces with multiple games, virtual pinball machines, and even sit down racing models. These hard to find games are super fun, rare, and sure to make great memories. They also make great photo ops! You’ll have memories of your young ones in their favorite cabin to share with friends and family and look back on in years to come. If you visit the same cabin each year, you can even build a series of photos showing the kids on the same games getting bigger each year.

Today’s arcade games aren’t the same as what you remember growing up. Improvements in technology have allowed for hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of games to be on the same system. Do you have a favorite pac-man derivative? Many arcades have every pac-man game ever made on the same machine. Plus thousands of others! Each Coast to Coast Getaways cabin is equipped with arcades with thousands of games, and many have entire arcade rooms with two, three, and four player options. Light gun games like Big Buck Hunter and ball track games like Golden Tee Golf add a super fun twist to standard arcade sticks allowing you to control your character. If your kids, husbands, nephews (or you) enjoy arcade games, be sure to DM us and ask about which cabins have the best systems on Instagram @CTCGetaways.

3. Cinemas

Why spend the money to buy movie tickets when you can watch the same thing from the cabin you already paid for? When you throw in the price of movie inflated popcorn and candy, plus several people attending, it's easy to save $100-200 watching the movie in the place you rented. That's an entire night's stay in some places! Private cinemas usually feature big screen TV's, movie decor, sound bars or surround sound, and streaming services. Some come with movie style theater chairs while others have couches or sofa's. Some cabins have private rooms while others combine the movie room with a game room. Don't miss out on this awesome feature when choosing your cabin.

4. Views

   

   Views may not be considered entertainment, but let me tell you, once you find a good one you won’t want to leave. While many love the Smokies for the views they want to encounter on a hike, some cabins have spectacular views from the back deck-or even the living room! Cabins with the best views tend to book the fastest, so you may need to plan your trip a few months out if you want one-especially during high season. Some listings will show views of the area, not necessarily from the cabin, so look closely to make sure you aren’t duped. This cabin comes with incredible views from two separate decks and the firepit as well.

5. Pools

   

   Indoor swimming pools have become a popular amenity in the Smoky Mountains in the last few years. These properties have swimming pools of various sizes for you to enjoy while staying in the cabin. If this is important to you, set your search up to only show you cabins with pools. You can also email us and ask about pool cabins at Info@CoasttoCoastGetaways.com

6. Fitness Centers

   

   Staying fit on vacation can be tough. Not wanting to miss a workout is extra difficult when you're fighting traffic into and out of town and trying to pay for a gym to use. It's not uncommon to lose 3-4 hours of your day trying to get a 45 minute workout in when you take driving time into account. The smokies are not known for having a copious amount of fitness options. Finding a cabin with a fitness center is hard to do, but can be a huge benefit in saving you time and money so you can spend that time on what you came to the Smokies for in the first place. 

7. Outdoor entertainment

   

   While most cabins don’t offer much outdoor entertainment, some still do. These are usually bigger cabins on larger lots that are older and weren’t built recently as the newer built cabins are squeezed more tightly together and don’t offer much space for outdoor activities. Many cabins today offer mini golf, fire pits, horseshoes, outdoor kitchens, grill spaces, outdoor furniture, hammocks, ladder toss, cornhole, and other games to keep you entertained without spending needless money on local entertainment. We recommend asking property managers, or hosts, for information about which cabins they manage that have the forms of outdoor entertainment you're looking for.

8. Comfortable furniture

   

   Not all cabins offer the same level of comfort. In full transparency, short term rentals are run as a business. The most important part of any business is the revenue it can generate. More revenue is generated with trendier pictures and a flashier look. This is often accomplished with new looking and trendy furniture options. Great for pictures, not always as comfortable to use. Many guests get duped by really attractive pictures then a bad experience in the cabin when the furniture isn’t comfortable and the accommodations are rough. My advice? Look for cabins with overstuffed sofa’s, large furniture, and big beds. Modern furniture and beds usually look nicer, but in an effort to keep costs lower, are ordered from China and aren’t nearly as comfortable. After a full day hiking or walking around Dollywood you’re going to want to take a load off sitting on the furniture around the fireplace, relaxing, not constantly shifting your weight to try and get comfortable. 

9. Hot Tubs

Not all hot tubs are created the same! While most cabins today do have a hot tub, they aren't all the same. Covered hut tubs sitting under gazebos, or those with a view, are typically more enjoyable. If the owner has taken the time to hang cafe lights or add music or other forms of entertainment the experience can be that much better. Look for hot tub pictures, not just the amenity of hot tub listed in the property, to see what you're getting.

10. Fireplaces

    

    Speaking of getting comfortable, a good fireplace can offer a central feature to bring the whole family or group together to reminisce on the day's events, recall fun stories, and plan the next day's adventure. During the winter these are very comforting. Many cabins offer blankets and books to use when sitting around the fire to make the most of your cabin and the experience. Fireplaces can be gas operated or come with firewood for natural styles. Most cabins aren’t able to provide firewood so prioritize gas fireplaces to make sure you can enjoy the amenity on your trip.

11. Firepits

    

    Want to take your fire desire outside? Fire pits are becoming increasingly popular amenities on Smoky cabins. Firepits offer opportunities for s’more cooking, story telling, and relaxing around a warm fire. Most have adirondack chairs or concrete benches to sit in. Some of ours have swinging benches added as well. Some firepits are dig into the ground while others are level. Most cabins have pictures that show what the firepit looks like and it’s proximity to the cabin should you need to grab food, drinks, or use the bathroom. Our firepits sit under cafe lights and have gravel or black mulch under the chairs for a charming mountain experience. Check them out!

12. Large spaces

    

    Many cabins are built as cheaply as possible. They maximize bedroom and sleep count over comfort. Some unique or older cabins were built for families to use, not as income properties, and were designed with comfort in mind. These cabins tend to have larger, open spaces that are much more comfortable if you plan to spend time inside. Look for common areas with bigger spaces, large game rooms, and bedrooms with more space. You’ll be much more comfortable in these properties.

13. More square footage

-More square footage gives you more space to enjoy your time. Too many people cramped together can cause irritation.

-Larger game room spaces. This will be more comfortable when everyone is playing. Some cabins squeeze game rooms into spaces where not everything fits, while others are overly spacious. Look closely at the pictures to see how much room you have.

-Larger gathering spaces. You’ll have more space, especially with multi generational groups, for socializing and hanging out. Open floor plans make this easier, especially when the kitchen is connected to the family room.

-Larger lots offer more privacy from your neighbors and a true vacation in the woods type experience. Bigger lots will give you more space from your neighbors (yes this is an issue with cookie cutter cabins. Your neighbors may be staring at you from their window into yours, or watching you sit in your hot tub from theirs). Many listings are careful not to show how close other cabins are to theirs and often focus on indoor pictures to hide this fact. Ask the host before booking how close other cabins are and target listing with “secluded” or “private” in their description to have a better experience.

Bottom line is, vacations are amazing, but can be expensive. These tips can help you keep your budget lower for guilt free vacations and hopefully more of them! Email us at Info@CoasttoCoastGetaways.com to see which cabin would be best for you and let us know how you found us!