• 360-306-1410
  • smokywoodsretreats@gmail.com
  • Cosby, Tennessee
  • Home
  • All Properties
    • Smoky Woods Lodge
    • Rivers Edge Cabin
    • Swimming Hole Cabin
    • Mountain Rest Cabin
    • Maddron Bald Mountain Home
    • King Pool Cabin
    • Trailhead Venues
    • Trailhead Lodge #1
    • Trailhead Lodge #2
    • Trailhead Lodge #3
    • Trailhead Lodge #4
    • Trailhead Lodge #5
    • Trailhead Lodge #6
    • Trailhead Lodge #7
    • Trailhead Lodge #8
    • Trailhead Lodge #9
    • Trailhead Lodge #10
    • Trailhead Lodge #11
    • Trailhead Lodge #12
    • Trailhead Lodge #13
    • Trailhead Lodge #14
    • Up the Creek Cabin A
    • Down the Creek Cabin B
    • Cozy Creek Cabin
    • Ash Creek Cabin
  • Contact
  • Services
    • Full Management
    • Turnover Cleaning
    • STR Deep Clean
    • Airbnb Listing Audit
    • Self Manage Set Up
  • Blog
  • Home
  • All Properties
    • Smoky Woods Lodge
    • Rivers Edge Cabin
    • Swimming Hole Cabin
    • Mountain Rest Cabin
    • Maddron Bald Mountain Home
    • King Pool Cabin
    • Trailhead Venues
    • Trailhead Lodge #1
    • Trailhead Lodge #2
    • Trailhead Lodge #3
    • Trailhead Lodge #4
    • Trailhead Lodge #5
    • Trailhead Lodge #6
    • Trailhead Lodge #7
    • Trailhead Lodge #8
    • Trailhead Lodge #9
    • Trailhead Lodge #10
    • Trailhead Lodge #11
    • Trailhead Lodge #12
    • Trailhead Lodge #13
    • Trailhead Lodge #14
    • Up the Creek Cabin A
    • Down the Creek Cabin B
    • Cozy Creek Cabin
    • Ash Creek Cabin
  • Contact
  • Services
    • Full Management
    • Turnover Cleaning
    • STR Deep Clean
    • Airbnb Listing Audit
    • Self Manage Set Up
  • Blog
  • October 27, 2025

Christmas Vacation Itinerary for Families in the Smoky Mountains

The Ultimate Christmas Vacation Itinerary for Families in the Smoky Mountains

Spending Christmas vacation in the Smoky Mountains is a dream for many families—especially those hoping to experience snow and adventure for the first time! Whether you’re from a warmer state or just looking for a new kind of holiday getaway, this 7-day itinerary is filled with exciting and memorable activities your 15-year-old and 8-year-old will love.

From snow tubing and mountain coasters to indoor snowball fights and wildlife encounters, there’s something magical around every corner in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge during the holidays.

Christmas vacation in the Smoky Mountains

Day 1: Arrival & Holiday Lights

  • Check into a cozy cabin with a fireplace and mountain views.
  • Drive through Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland in Sevierville.
    • 💡 Huge synchronized light show your kids will love.
  • Dinner: Local favorite like The Local Goat or Big Daddy’s Pizzeria.

Day 2: Snow Tubing & Winter Thrills

  • Visit Pigeon Forge Snow – an indoor snow tubing facility that operates year-round with real snow.
    • ❄️ No need for cold weather gear—it’s always around 60–70°F inside.
  • Ride the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster for high-speed mountain fun.
  • Evening: Play arcade games or ride go-karts at The Track.

Day 3: Ober Mountain Snow Adventures

  • Ride the Aerial Tramway to Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg.
  • Try snow tubing, ice skating, and their brand-new ski/snowboard beginner lessons.
  • Bonus: Your kids might see snow fall for the first time!
  • Evening: Warm up with hot cocoa and a stroll along the Parkway’s Christmas displays.

Day 4: Indoor Fun & Wildlife Encounters

  • Head to Anakeesta for a sky-high village adventure.
    • Ziplining, tree bridges, and gem mining—great for all ages.
  • Visit Rainforest Adventures Zoo or Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
  • Dinner at The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar for outrageous desserts!

Day 5: Christmas Eve at Dollywood

  • Spend the day at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, one of the best holiday events in the country.
    • Millions of lights, seasonal shows, holiday rides, and visits with Santa.
  • Stay until nightfall for the full light display and Christmas drone show.

Day 6: Christmas Day Cabin Magic

  • Sleep in and enjoy a Christmas morning breakfast in your cabin.
  • Exchange gifts by the fireplace.
  • Take a winter hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (easy trails like Sugarlands Valley or Cataract Falls are great with kids).
  • End the day with board games, s’mores, and movies.

Day 7: Farewell with One Last Adventure

  • Ride the Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster or Rowdy Bear Mountain’s snow-themed rides.
  • Grab last-minute souvenirs from The Village Shops.
  • Head home with unforgettable holiday memories!

What to Pack for Your Smoky Mountain Christmas Vacation

  • Warm layers for outdoor fun
  • Gloves, beanies, and waterproof boots for snow days
  • Swimsuits for heated cabins or indoor snow tubing
  • Board games and hot cocoa for cozy nights in

Ready to book your perfect Christmas vacation in the Smoky Mountains? Browse our cabin rentals here and make this year’s holiday one your family will never forget.

Our Cabins

View All
Smoky Mountains Waterfront Cabin
2
3
5
8
Smoky Mountains Waterfront Cabin
14
19

Indian Camp Creek

• Sleeps 12
• Private Creek
• Swimming Hole
• Game Room & Hot tub
• Fire Pit & Outdoor Dining

Click here
1
2
3
4
5
free things to do in the Smoky Mountains
7
8
9
10

Smoky Woods Lodge

• Sleeps 12
• Mountain View
• Game Room & Hot tub
• Fire Pit & Outdoor Dining
• 4 Private Ensuite Bathrooms

Click here
2
3
4
5
6
7
free things to do in the Smoky Mountains
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Rivers Edge Cabin

• Sleeps 6
• Private Creek
• Floats for the Creek
• Hot tub
• Fire Pit & Outdoor Dining

Click here
insta 1
insta 1
insta 1
insta 1
insta 1

Treehouse Cabin Unit 1 | Hot Tub & Part Mountain View

• Sleeps 4
• Hot Tub
• 1 King Bed
• 1 Sleeper Sofa
• Fully Equipped Kitchen

Book here
insta 2
insta 2
3
4
5
insta 2

Treehouse Cabin Unit 2 | Hot Tub & Mountain View

• Sleeps 4
• Hot Tub
• 1 King Bed
• 1 Sleeper Sofa
• Fully Equipped Kitchen

Book here
Best hotel in gatlinburg
insta 3
insta 3
insta 3
insta 3
insta 3

Treehouse Cabin Unit 3 | Hot Tub & Mountain View

• Sleeps 4
• Hot Tub
• 1 King Bed
• 1 Sleeper Sofa
• Fully Equipped Kitchen

Book here
On Key

Related Posts

Adirondack chairs around a stone fire pit overlooking a long ridge of the Great Smoky Mountains

Fall Color in the Smokies: A Local’s Guide to When (and Where) to See It First

By mid-September, we start getting the same question from guests every year: “When should we come for the leaves?” It’s a fair question, and it’s

midnight hole waterfall in cosby tennessee

Chasing Waterfalls: The Best Hikes Near Cosby This September

September is our favorite month to send guests out to the waterfalls. The summer crowds have thinned, the creeks are still running strong from late-summer

Wooden footbridge crossing a rocky mountain creek in the woods near Down the Creek Cabin B, Cosby, Tennessee

Fly Fishing the Smokies in September: A Local’s Guide to Cool Water and Quiet Streams

Something shifts in the water around Labor Day. The heat that’s pressed on these mountains since June finally loosens its grip, mornings carry a little

Layered blue ridgelines of the Great Smoky Mountains near Cosby, Tennessee at sunset

Where to Cool Off: A Local’s Guide to Smoky Mountain Swimming Holes Near Cosby

By the middle of August, the creeks around Cosby are doing more work than the air conditioning. If you’ve spent an afternoon on the Foothills

Morning fog filling a valley below a Smoky Mountains ridge with early autumn color on the slopes

Elk in the Smoky Mountains: A Local’s Guide to the Fall Rut at Cataloochee and Oconaluftee

By the second week of September, the open fields on the North Carolina side of the park start making a sound you will not hear

Check out our Social Networks to see what other guests experiences were like!

Facebook-f Instagram
Quick Links
  • Home
  • All Properties
    • Smoky Woods Lodge
    • Rivers Edge Cabin
    • Swimming Hole Cabin
    • Mountain Rest Cabin
    • Maddron Bald Mountain Home
    • King Pool Cabin
    • Trailhead Venues
    • Trailhead Lodge #1
    • Trailhead Lodge #2
    • Trailhead Lodge #3
    • Trailhead Lodge #4
    • Trailhead Lodge #5
    • Trailhead Lodge #6
    • Trailhead Lodge #7
    • Trailhead Lodge #8
    • Trailhead Lodge #9
    • Trailhead Lodge #10
    • Trailhead Lodge #11
    • Trailhead Lodge #12
    • Trailhead Lodge #13
    • Trailhead Lodge #14
    • Up the Creek Cabin A
    • Down the Creek Cabin B
    • Cozy Creek Cabin
    • Ash Creek Cabin
  • Contact
  • Services
    • Full Management
    • Turnover Cleaning
    • STR Deep Clean
    • Airbnb Listing Audit
    • Self Manage Set Up
  • Blog
  • Home
  • All Properties
    • Smoky Woods Lodge
    • Rivers Edge Cabin
    • Swimming Hole Cabin
    • Mountain Rest Cabin
    • Maddron Bald Mountain Home
    • King Pool Cabin
    • Trailhead Venues
    • Trailhead Lodge #1
    • Trailhead Lodge #2
    • Trailhead Lodge #3
    • Trailhead Lodge #4
    • Trailhead Lodge #5
    • Trailhead Lodge #6
    • Trailhead Lodge #7
    • Trailhead Lodge #8
    • Trailhead Lodge #9
    • Trailhead Lodge #10
    • Trailhead Lodge #11
    • Trailhead Lodge #12
    • Trailhead Lodge #13
    • Trailhead Lodge #14
    • Up the Creek Cabin A
    • Down the Creek Cabin B
    • Cozy Creek Cabin
    • Ash Creek Cabin
  • Contact
  • Services
    • Full Management
    • Turnover Cleaning
    • STR Deep Clean
    • Airbnb Listing Audit
    • Self Manage Set Up
  • Blog
Get In Touch
  • Email: Smokywoodsretreats@gmail.com
  • Phone: 360-306-1410
  • 3891 Cosby Hwy, Cosby, TN 37722

© All Rights Reserved.

Airbnb Listing Audit

Is Your Listing Leaving Bookings on the Table?

Get a professional review of your Airbnb title, photos, captions, description and amenities — with clear fixes to help you stand out and book more stays.

$9.99 PDF in your inbox within 24 hours
Get my audit →