Who says you can’t have it all? When you stay at Whisper Mountain, a 2-bedroom cabin in the 43-acre Black Bear Falls Log Home Community, you’ll be surrounded by the serenity of lush woodlands with spectacular views of the Great Smoky Mountains. But, you’ll also be just 5 minutes from the excitement of downtown Gatlinburg, with its bevy of restaurants and amusements ranging from an aquarium to mini golf.

Whisper Mountain’s porch, which wraps around the front and one side of the 2-level log cabin, lets you take full advantage of the sweeping vistas. Wake up early and settle into one of the porch chairs to watch the sunrise, or time dinner so that you can enjoy it at the porch’s picnic table while relishing the sunset over the mountains. Or best of all, savor a soak in the spacious outdoor hot tub late at night under the benevolent gaze of the moon. These are the moments that make Whisper Mountain such a magical place to stay.

You can admire the views when indoors too, courtesy of the large windows that stretch up to the cathedral ceiling. In fact, even while watching the HDTV in the living room, you might find your attention straying to the lush greenery outside!

Whether you’re watching TV or gazing outside, playing a game with the kids or taking advantage of the free WiFi to surf the web, the living/dining area is a fabulous place to do so. The generously cushioned couches are so comfortable that once you sit down, you might not want to get back up! One of them, by the way, opens into a bed for 2, should you have additional guests.

Just behind the sitting area is the dining table, which seats 6. The open floor plan means you can feel the warmth of the stone-surround gas fireplace while you enjoy your dinner—and linger at the table afterward for drinks or a game of Scrabble. Combined with the traditional planked floor and walls and the classic rustic decor, the effect is welcoming and convivial—you’ll feel right at home.

Adding to the “make yourself at home” ambiance is the fully equipped kitchen. Whether you plan to cook a holiday feast or prepare nothing more elaborate than toast, you’ll love the convenience of having a refrigerator/freezer, oven/stove, microwave, and other appliances, as well as cookware and tableware, at your disposal. You can also get cooking on the charcoal grill outside. If you reel in fresh trout from one of the nearby creeks, you’ll definitely want to cook it on the grill—so delicious! And because nobody wants to wash dishes when he or she could be lazing in a hot tub instead, the kitchen includes a dishwasher.

One of the pleasures of a vacation is catching up on your sleep, and Whisper Mountain makes it especially easy to do just that. Both of its bedrooms are master bedrooms, complete with king-size bed, TV, and plenty of storage. The upstairs bedroom, along with its en-suite bath, makes up the entire loft level. If you’re looking for privacy, you’ve just found it! The other bedroom offers the convenience of being on the main floor so that you can easily slip out onto the porch for some late-night stargazing… or to the kitchen for a midnight snack!

Because Whisper Mountain is part of Black Bear Falls, you can take advantage of the resort’s 2 heated swimming pools, one of which is a kiddie pool, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. And any time of year is a good one for visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, mere minutes away, or the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Loop, an 8-mile trail of more than 100 galleries, studios, and craft shops, or Dollywood just a bit farther afield.

Regardless of how you spend your days, you’ll love having Whisper Mountain as your home away from home. But don’t take our word for it; book your stay, and see for yourself!