Whether you are a "Jingle Bells" type of person or a "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" grinch, dust off your sleigh and take the high road to the Smokies this month.

The cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, sing with entertainment, glow with millions of lights, and lure visitors with special treats not even Santa Claus can match. So y'all come on down. It's gonna be fun!

Festive Friday
For convenience, ambience, and amenities, check in to Bearskin Lodge on the River. Located in downtown Gatlinburg (just behind Burning Bush Restaurant), this balconied log hotel offers large rooms, many with hot tubs and fireplaces. (Rooms with queen-size beds are $50-$150 per night and include Continental breakfast, (865) 430-4330.)

While you're fresh and your feet don't hurt, take a dash down to the outlet shops. In Pigeon Forge and Sevierville--Gatlinburg's two busiest neighboring cities--three outlet malls await your last-minute holiday shopping needs. And if you want to shop and others in your group don't, have no fear. Hop on the Pigeon Forge Fun Time Trolley and, for a small fee, it will take you to the Tanger (nicest and newest), Belz, and Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet Malls. The shoe stores alone (Bass, Hush Puppies, Naturalizer, etc.) make you feel a little elfish.

After depositing your new treasures back at the hotel, get ready for a wonderful evening meal in Gatlinburg. It's just a short drive down the parkway to Smoky Mountain Trout House. The folks here serve fresh trout 12 different ways; I recommend the Eisenhower, which is pan-fried, served with a tasty side sauce, and made me salute ($14.95). For non-fin folks, they also serve up a mean prime rib.

Before turning in for the evening, cruise through the town and take in the holiday lights. You'll sing carols all the way back to the warmth of your lair.