"Snuffle snuffle, we heard the bear just outside the cabin and we just went silent hoping it would go away", said Florence Graves about a trip to her cabin called Tucked N in the Smoky Mountains. " Even when we went to holiday last year for a weekend in the Smoky Mountains we heard a menacing growl as we took a walk. It was each one for himself, back to the cabin," said Andrew and Annika about their experience, when they stayed out in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, with family. We were holidaying in Knoxville, Tennessee in May and we wanted at least a day up in the Smoky mountains in a cabin.

But all the same we wanted to go and were willing to chance our speed into the cabin if faced with a growl or crackling branches. But not a cabin was available online. We tried for days, it was high season we were told and everyday we were faced with the sad eventuality of not going to a cabin. There were none to be had.

Then we remembered Florence Graves a good friend whom we had visited for a delicious lunch in her home in Knoxville a few days earlier. She had mentioned owning a cabin and we hoped she would let us rent it if it was free. In minutes Florence called us to say, " Go, the cabin is unbooked for a day, Tom and I would like you to go use it."

Great excitement broke in the house and everyone's spirits lifted immediately especially mine. " Pack fast! " said Annika. " Just enough for a night in the cabin." And in minutes we had all vanished into our rooms and started putting the bare necessities together. Tooth brush and night clothes, slippers and my camera. All went into the bag to carry with us to the cabin.

Meanwhile Florence sent Annika the directions and she was our map for the rest of the journey. On the way we saw cows in a field and stopped the car to be able to show baby Alaina her first 'real' cow. Looking at them in a book and making their sound is one thing, but seeing a real live cow is quite another experience for her. She sat quietly wide eyed, staring at them mouthing 'cow says moo' 'cow says moo' sitting strapped into her car seat!
Soon it was time to take the last steep climb up to the cabin and in minutes the car swept around the frontage and we had reached. Unravelling ourselves out of our seats we carried our over -night carry bags into the cabin. There is no need for a welcoming party as one is given the code to open the door and we were in! There was a welcoming carved wooden bear and a beautiful bench creatively made of a half log which we sat on till the door was opened.

The cabin was perfectly appointed and just right for a family of eight though we were six. No one wanted to be indoors and in minutes we divested ourselves of our things and were out the door enjoying the great outdoors. As far as the eye could see stretched the Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge and the blues and greens could not have been more soothing, blurring into the distance. Cameras cocked we enjoyed taking lots of pictures -- of the trees above us, wild flowers everywhere, the mountains in the distance and of the cabin itself.

The stay was perfectly wonderful with a great hot tub to add to the fun and comfy beds to crash into once we decided to hit the sack. For details to book Contact: https://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalReview-g55270-d6483705-Tucked_N-Pigeon_Forge_Tennessee.html