The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the few places in the United States where black bears can be found living in their natural habitat. While this certainly adds to the appeal of those who want to observe these animals from a safe distance in the wild, it can also be dangerous for those who don’t understand bears and their behavior. If you see black bears in the Smoky Mountains during a hike or picnic, or even near the cabin during your stay, follow these tips from the National Park Service to keep you and your family safe.

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Why vacation rentals are scam targets?
What are the typical vacation rental scams?
"Do"s and "Don't"s when looking to rent a vacation home.
Safe and unsafe ways to pay for a vacation rental.

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We see this question often asked on social media quite often: "𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬?" See the budget-friendly times and tips to help you out. 

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We've seen people unfamiliar with the area (𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠, 𝐏𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 (𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐍) making speculative comments, and passing unverified info as facts with posts and comments in local social media travel groups. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 of Sevier County (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville)  are open for business.

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We, humans, love our pets and want them to accompany us. Consider these facts before deciding if your pet must come with you on your Smoky Mountains vacation. And see if leaving your pets at home with a trusted sitter, friend, or family member is an option. 

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