See all properties
Entire cabin

Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub!

Cabin near Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub!

Smart TV, fireplace
Exterior
Dining
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Terrace/patio

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire cabin

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4768 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Gatlinburg, TN
  • Place, Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Anakeesta
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Knoxville, TN (TYS-McGhee Tyson)
    ‪68 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Gatlinburg

In Gatlinburg .Within 3 miles (5 km) of this Gatlinburg cabin, you'll find Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park and Herbert Holt Park. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).
View more Cabin Rentals in GatlinburgOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Traffic Light #2A - 4 min drive - 1.5 miles
  • Herbert Holt Park - 4 min drive - 1.9 miles
  • Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 4 min drive - 1.7 miles
  • Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - 5 min drive - 2.5 miles
  • Anakeesta - 5 min drive - 2.5 miles

Getting around

  • McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Southern Comfort - Westgate Resort - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Tennessee Cider Company - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Ole Red - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Lobby Bar - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire cabin to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub!

Life's a Bear is a 768 sq. ft. two-bedroom log cabin ideal for a short or long vacation away from the bustle of normal life. This cabin delights with its natural pine tongue-and-groove walls, exposed beams, and metal roof. The living area has a gas stone fireplace and large windows for an unsurpassed view of the expansive Smoky Mountains. Here, you can relax and watch the 50 in Samsung smart TV. The living room extends into the dining area and full kitchen. The washer/dryer unit is housed in an adjacent closet. Both bedrooms sleep two with ease and comfort. The master bedroom has a king bed and an open clothes closet. The second bedroom has two single beds elevated for storage space below. For added privacy, each bedroom has its own vanity (with toilet) room. Each has an entrance to the bathing room where the five-foot shower and the jetted tub are located.

The porch extends the width of the cabin and continues along the far side to accommodate the hot tub. Of course, a table is available for dining, and the firepit – adjacent to the outdoor grill – will take your cares away while you gaze at nature's bounty, listening to local wildlife and spotting fireflies.

Enjoy nature and all its beauty here at Life's a Bear. Among the highlights are watching the early morning mist rise, the sunlight move across the mountainside, and the rosy glow of twilight darken into myriad evening shades. The quiet is relaxing as only the sounds of various birds in flight are heard. At night, the glow of lights from nearby Pigeon Forge along with the twinkling of cabin lights along the mountainside are evident. Come see it for yourself at Life's a Bear. If wishing to vacation with others, nearby cabins by the same owner are Always, Ever After, and Journey's End.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Below is a list of the nearby attractions we personally enjoy and recommend while at the home, and how far it is to them.

Anakeesta: 3.9 miles
Gatlinburg Space Needle: 4.4 miles
Gatlinburg SkyLift: 4.4 miles
Smoky Mountain National Park Entrance: 7.1 miles
The Island: 7.3 miles
Ober: 7.8 miles
Dollywood/Splash Country: 7.8 miles
Tanger Outlet: 9.7 miles

The minimum age to rent this cozy cabin is 21.

This Gatlinburg vacation home provides 2 towels + 1 washcloth per guest the property sleeps.

AWD/4WD is recommended to reach this classic Appalachian cabin in the Smokies.

Please note this property is not pet friendly — including service animals. Check out our pet-friendly cabins if you're planning to bring fur babies to the Smokies!

Similar properties

Studio (2 Bedrooms) | Property amenity
Smoky Mountain Dreams by Jackson Mountain Rentals
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
4.2 out of 5, Very Good, 7 reviews
Smoky Mountain Dreams by Jackson Mountain Rentals

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Hot tub

Internet

  • Available in the cabin: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Jetted bathtub
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Limited housekeeping

Location highlights

  • In the mountains
  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a zoo
  • Near an outlet shopping mall

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 768 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

859382

Frequently asked questions

How close is Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub! to the airport?

This cabin is 42.9 mi (67-min drive) away from the McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub! have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this cabin.

Does Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub! offer free breakfast?

This cabin does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub!?

No, there is no casino at this cabin.

What time is check-in at Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub!?

Free parking is not available at this cabin.

Does Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub! have a pool?

This cabin does not have a pool.

Does Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub! have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this cabin.

How close is Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub! to downtown Gatlinburg?

This cabin is 2.3 mi away from Gatlinburg.

Life's a Bear - Mountain views, fire pit, and hot tub! Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 56 out of 61 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 61 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 61 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 61 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 61 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

John F. L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Mountain view was beautiful. Nice cabin. We saw three Turkeys, a rabbit, squirrels, a chipmunk and beautiful autumn leaves.
Sunset after a rain
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tammie C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cabin has a beautiful sunset view. The cabin was clean and comfortable.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Juan

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The views were awsome. There are only about 3 cabins in that block so it was very quiet and without traffic. Very clean and cozy. My kids loved their twin room. About 8 min from Gatlinburg main street and 10 min from Pigeon Forge. Every ammenity worked well. Ample parking space. All the modern confort and still feel like a cabin should be. We would definetly come back. Well done by the owners.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brad D., Grand Rapids

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome stay!

This cabin was as described and probably better. It is like new, perfectly clean and ready. We will definitely be back. The trek up yhe mountain was fantastic. While on the porch in the early evening, we actually had a bobcat sneak out of the brush by the firepit. Don't comolain about the druve up the hill...it's pretty cool!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Roger

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The cabin was very clean and convenient to get to Gatlinburg and surrounding areas.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Holly Ann D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Couple Cozy Cabin

Wonderful little cabin for couple get away! 10/10 all around! No complaints or issues
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Emily F., Long Grove

Liked: Cleanliness

Family Spring Break

Cabin was just as advertised- the perfect getaway for a long weekend for our family split between the Smoky mountain park and Dollywood- best of both worlds.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cory B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great stay

Everything about this cabin was great. The only issue I had was the amount of construction going on in the surrounding lots. It was hard to enjoy a nice evening by the fire pit while a construction crew was 40ft away from me making a lot of racket. but other than that, the cabin was perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marta C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Life’s a Bear Cabin

Clean and quiet. Far enough away to be peaceful but close enough to have ready access to everything.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Margarita E.

Liked: Cleanliness

Life’s a Bear Cabin

Great cabin. Beautiful view, very clean, and cozy.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christy S., Norman, AR

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful view!

We enjoyed the cabin stay and the views while visiting the Smoky Mountains.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lesley S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Breathtaking Views

Amazingly quiet and off the beaten path. Very private, with unforgettable views. My ony suggestion is to definitely have a 4wd vehicle as you must be part billy goat to make it up the road to the property. A fwd or rwd vehicle would not make it especially in inclement weather. Road is paved but extremely steep. Also, it might be nice to have instructions on how to remove hot tub cover. Cant wait to come back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eshwar A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Peaceful Getaway

Our stay here was relaxing and comfortable. The amenities and cleanliness of the cabin were excellent. Lastly, the property managers were easily accessible and provided clear correspondence before, during, and after our trip.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brent N.

Liked: Cleanliness

Mountain Top Experience

Beautiful cabin that looked and smelled new! Nice amenities and great communication with property manager with any questions we had. Exceptionally clean and we had a great weekend and would highly recommend this cabin. Great location, 10 minutes from Pigeon Forge and 10 minutes from Gatlinburg. Wish we could have stayed longer
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Raghavender T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome stay

Like listed . Clean and good. I would recommend this stay to my friends . I did see a bear near by , which is expected. Overall great stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dwayne P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Mountains

Great views
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Friday R.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect

Our stay was wonderful. We will be back.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shannon S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Life's a Bear

It was beautiful and spacious. We loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clinton T., Wadesville

Liked: Cleanliness

Relaxing mountain view

The cabin we stayed in was super cute and perfect for 2 people. There are 2 extra beds but the whole house would be super cramped with more than 4 individuals. We loved the all wooden interior. The deck is as long as the house with plenty of space to sit and relax at the table and chairs or enjoy the hot tub at night. The charcoal grill is perfect for spending the evening in and making dinner. Overall, I would recommend staying here.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eraena G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place

Good location between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The place was immaculate! Looks brand new. Well decorated, everything worked perfectly. Would suggest some non slip material for the shower though. It caught me by surprise.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katie M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful property inside and out!

Flawless check-in and check-out! Super responsive property managers! Gorgeous cabin with an awesome layout for a family of 4! Neat porch with plenty of seating, mountain view , and hot tub! Extremely clean with everything you need! I loved this cabin!!!!! Relaxing and peaceful location!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Really satisfied

This was our second stay and again it did not disappoint. The owners were very helpful!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sonia M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lifes a Bear cabin

This cabin was perfect! Loved everything about except the drive up. 🤣 couldn’t have asked for more & hope to rent again.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexander V.

Liked: Cleanliness

¡ Just Perfect !

A Perfect place to stay in. Maureen was on top of every single detail. Great location ; Amazing view . The cabin is great as advertised . The cleanest rental that we have stayed in . Property is close to everything and you get the mountain/ cabin experience that we were looking for . We can see us getting back to Gatlinburg and definitely renting this cabin again
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Cabin

The cabin was great and the views were amazing!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023