Goldilocks' Haven - www.vrbo.com/48506

12/24/2024

Merry CHRISTmas to all our past, my current and future guests! Celebrating a Babe, who gave up EVERYTHING, to give US EVERYTHING, at HIS EXPENSE, He chose to come quietly, humbly, practically unnoticed except by a few shepherds and wise men who followed His star. He could have come and wiped out Rome, made a grand entrance, BUT YET, He chose to come as a babe, ruling from a manger Throne as a , precursor to the GRAND and MAJESTIC, GLORY FILLED entrance He will one day make. "Glory be, to HIM ALONE, He Who reigns from a manger Throne "
Merry CHRISTMAS and may you know His peace tha brings comfort and Hope this Christmas season!
https://open.spotify.com/track/1Z0IdyRLTGeUQDincfC5DI?si=hiK_dDxWTXmXj5GuxYshqg

07/11/2024

Just in case you wondered, Goldilocks haven DOES have July weekday availability, and the bears have discovered it is a quiet place to play and avoid the crowds!
Come! Be our guests at Goldilocks Haven! July weekday availability, and take advantage of some quieter days, fewercrowds during the week! August, labor day and October are up for grabs! Discover why the bears feel Goldilocks haven is a spot to capture memories!

06/20/2024

This would be such a FUN outing, to celebrate our famous fire safety icon, Smokey the bear! And, while you're coming to enjoy the festivities to celebrate Smokey's 80th birthday, include Goldilocks' Haven - www.vrbo.com/48506 in your plans for lodging. We're right outside the gsmnp park, so we go together like peanut butter and jelly😉
(Smokey the bear->Goldilocks haven, just outside the great SMOKY Mountains National park) (and take a stroll through Puzzled fun & games, while you're at it! They have ALL KINDS of ways to provide family friendly, or individual fun!)
Happy 80th birthday Smokey!

FREE Admission...
Lots of FREE stuff...
Door Prizes
and, wait for it...
Smokey Bear himself will be there
Make plans to be there too...

04/16/2024

When we bought Goldilocks's haven in September 2004, we bought it as "cedar ski". We knew the vision we had for it. Wanting the name to represent what the mountains mean to us and offer, as well as being fitting for the setting.....we knew then, that bears frequented the property, but mot as much as they do now. Our family consisted of 3 blondes, at the time...bears+blondes+peaceful setting =Goldilocks's haven! We expected it to be a haven=place of rest, restoration, comfort and relaxation for our guests, BUT, Little did we know or anticipate that it would be that same benefit for our honorary hosts, our black bears! This mama and her 2 yearlings (cubs born jan of the prior year, that stay with their mama for 2 yrs, before becoming their own family) took in the quiet amd secluded side of goldilocks haven, as she literally "hung out" on our retaining wall. They spent about 20min here, just playing (and thank you to a previous guest's dad, there was no trash for them to feast on, so they APPROPRIATELY enjoyed the remnants of last falls acorn harvest ❤️) such a sweet moment to watch her relax ,shift herself around, let her guard down as she took in a much needed break from mothering, knowing her little family was safe and shielded from the noise of tourists and could privately just BE NATURAL without having to worry or deal with the repercussions of being the icon of the smokies. We are GRATEFUL that she was able to take in the character of goldilocks haven, to also be HER haven!
If you have the privilege to see a bear in the smokies, please give them their space. Don't approach. Stay in your vehicle, take your pics and move on quickly, so others can enjoy their beauty.
Or, be our guest at goldilocks haven, so you can safely observe them (and not share that privilege with others) from our decks.

03/09/2024

Hospitality is one of my gifts! If I were local, I would probably welcome you with a loaf of baked blueberry or pumpkin bread, and fresh flowers from my yard. BUT, since I'm NOT able to extend that kind of hospitality "in person " I am welcoming our guests with some other things to fill the tummy, bringing comfort, reducing stress, and hopefully to remove the "hangry" that was building as you traveled 🤷‍♀️. Or, some might consider this "breakfast " as, you will ALSO be welcomed with 1 DOZEN, FARM FReSH FREE RANGE EGGS (locally sourced and delivered JUST before your arrival, awaiting you in the frig!.REGARDLESS of how you choose to use it, just know that it's my way of saying WELCOME to goldilocks haven! Thank you for being our guests and we hope you'll feel right at home!

01/05/2024

In case you might be wondering...here's what bears are up to right now..they don't hibernate in the smokies (we've seen 3 in the last 2 days).
By the time we see them in later march-may, they are about as tall as a railroad tie. By winter, they're about the size of an average Labrador retriever (but fluffier 😉)
https://www.facebook.com/100064605822568/posts/755222759974578/?mibextid=Nif5oz

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving to our followers and guests! Even in the midst of my husband battling cancer, we are grateful for all the projects he took on to help make goldilocks haven what it is today! We're grateful for each guests trusting us to be a part of their vacation memories. We can't exist without each of you!!!! Our housekeeper, Tina bergstrom...a beloved part of our team...can't do this without ya girl!🙌
And...a shout out to our March 27, 2024 guest...our FIRST booking of 2024!!! Thank you for getting 2024 rolling 🙌
Thankful! Grateful! Blessed by all our interactions w/ EACH of YOU!!❤️
If only this were done as a bear dressed as a turkey 😉🤣

Watch the official music video for “Gobble Gobble” now!Listen to everywhere: https://matthewwest.lnk.to/GobbleGobbleID!GobbleMVListen to my lat...

11/14/2023

Did you know.....?????? There is an OTTER SPOTTER app for the gsmnp??? And, if you own a Labrador retriever😉 you'll be familiar with the connection between otters and labradors....their TAILS!!! One of Labrador retrievers' identifying factors is their tail, aka "otter tail" used to navigate and steer as they retrieve through the waters..strong to handle tough waves and waters, as well as the colder temps....be sure to take a more careful look at the waters and enjoy this delightful and ENTERTAINING creature that is being reestablished in the gsmnp❤️

https://www.facebook.com/100064605822568/posts/725544216275766/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Just some things you otter know…

Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and houses over 20,000 documented species; however, some species that once lived in the park are no longer found here. There are many examples of these missing organisms, such as Red Wolves (Canis rufus), Fishers (Martes pennanti), Passenger Pigeons (Ectopistes migratorius) and more. Preserving an ecosystem without some of its important fundamental species can be difficult, which is why Great Smoky Mountains have taken the initiative to restore habitat and reintroduce species in efforts to re-establish the natural ecosystem. One particular species, the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis), is a success story of the national park. They can be found swimming in creeks, searching for tasty crawdads, slow-moving bottom-dwelling fish, and salamanders to snack on. Some popular places to spot these elusive critters would be along the Abrams Falls Trail in Cades Cove or the Little River Trail in Elkmont.

If you are lucky enough to be an otter spotter, please keep your distance from these animals. Great Smoky Mountains require visitors to stay at least 50 yards from any wildlife in the park. And don't forget to report your otter sightings through the Otter Spotter app to help scientists track the locations of otters in the park.

Now, who here is an experienced otter spotter? Can you find the otters in the image?

Photo Credit: Kenzie Connor