Smoky Mountains All-Inclusive Eclipse Retreat

We are taking over the Greenbrier Estate just outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee: two connected mountain mansions with 28 suites, a few minutes from downtown Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• 3-night stay: Thursday, December 3 to Sunday, December 6
• 5-night stay: Wednesday, December 2 to Monday, December 7
• Check-in: 4:00 PM. We have the whole estate to ourselves, so there's no rush to check out on Sunday. Stay for indexing and head home when you're ready.

Signed up for 3 nights and want to stay longer? Your room is available! Add Wednesday night and/or Sunday night for $200 each. Just check the box on the attendee form.

Address: the estate is two mansions side by side, sharing one entrance at 2855 East Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN. Turn in there and follow the drive up the hill.

• Foxwood Mansion: 2871 East Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN (about 1,200 feet up the drive)
• Sycamore Mansion: 2879 East Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN (about 1,400 feet up the drive)

Coming from Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, the entrance is on your left. Coming from I-40 at exit 440 (through Cosby), it's on your right.

• Your suite for three or five nights
• Your choice of Eclipse classes, up to 11 hours of CE (including Saturday movie night)
• All meals, made by our own private chef, plus endless snacks and treats
• Lots of free time to relax and enjoy the mountains

No extra charges at the cabin. Bring spending money only for things you do in town, like shopping or attractions.

Friday and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (6 hours). Pick one:

• Voice with Angie Ryder. Day 1: learn Speechmatics for voice writers. Day 2: Ask Angie, so bring your questions!
• Steno with Julie Samford. A "Best of Eclipse" course. Any version, any level, and I'm taking requests, so tell me what you want to learn on the attendee form.

Sunday: Indexing with Angie Ryder, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (4 hours). Three hours learning indexing and one hour of lab time for questions.

Take one class or take them all, up to 11 hours of CE: 6 hours Friday and Saturday, 4 hours of indexing Sunday, plus 1 more hour at Saturday movie night ("For the Record," being submitted for approval).

We're having a showing of "For the Record," the court reporting documentary by Marc Greenberg (67 minutes), in the home theater on Saturday evening. It's being submitted for approval for 1 hour of CE credit, which brings the retreat to 11 hours total. Popcorn and nachos on the house!

• Your laptop with Eclipse installed and working, plus your power cord
• Your writer or voice setup (mask, headset, mic), plus cables and chargers
• Your dongle or license info, if you use one

Voice writers: Speechmatics requires Eclipse 12. If you're not on 12 yet, check with Advantage Software about upgrading before the retreat.

Tell me on the attendee form where you'll submit your CE and add your member or certification number. I'll take care of your certificate of attendance.

The closest major airport is Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), about 42 miles away, roughly an hour's drive. Rental car counters are right at the airport.

My recommendation: rent a car, or share one with a friend. You'll have the freedom to come and go, explore Gatlinburg on our free afternoons, and get to the parade.

• Uber and Lyft: you can usually get one at the Knoxville airport, but the ride to Gatlinburg is pricey (often $60 to $100 or more). Drivers often won't come up winding mountain roads to cabins, so getting a ride back down from the cabin is not guaranteed. Please don't count on Uber for your trip home.
• Private airport shuttles: companies like Smoky Bear Shuttle pick up at the Knoxville airport and take groups of up to 7.
• Taxis: some local taxi companies will drive up the mountain. Call ahead and ask.

• 28 suites, each with a king bed, gas fireplace, private bath with jetted tub, and a balcony with mountain views
• 2 home theaters (where we'll show "For the Record") and 4 game rooms (pool, foosball, air hockey and free arcade games)
• 4 hot tubs, 6 big decks, and rocking chairs everywhere
• Elevators in both cabins, and at least two ADA-accessible rooms

Every meal is included, with a salad at every meal and a soup at every lunch. Here's the menu. We may switch things around a little while I work out timing around the parade with our chef.

Food allergies or dietary needs? Put them on the attendee form and I'll take care of you.

Yes! If you added a +1 (Adult Companion), their lodging and meals are covered. This is mostly a grown-up getaway, but families are welcome. Just tell me names and kids' ages on the form so I can put you in the right part of the house.

• Layers. Early December in the Smokies is usually chilly, and nights can be cold.
• A warm coat, hat and gloves for parade night
• A swimsuit for the hot tubs
• Cozy clothes and slippers for lounging
• Comfortable shoes for walking downtown or on trails
• Your laptop, Eclipse setup and chargers for class
• Power strips

• Gatlinburg Winter Magic: light displays all along the downtown Parkway. Free to stroll.
• Trolley Ride of Lights: a heated, 45-minute guided trolley tour of the downtown light displays, leaving from the Mass Transit Center at Traffic Light #5. Book at gatlinburgtrolley.org.
• Anakeesta Enchanted Christmas: a mountaintop park right downtown with over a million lights, a treetop skywalk, an observation tower and a hot cocoa crawl. Included with park admission.
• Gatlinburg SkyBridge and Lights Over Gatlinburg: ride the SkyLift up the mountain and walk across the SkyBridge, a swinging pedestrian bridge high above the treetops with a glass floor section in the middle. In the evening it glows with holiday lights (Lights Over Gatlinburg, included with SkyPark tickets). Go at sunset for daytime views and the lights.
• Great Smoky Christmas Arts & Crafts Show: handmade gifts from local artisans at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, listed for November 30 to December 6, 2026. Great for Christmas shopping.
• Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas (Pigeon Forge): Dolly's park is decked out with more than 6 million lights, Christmas shows, festive food, and snowfall in Wildwood Grove. It's included with regular park admission and runs November 6, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Hours change by day (usually opening around 9 or 10 AM and staying open into the evening), so check the calendar at dollywood.com before you go. Great pick for a free afternoon and evening.

• Outdoor Gravity Park (Pigeon Forge): climb inside a giant inflatable orb and roll down a 1,000-foot hill. They add water to the ball, and in winter it's warm water, so it runs all year. Bring a swimsuit, a towel and a change of clothes. About 20 to 30 minutes from the cabin.
• Anakeesta: the treetop skywalk and the tower views are fun during the day too, not just for the Christmas lights.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park: minutes away. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is a great first stop for maps and short, easy walks.
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: a beautiful scenic drive right outside town. Check the park website, because some roads close in winter.

• Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community: an 8-mile loop of artisan shops and studios, with pottery, quilts, candles, woodwork and more.
• Downtown Parkway: fudge, taffy, candy shops, moonshine tastings and lots of window shopping.

Dates, hours and prices change, so please check each place's website before you go.