Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg Lodging

[ajwolfe]

So we are toying with a quick trip down to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area over my birthday in October. We've been to the area 3 times before so we are familiar and always rent a cabin from a rental company, but we usually stay for a week instead of just 2 or 3 nights. Any suggestions on hotels or cabins that you have used that were nice and allowed 2 to 3 night stays without penalty?

And if you have been before in October and have any suggestions for things to do, let me know.

Thanks!!

 

[okeydokey]

We stayed at Riverstone in Pigeon Forge. It is a condo complex with 4 buildings. It was really nice, very modern, large condos. We rented from VRBO and some owners had a week to week rule and some didn't. It was much less expensive than renting directly from the complex itself.

 

[fairygodmomma]

We stay at wyndham great smokies wilderness timeshares. We have stayed there 3 times in the past 2 years. I rented the time share from winpointvip on ebay his name is mike Sullivan. Usually 2 or 3 nights run around $300 to $350 and that was all stays in the either 2 br or 4 br presidential. There is also an indoor waterpark there and admission is included with your stay. Fun on cold days! As far as activities the national park is always super nice in fall and you could probably check on the pigeon forge visitors website for a schedule of what's going on during that time frame.

 

[ajwolfe]

Thanks! I'll check into those 2. For some reason everytime we go I think choosing lodging is so overwhelming there simply because there is so many choices.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

remember that Oct in Pigeon Forge is Southern Gospel Music month and the area is busier than normal. ressies are harder to come by, so make them early.

 

[tina.tina]

I like Governor's Crossing Resort. It is a condo complex close to the Tanger/Five Oaks shopping center but back off the main road and there is an Applebee's next door that we like to walk to. You can turn left out of the parking lot and take a "shortcut" to Dollywood rather than going down the crowded Parkway.

I also like Hidden Mountain Resort. They have cabins and cottages at a reasonable price with 2 night minimum. I've never stayed at a cabin, but the cottages are just past the Apple Barn and are nice houses in a cute little neighborhood. We were there last October for a few nights and there were several families in the cottages around us attending the same wedding. Everybody there is always friendly when we go. Our kids have played with their R/C cars with kids next door. All of the cottages have a hot tub on the deck and there's a seasonal pool up on top of the hill.

If you want to stay in the middle of everything, the new Margaritaville Hotel at The Island is supposed to open this summer.

 

[cbcrockett]

We've had great luck with HomeAway.com We've rented a few different condos (for long weekends) and always had great experiences. The reviews have always been very accurate of each unit (we've used the site for Gulf Shores and Hilton Head too. Also have a weekend in Chattanooga this coming weekend thrugh the site). It's worth a look!

 

[cvjw]

Loved the Christmas Inn. It is very close to Dollywood.

 

[rachael95]

Since we live fairly nearby, we don't normally stay over night, but DH had to stay at Wilderness at the Smokies resort recently for a conference. The thing I liked about the place was it had a great indoor water park that you got with the room. Even though DS and I were not staying overnight, they still gave DH passes so that I could drive in after work and DS and I got to play in the water park while he finished up the conference.

There was a really nice toddler play pool, a huge wave pool for older kids/adults and then another area that had one of those tree house/water things that periodically dumps out gallons of water. The ceiling is glass so you can get some natural sun lying in the lounge chairs even when it's cold outside. We both agreed it would make a nice weekend getaway. (Only bad thing about the hotel was wifi was not really great). We did not try the restaurant there, but we usually avoid hotel restaurants and find local places instead.

There is also a really yummy local Italian whole-in-the-wall restaurant in a strip mall a couple miles away. They had awesome garlic knots and chicken parm. (I'm a big eater and the chicken parm was big enough for me to easily share with DS. check Urbanspoon, I can't remember the name but it's highly rated) that was just really good food at reasonable prices.

Tip on Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, try to avoid the chain restaurants and look for more restaurants closer to Sevierville if you can. Much better service.

 

[ajwolfe]

Thanks for the suggestions!! I figured I needed to get something booked soon, since it's a busy time of year there with the fall foilage changing and such.