pigeon forge

[luvmyfam444]

we're thinking of going this summer (maybe July).

Any comments you want to share - we can get discuont hotel room (from dhs work) but I was thinking of looking into a cabin just for the ambiance (HA! with 3 kids in tow!)

 

[Wishing on a star]

Like any vacation destination, in July, it will be very crowded, and probably HOT, HOT, HOT!!!! (we are lucky enough to avoid the main mid-June to mid-August travel season)

Love the area though!!!
Lots to do... There have been many excellent threads (I've posted on a few) about the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain area. Lot's of good recommendations!!!

Tell us more

Which Hotel?

What kinds of things would you like to do/enjoy....

Anything Dolly is great... DollyWood, Splash Country, Dixie Stampede....

Of course the Mountains - recommend going up the mountains with a picnic at Chimney Tops on a huge mountain creek... and head out early to go over to Cades Cove one day too.

 

[FINFAN]

wehad the rotten luck of 5 days of rain in July one year...finally threw in the towel and swam in the pool in the rain...so maybe look for a hotel with an indoor pool?

 

[Squirlz]

A chalet up in the hills above Gatlinburg would give you a place to get away from the crowds. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge will be swarming with people!

 

[ccgirl]

We are going the week of July 10th; Gatlinburg actually but right near Pigeon Forge. We own timeshare at Westgate Smoky Mountain. There is a small indoor park there. We really love it there. My DD8 actually wanted to go there instead of WDW. She loves the hiking and cookouts, Cades Cove etc. We are trying Dollywood for the first time. The Aquarium is also nice. I highly recommend it.

 

[sparks19]

LOL I should have my step dad call you. he LOVES pigeon forge and talks about it all the time. it's a running joke in our family that all roads lead to pigeon forge.

I really don't have much to offer but it's apparently very nice I hope you all have fun

 

[laurie31]

A cabin is great with kids! They all have hot tubs and pool tables or air hockey tables. We don't have those at home, so ours will play pool for hours (so you and DH can sit on the porch and enjoy the sunset. )

I second the Aquarium. It's really nice (not cheesy) and has lots of hands-on stuff for kids.

Depending on the ages of your kids, you can find some good deals on back-to-school clothes at the outlets. Eat at Applewoods and drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail. Hike to Grotto Falls if you have time. It's not that difficult and it's a very pretty hike. The best is that the trail goes behind the falls - very cool! Definitely spent a day at Cades Cove, take a picnic lunch.
You'll have a great time!

 

[luvmyfam444]

Ahh thanks for the tips - I didn't know about Cades Cove

Unfortunately our only vacation time is July - funny thing is we were thinking it would be LESS crowded than Disney & less hot too. Sounds like it'll be the same - oh well

We survived WDW in JUly a couple years ago & DC last summer with the 25K boyscouts - hopefully we can survive this!

 

[KiminChicago]

We were just there last July and although it was really, really hot (apparently it was unusually hot last year, even for July), we had a really great time. It was kind of like WDW in August -- almost every day we had a late afternoon thunderstorm, but they always passed quickly.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Gatlinburg - Smoky Mountain Resort as an RCI exchange for our DVC points. It was nice (not quite Disney nice, but it was clean)

Some of the things we did (DH, DS14, DD12 and me):

Wahoo zip lines (lots and lots of fun, but expensive -- $80 per person, but our hotel had a deal for a $55 discount per person so it was only $30 each)
Dixie Stampede
Cades Cove -- the traffic moved so slowly, but you might see a bear or two (we did, but oh, did that mess up the traffic even worse!)
Magiquest -- you purchase a wand and an hour of time and run around like crazy waving your wand at things and getting them to light up or move to complete quests (they have a web site). Once you buy a wand, you can return again and just pay for the time (I think it's $10 an hour). Depending on the ages of your children, they might find this a great deal of fun, my kids sure did. There is also a mini golf course (not the best one I've ever seen) and a mirror maze (we enjoyed that more than the mini golf) in the same building -- I think our original admission included both of those.

We went to the aquarium and maybe it was just that we were tired that day, but we didn't think it was that great. It went on our "did that once, probably don't need to do it again" list.

I would definitely recommend the zip lines if your kids are older (I think 5 years old was the minimum) -- there are a total of 6 ziplines on the course. They drive you up to the top of the mountain, with two guides who show you the "ropes" and off you go. There is a little bit of walking and climbing from line to line and at one point there are two lines so you can "race" another member of your party. We decided that even at $80 per person, we would do it again (and again). I don't like the sensation of falling, but after the first line, I was having too much fun to worry about it and it really didn't feel like I thought I would.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Can you recommend an affordabish cabin? Would like to check those out - I've looked online @ many - but just wondering if you have experience at any of them

I've also looked into staying in a cabin @ a campground

 

[luvmyfam444]

We were just there last July and although it was really, really hot (apparently it was unusually hot last year, even for July), we had a really great time. It was kind of like WDW in August -- almost every day we had a late afternoon thunderstorm, but they always passed quickly.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Gatlinburg - Smoky Mountain Resort as an RCI exchange for our DVC points. It was nice (not quite Disney nice, but it was clean)

Some of the things we did (DH, DS14, DD12 and me):

Wahoo zip lines (lots and lots of fun, but expensive -- $80 per person, but our hotel had a deal for a $55 discount per person so it was only $30 each)
Dixie Stampede
Cades Cove -- the traffic moved so slowly, but you might see a bear or two (we did, but oh, did that mess up the traffic even worse!)
Magiquest -- you purchase a wand and an hour of time and run around like crazy waving your wand at things and getting them to light up or move to complete quests (they have a web site). Once you buy a wand, you can return again and just pay for the time (I think it's $10 an hour). Depending on the ages of your children, they might find this a great deal of fun, my kids sure did. There is also a mini golf course (not the best one I've ever seen) and a mirror maze (we enjoyed that more than the mini golf) in the same building -- I think our original admission included both of those.

We went to the aquarium and maybe it was just that we were tired that day, but we didn't think it was that great. It went on our "did that once, probably don't need to do it again" list.

I would definitely recommend the zip lines if your kids are older (I think 5 years old was the minimum) -- there are a total of 6 ziplines on the course. They drive you up to the top of the mountain, with two guides who show you the "ropes" and off you go. There is a little bit of walking and climbing from line to line and at one point there are two lines so you can "race" another member of your party. We decided that even at $80 per person, we would do it again (and again). I don't like the sensation of falling, but after the first line, I was having too much fun to worry about it and it really didn't feel like I thought I would.

Thanks for the great info! Ziplines sound fun for some of the fam (not the scared of heights members - LOL)

 

[Jeafl]

Can you recommend an affordabish cabin? Would like to check those out - I've looked online @ many - but just wondering if you have experience at any of them

I've also looked into staying in a cabin @ a campground

We're going this July as well. The whole extended family rented one huge cottage. We've rented from this company many times and have never been disappointed.

www.sugarmaplecabins.com

Also, if your family is even the slightest bit adventurous, try white water rafting. The upper Pigeon river has class 3 & 4 rapids (beginner/low intermediate), but the lower Pigeon river has all class 1 rapids, which is about as rough as the lazy river at Typhoon Lagoon. If you are interested, I got a brochure from the highest rated company on Trip Advisor and they are offering a $7 per person discount which makes it $32 a person. It's a 2-hour rafting trip, about 6 1/2 miles. It looks like a lot of fun.

We are also doing the tour of Biltmore, which is right over the mountain in Asheville, NC. If you buy your tickets online before the end of March they are $20 a person cheaper.

There is also Uber Gatlinburg which has the Alpine Slides and they are a lot of fun! It's basically like a scooter that you sit on and go down toboggan-like tracks down the entire mountain. I think it is $7.00 a person.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do there!

 

[ohiomom28]

Can you recommend an affordabish cabin? Would like to check those out - I've looked online @ many - but just wondering if you have experience at any of them

I've also looked into staying in a cabin @ a campground

Hotels can get as pricey as cabins, plus you get more with a cabin.

We have stayed with www.outdoorrentals.co
They don't charge cleaning fees as most do.

Check them out!

 

[luvmyfam444]

We're going this July as well. The whole extended family rented one huge cottage. We've rented from this company many times and have never been disappointed.

www.sugarmaplecabins.com

Also, if your family is even the slightest bit adventurous, try white water rafting. The upper Pigeon river has class 3 & 4 rapids (beginner/low intermediate), but the lower Pigeon river has all class 1 rapids, which is about as rough as the lazy river at Typhoon Lagoon. If you are interested, I got a brochure from the highest rated company on Trip Advisor and they are offering a $7 per person discount which makes it $32 a person. It's a 2-hour rafting trip, about 6 1/2 miles. It looks like a lot of fun.

We are also doing the tour of Biltmore, which is right over the mountain in Asheville, NC. If you buy your tickets online before the end of March they are $20 a person cheaper.

There is also Uber Gatlinburg which has the Alpine Slides and they are a lot of fun! It's basically like a scooter that you sit on and go down toboggan-like tracks down the entire mountain. I think it is $7.00 a person.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do there!

Thanks for the info - I just looked at sugar maple's site - can't swing that - the 1 bedroom cottage (Little Bear) was $220 per night! that's just too much for our little family.

I didn't realize Biltmore is so close - I'll check it out.
I did read about Ober mountin - I'd love it but I have 1 dd terrified of heights & it looked to me like you had to ride up on the ski lifts to go down I don't think I could do that to her (but maybe if the grandmother goes me & hubby could go for a day)

I did read about the white water rafting - dh & I have been numerous times - I didn't realize though until reading that you could take a 5yr on the class 1 rapids - my youngest will be 5 by then - I'm thinking a family thing sounds like fun - unless again we can ditch the kids & dh & I go on the upper part of the river.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Hotels can get as pricey as cabins, plus you get more with a cabin.

We have stayed with www.outdoorrentals.co
They don't charge cleaning fees as most do.

Check them out!

couldn't find this company - is it greatoutdoorrentals.com?

 

[laurie31]

Thanks for the info - I just looked at sugar maple's site - can't swing that - the 1 bedroom cottage (Little Bear) was $220 per night! that's just too much for our little family.

I didn't realize Biltmore is so close - I'll check it out.
I did read about Ober mountin - I'd love it but I have 1 dd terrified of heights & it looked to me like you had to ride up on the ski lifts to go down I don't think I could do that to her (but maybe if the grandmother goes me & hubby could go for a day)

I did read about the white water rafting - dh & I have been numerous times - I didn't realize though until reading that you could take a 5yr on the class 1 rapids - my youngest will be 5 by then - I'm thinking a family thing sounds like fun - unless again we can ditch the kids & dh & I go on the upper part of the river.

There's lots to do at OberGatlinburg besides the alpine slide. There's an ice skating rink, and also some cute shops. http://www.obergatlinburg.com/activities/

You can drive up there, you don't have to take the expensive (and scary to your DD) aerial tram.

We use Fireside Chalets. http://www.firesidechalets.com/ We've been very happy with their customer service.

 

[luvmyfam444]

There's lots to do at OberGatlinburg besides the alpine slide. There's an ice skating rink, and also some cute shops. http://www.obergatlinburg.com/activities/

You can drive up there, you don't have to take the expensive (and scary to your DD) aerial tram.

We use Fireside Chalets. http://www.firesidechalets.com/ We've been very happy with their customer service.

OOO if we can drive & not have to ride the gondola - that would be AWESOME~ theire website only displays winter info right now so I wasn't real sure what's available - or the prices

 

[wdwiala]

Do a board search for this. There have been some threads in the past that might help you.

We go every year. I have been very happy with covemountain.com and their prices. The cleaning fees aren't high. Watch for cabins with a loft bedroom. You get a little "extra" for your money. For example, a cabin might be listed as a 2 bedroom but really have three because they aren't counting the loft room as an official BR.

I was just searching cabins last night because we are heading that way for a few nights in May. I am impressed with some of the prices at http://patriotgetaways.com/. They have some 50% off cabins that are really priced nicely.

Hotels: We have stayed at the Comfort Inn Apple Valley and the Clarion Inn Willow River. Both in Sevierville. Sevierville and Pigeon Forge have busy traffic but there are some back roads. Gatlinburg is a nightmare traffic bottleneck. Our preference is the Clarion Inn because the room had a nice sitting area. Good space.

Good luck! There are quite a few fun things for families. Dollywood, Splash Country, MagiQuest, laser tag and go carts everywhere.

We love having a cabin because it gives a nice peaceful place to return to when you've had enough "activity".

 

[Mixie]

We rented a cabin right next to the National Forest one year - a bit out of town but it was nice and quiet.

We did white water rafting when DD was 8 and she loved it. Class I is very easy and lots of fun - I would do it again for sure.

There is also horseback riding - not sure if yours will be old enough but you could look into it.

The aquarium is great! An afternoon there would be nice for sure.

We were going to do Cades Cove but the day we had it planned it ended up raining all day so we didn't go. But I hear it's really nice.

Don't forget just over the mountain is Cherokee, NC. It's interesting if you like Native American history. The Oconaluftee Village and the outdoor play, Unto These Hills, are worth the trip alone.

 

[Wolfpacklegion]

We always rent from Hidden Mountain and have not been disapointed.
Cades cove is a must as well

http://www.hiddenmountain.com/