Spring Break advice for Smokies Nat'l Park area?

[susykt4]

We're spending Easter weekend and part of the following week (first full week of April) in the Sevierville/Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. I booked two nights at the Wilderness Lodge (indoor waterpark) but was going to just wing the rest of the trip as far as hotels. Does anyone know if this area is crazy-busy this time of year? I'm clueless. Will we be without a hotel room if we don't book ahead?

Also, any fun ideas for DD9 and DS7 would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Ericandjenng]

I live about 30 min from here. Some of this area will be on spring break the week leading to Easter--we are. But this area has so many hotels that you should be able to find something when winging it.

Also there are so many choices for your kids including Dollywood, you may a hard time picking and choosing. You should spend a day in Gatlinburg. It's a tourist trap but fun and it has Ripley's aquarium

Hope you enjor your visit to our neck of the woods

 

[hmacmahony]

We love gatlinburg!
Our very favorite place ever, is ober gatlinburg. We were there in summer, so not sure what is open at spring break. Its a little amusement park at the top of a ski mountain (you can drive there), or take the big ski lift, we did both.
The best part, and my kids did it for two days straight, was they have alpine slides. They are so much fun, and we had an almost 2 year old, she could go with us. We did them over and over and over and over, so much fun.
The price was great, kids were all free, we did the all day ticket, and it was only about 20 or so per grown up, and all my kids were free. It was so much fun, we went back a second day.
The aquarium is fun, but man it gets PACKED!!! There is so much to do in that area, we did dollywood, but were really disapointed, and I don't think we would go back there. It was super expensive, and we just didn't like it.

 

[IcedMudd]

Check out Twin Mountain properties for some cheaper cabins. I like the Willowbrooke Lodge for a hotel, but there are plenty of others. They're all pretty much the same, all the ones we've stayed at.
Another option for the kids is just an hour down the road, Knoxville Zoo. It shouldn't be too crowded this time of the year. Ripley's Aquarium and Believe it or Not! museum in Gatlinburg. My kids also like WonderWork in Sevierville. There's also Ripley's Golf, Motion Theater, and Haunted House. The haunted house is awesome, but I wouldn't take young kids there. There's also a Nascar thing with tons of video games and I think go kart like racing. Lots of stuff to do with the kids.

 

[jdrum3]

First off, the Wilderness is awesome! I took my kids earlier this year and am taking my middle school band there at the end of April. You don't need towels and if you get there early, they will give your family your wristbands so you can enjoy the waterpark before you check into your room.
Now, there are a lot of things that will be getting the attention of your kids on the "strip" as you drive, but I highly recommend that you keep driving and head out to the Smokies National Park if weather is good. April will be a great time to go, park the car, and take a picnic to a spot in the park. I don't necessarily recommend the "auto tour" routes because they become congested on weekends. Check out the Sugarloaf visitor's center for maps and recommendations.
Also with your room at Wilderness, they will give you one free ticket for Ripley's Aquarium...genius because then you either don't use it or fork over admission for the rest of your family; P. It is a very kid friendly aquarium though. We love the area if you avoid a lot of the "traps." Some of the gokart tracks and mini golf courses offer a bogo deal if you go before noon, usually posted on signs outside. One more thing, if you want to avoid a lot of traffic or if you do wind up going to Dollywood, there is a 4 lane "back road" that will save you quite a bit of time especially staying at Wilderness since it is a few miles from "the strip." It is called Veteran's Blvd and you should be able to google map it, or pm me for more info. Have fun!