Laughing Lindsay

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Best Hotels in The Smoky Mountains

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I have stayed in lots of different hotels in The Smoky Mountains. In fact, I’ve written a review of most of the places I’ve stayed at. It recently occurred to me that I should do a best of post to highlight my favorites. So, if you are planning a trip to the area, then hopefully this can help you narrow down your choices.

Hotels in Smoky Mountains

Hotels in The Smoky Mountains

When planning a trip to the Pigeon Forge area, you quickly realize there are a plethora of places to stay. There’s all kinds of cabins on VRBO as well as countless hotels in the area. So, it can be difficult to decide where to stay. My biggest piece of advice for choosing a place is this: pick a place near the attractions you want to visit that is in budget. Personally, I prefer to stay in Pigeon Forge as it’s in between Sevierville and Gatlinburg. That way, I don’t have to deal with the traffic of getting into Gatlinburg unless we really want to visit. That being said, here are some of my favorite places to stay in the area.

Best Gatlinburg Hotel

If you are planning on doing stuff in Gatlinburg, than I highly recommend staying there. Having a place to park and not having to pay for it is a huge help when visiting this tiny town. My mom and I really enjoyed our stay at Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg. The location of this hotel is perfect as you don’t have to drive far down the main road to get to it. Then, you can simply park your car here and walk to all of the attractions. You can read my full Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg review here.

Best Pigeon Forge Hotel

As I said above, I prefer to stay in Pigeon Forge most of the time. So, I have a much harder time picking a favorite here. I’d probably default to the Inn at Christmas Place as I’m a huge fan of the holidays. I’ve loved both of my stays here, neither of which was during the holiday season. You don’t have to love the Christmas season to enjoy a stay here, but it certainly helps. To get an idea of what it’s like to stay here, you can read my The Inn at Christmas Place Review.

My other top pick in Pigeon Forge would be the Margaritaville Island Inn. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to stay at the Margaritaville Island Hotel, however it looks amazing too. I love that both of these options puts you within walking distance of several entertainment and dining options! You can read my full Margaritaville Island Inn Pigeon Forge Review to see what it’s like to stay there.

Best Hotel for Dollywood

I know that some people visit the area solely to visit Dollywood. If that’s the case for you, I think you should stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. With the free bus transportation to the park, it can be a no-brainer. Plus, you can purchase special package (hotel and tickets) deals when you stay here. A new Dollywood resort is opening later this year and I’m sure it will be equally amazing.

Tiny House in Sevierville

For Sevierville, I thought I would mix it up a little. My husband and I enjoyed our stay in a tiny home at The Ridge Outdoor Resort last summer. It was super close to Dollywood and off of the main road, so we were able to avoid traffic. It was a peaceful stay.

Best Places to Stay in The Smoky Mountains

I think these are the best hotels in the Smoky Mountains (and tiny home). What do you think of my choices? Have you ever stayed in one of these places? Do you prefer to stay somewhere else?

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

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Memorial Day is typically seen as the end of spring. So, if you are planning to spend summer in the Great Smoky Mountains, then here are some fun things you can add to your to-do list!

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

Some people prefer to spend the warmer months outdoors. Some of us prefer to cool off in the water or indoors. Ha! So, I will try to highlight a few options to suit everyone for their summer in the Great Smoky Mountains vacation in this post.

Summer at Dollywood

My return to blogging last year was all about summer at Dollywood. While that’s a review of last year’s event, I fully expect this year’s event to be roughly the same. This year, the festival kicks-off on June 17th and ends on August 6th. So, you have about 2 months to experience it this year! You can check out the event page on Dollywood’s website for the latest info. However, suffice it to say that my husband and I really enjoyed this festival, particularly the drone show! Plus, this year you can ride the new Big Bear Mountain ride!

Visit a Smoky Mountain Waterpark

What better way to cool off on a hot day then with a water park? Technically, you have two options for a waterpark in the Smokies. First up, you have Dollywood’s Splash Country. I’ve never been there, but I know people on social media seem to like it. If you are staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, it’s especially convenient to visit (although, the resort has its own pool too).

Additionally, there is the Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville. I haven’t been there in years, but I did visit their indoor slides when I stayed at the Wilderness at the Smokies for a review about a decade ago. If you stay at Wilderness at the Smokies, then admission to the waterpark is included. However, I add caution because I haven’t visited in 10 years and some recent online reviews claim the rooms need some updating. This does look like an economical vacation though.

Head to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Summer

I have to admit, I’m not much of an outdoor activity type of girl. However, I know that the National Park draws lots of visitors every year, particularly during the warmer months. That link will take you to a page listing various things you can do in the park, including fishing, hiking, looking at flowers, and camping!

Be a Pirate

Technically, you can act like a pirate anytime of the year when you visit the Pirates Voyage dinner show. However, I think it’s more fun to act like a pirate during the warmer months! You can read my review of the Pirates dinner show to see what to expect.

Celebrate the 4th of July

If you are looking to spend the holiday weekend in the Smokies, you should know that the area has some exciting annual events. Gatlinburg has the first Independence Day Parade in the country, with it starting at midnight every year! Not to be outdone, Pigeon Forge hosts the Patriot Festival every year with music and fireworks!

Celebrate Christmas in July

If, like me, you prefer the chill of Christmas to the heat of summer, might I suggest celebrating Christmas in July with a stay at the Inn at Christmas Place? They have special activities all month long to celebrate Christmas in July! You can read my The Inn at Christmas Place Review to see what it’s like to stay here. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay here twice and loved it both times! According to their social media, they did some updating at the beginning of 2023, so it should be even nicer there now!

So Much to See and Do in the Great Smoky Mountains

As you can see, there’s lots to do during summer in the Great Smoky Mountains. Did I miss your favorite thing? This concludes my seasonal look at the area series. You can view my other posts with seasonal suggestions here:

Spring in Pigeon Forge, TN

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If you are wondering what all there is to do during spring in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee, then I have the post for you! Keep reading to see where you should plan to visit on your trip!

Spring in Pigeon Forge

Spring in Pigeon Forge

This time of the year is the perfect time to head outdoors and experience nature! That’s why the Great Smoky Mountains make a great travel destination! From a theme park to a bbq festival, there’s lots to do here!

Dollywood in Spring

There are actually two different festivals happening in spring 2023 at Dollywood, as I detailed in my spring at Dollywood post last week. Depending on when you go, you can experience the I Will Always Love You Celebration or the Flower and Food Festival! Check out my post to learn more about both of these exciting events!

Skyland Ranch

Last year, the first chair lift in Pigeon Forge opened! It’s at a place called Skyland Ranch! The chair lift should provide the perfect view of Pigeon Forge anytime of the year!

Spring Rod Run

Personally, I’ve never experienced this event. However, I know that it’s an extremely popular event. In fact, there’s a spring and a fall Pigeon Forge Rod Run! In 2023, the dates are April 13 -15 and September 14 – 16. So, if you are a car enthusiast, this may be the event for you!

Spring at Anakeesta

Another place I like to highlight for fun in spring in Pigeon Forge is actually in Gatlinburg. Anakeesta is a mountaintop attraction with several different events happening throughout the year. In 2023, you can experience the new nighttime event Astra Lumina! Then, April 14th through May 29th, they will have Blooms and Tunes happening! So, there’s something fun for everyone to enjoy! Personally, I enjoy just walking around and taking in all of nature’s beauty! I also love the gnome village!

Music in the Mountains Spring Parade

I’ve also never experienced this event. However, the Music in the Mountains Spring Parade is happening on April 28th at 5 PM on the Pigeon Forge Parkway! I imagine it would be a great way to enjoy spring in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Bloomin’ BBQ Festival

If you happen to be visiting the area on May 19th or 20th, then you are in luck! You can experience the awesome Bloomin’ BBQ Festival! There are several tasty bbq vendors as well as good bluegrass music to hear at this awesome event in Sevierville! I attended this event last year. Unfortunately, it was un-seasonably hot last year and I didn’t get to enjoy the music as much as I would have liked to. However, I absolutely loved the bbq I tried!

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains

As you can see, there are so many things to do in spring in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville, TN! So, which of these things have you or will you experience?

If you are visiting the area during other seasons, here are my other posts to help you plan:

Spring at Dollywood

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Now that it’s mid-March you may be wondering what you can expect during spring at Dollywood. I visited last year around this time, so I thought I would share some highlights of this season at the theme park!

Spring at Dollywood

Spring at Dollywood

In recent years, Dollywood has hosted different festivals depending on when you visit. There’s the classic Dollywood: Flower & Food Festival as well as the newer I Will Always Love You Music Festival. I’ve been lucky enough to visit the park for both festivals and will highlight some of the things at each of them in this post.

I Will Always Love You Music Festival

If you are planning to visit the theme park between mid-March and mid-April, then you can enjoy the newest event at DW: I Will Always Love You Music Festival. This event celebrates Dolly’s hit song! The park will be highlighting song writing as well as Dolly’s style of music in general during this event. In 2025, I wrote a I Will Always Love You Music Festival Guide detailing what fun there is to be had during this celbration.

Since this event celebrates the anniversary of the song being written, it makes sense that there’s so many performances to catch! Plus, the regular entertainment around the park will incorporate some of Dolly’s favorite songs into their performances! Check out the park’s schedule when you are visiting to see which special performances you can catch during this event.

There’s also some special event decorations in the Showstreet area as well as Market Square! You can also find and purchase some special event merchandise! Plus, there’s some special event foods throughout the park to sample! Overall, this is a great addition to the park.

Flower and Food Festival

If you are heading to Dollywood from mid-April to early June, then you can experience the beautiful Flower and Food Festival! This is a great event as there are so many great things to see and eat! I loved walking around and taking pictures of the wonderful Mosaicultures. Plus, don’t miss the wonderful umbrella sky! You can view both of these things as well as some food in my Instagram post below!

When my mom and I visited last year, it was a rainy day. However, it was still nice to walk around the park and take pictures. We really enjoyed getting a sampler pass and trying all different kinds of foods from the festival. You can see even more food in this other Instagram post:

Spring Fun

As you can see, there’s lots to see, hear, and eat when you take a spring at Dollywood visit! So, do you have plans to visit during either of these festivals? If not, I highly recommend visiting during summer at Dollywood! Additionally, Christmas in the park is awesome as is their Great Pumpkin Lumi-Nights!

Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge TN Lodge Review

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Last year, I stayed at The Lodge at Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge in Tennessee with my mom for two nights. Having stayed at and written about the resort in Gatlinburg as well as the Inn in Pigeon Forge previously, I thought we might enjoy this one as well. Plus, with it being newer, it had some great rates!

Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge

Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge

Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge is technically an RV Resort with a Lodge! I don’t own an RV, so I can’t speak to those aspects of the place. However, it did look like a nice and calm place while I was there. It also appeared that there was lots to do, particularly during warmer months! From outdoor games to a lazy river, there’s lots to keep you entertained here.

The location of this resort is ideal for going to either Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. In fact, it would be perfect to head one direction one day and the other direction another day. It’s actually at the very end of Pigeon Forge, before you head into the woods towards Gatlinburg. It can be a little difficult to find in the dark the first time though as it’s off the main road.

The Lodge

As I said in my previous Margaritaville property reviews, my mom grew up at the beach and loves that vibe. So, we enjoy visiting these places when we can. Personally, I really like that each one features a soothing turquoise in their color palettes. I think that this new Camp Margaritaville theme makes it an even better fit for this area as it makes it more outdoorsy. I think it would be great to return for a summer stay here.

The Standard Room

We found our room to be more than adequate in terms of size. In fact, it felt huge with lots of extra room! The beds were comfortable enough and I loved the decor. I liked the shower, but was disappointed to discover that there wasn’t a shower shelf! I also would have like more towel hooks to hang our towels on. In that sense, it seemed like it had just opened and was missing a few touches.

Another thing that I was disappointed with was the loud music. I know they are trying to set a relaxing/party mood here. However, I don’t need to hear the hallway or outdoor music from my bed. When the air wasn’t on, I could hear the music being played while trying to sleep. It wasn’t obnoxiously loud, but it could be heard. Perhaps, it was the location of our room that allowed me to hear the music as we were at the end of the hallway near the elevator.

Overall

In conclusion, we had a nice stay at The Lodge at Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge. I loved the theme and decor. It’s also in a great location for exploring the area. So, have you stayed here before? What did you think?