Fall break is our favorite time of year to travel but with the kids involved in cheer and football, it is almost impossible to skip away for an entire week! This year, we decided on a quick getaway to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg which is only about 3 hours away. Easy to drive, stay a few days, and get back home. This is such a beautiful time of year to travel through the mountains.
Fun Fall Getaways! Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg
It has been years since we have stayed in the area for an actual “vacation”. We have traveled there often for ball tournaments and cheer competitions but you are on an entirely different agenda for those trips. So this trip was all about fun, relaxation, great food, and making lots of memories. I will share a few of the highlights with you!
We traveled in on a Saturday this time around and went straight to downtown Gatlinburg where we took the SkyLift up to walk the SkyBridge! This is a fun “Must Do” if you are in the area. It was a very busy day but the line moved quickly and the views were gorgeous.
It is hard to believe that the yellow Skylift chairs have been a part of Gatlinburg since 1954! The SkyBridge just opened in 2019 and is the “longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America”. I will admit by the time I got off of it, I was ready to be off! This coming from the gal that is always car sick!
We stayed at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge and it was the first time here! I would highly suggest this resort and we will be going back! They have a great outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, firepits, a food and beverage poolside service, and indoor pool. The restaurant onsite served a delicious buffet style breakfast but they also offer a little cafe on the main floor for quick service dining. We enjoyed several things there including morning coffee, pastries and pizza. The rooms were comfortable and clean!
We had not been to Dollywood in years and wanted to take the kids. We were shocked to find so many rollercoasters! The kids love all the thrills and they were not disappointed. Even with Covid and in masks, we were pleasantly surprised by how everything was managed making safety of their guests #1. Before you got on each ride, you were given hand sanitizer and masks were strictly enforced on property. The best part was as a guest of the DreamMore, your tickets to Dollywood were automatically upgraded to “fast passes” which saved a ton of time. Your actual tickets however, were not included and an additional expense.
Of course with any getaway, we try to find delicious dining! We highly recommend the Local Goal and they also offer call ahead seating. They have a large menu and everyone in your party is sure to find something they love. Our last night, we enjoyed a local favorite in Downtown Gatlinburg…The Peddler. If you love a great steak…this is your place! You can start calling @ 4:00pm the day you are wishing to dine in order to secure a seat that evening for dinner.
Have you visited Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg recently? What is your favorite thing to do and place to go? I’d love to hear, because I guarantee you we’ll be back!
Leave a Reply