Places to Stay - Me and My Traveling Hat

Destination Vacations, Golf, Water Slides, Shopping, and Mountain Hiking! Oh My, So Much Fun! When you have a family, and you want to keep everyone happy, this is an excellent choice for family fun! Over the years our children wanted to go to a water park hotel, but we never really made it to one until a few years ago. Water Park at the Great Smokies Lodge The Wyndham family has a few resorts to choose from in the Pigeon Forge, TN area. My husband and our two children have had the opportunity to stay at all three of them. They have Margaritaville Island Hotel Smoky Mountains on the Island, Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge, and Wyndham Smoky Mountains. Lobby of Margaritaville Island Hotel Pigeon Forge has much to offer, plus it is 20 minutes away from Gatlinburg, TN, home of Anakeesta Theme Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So when I say it's an area for everyone, it pretty much is, minus the ocean, but you can surf at the water park! No Ocean but you can still Surf! Starting with the Margaritaville Island Hotel. We have stayed there one time, and we really enjoyed it. We had a hotel room with two beds, a fireplace, and they even have a 'Margaritaville' margarita blender machine, their own exclusive brand. Margaritaville Island Hotel Room with Margarita Blender A View from our Three Bedroom Penthouse Condo Great Smokies Lodge They have a coffee shop in the lobby with some baked goods and other lite foods. They also have a bar with a lounge that you can sit inside or outside by the firepit. The Patio Outside the Bar-Lounge Margaritaville Island Hotel They have TVs too; it's a great hang out spot, especially at the firepit to roast marshmallows for smores or just to hang out and have something to drink. They do have appetizers at Happy Hour, or you can order from the menu. Margaritaville Island Hotel Bar Lounge off the Lobby Margaritaville Island Hotel Lobby They have a rooftop pool and a chill bar that you can look out over the Island and watch a colorful fountain show and see the Island's Ferris Wheel; it's a very cool view! They have a full restaurant right across the sidewalk too! This was Thanksgiving time at the Island in Pigeon Forge, TN Little Village of Shops at The Island My Family at Margaritaville Island Hotel When we stayed at the other resorts in the area, we still were able to enjoy Margaritaville Hotel and the Island when I went with my family and a girlfriends’ getaway weekend. We have stayed at their Wyndham Smoky Mountains in the past years, which was a great resort! It was perfect for when I had a girls weekend, there were five of us, and we all were more than comfortable with lots of room in our two bedroom condo. We were able to cook our breakfast and had a few happy hours of our own in the condo! Apple Annie's Antiques and Whatnot's This resort has two pools including one outdoor pool facing the beautiful mountains and one indoor pool with two miniature golf courses. They have a game room with a pool table and lots of other activities for the whole family! This resort is centrally located to many of the events around in Pigeon Forge and close to the highway that takes you to Gatlinburg, TN. View from the Outdoor Pool at Wyndham Smoky Mountains So now I want to talk about the resort that has a water park and golf course! It is called Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge or The Wilderness Lodge in Pigeon Forge. It has incredible water activities for older children and an area for younger children too! Younger Children's Area at The Wilderness Great Smokies Lodge Younger Children's Area at The Wilderness Great Smokies Lodge Our kids had a great time all three times we went to this resort. They were in their teens then; now they’re a little older, and they still enjoy it! The condos are extra roomy, with plenty of space for a break, or you can gather in the living room or on the balcony and make some memories! Three Bedroom Penthouse Condo Great Smokies Lodge Two of These Master Suite Bathrooms and Bedrooms in a Three Bedroom Dinning Area in Our Three Bedroom Penthouse Condo Spacious Upgraded Kitchens with all Top Brand Appliances Lobby of Building Close to Golf Course We didn't golf, but this past fall we stayed in a building on the golf course side of the resort, and it looked gorgeous; we were told it is as beautiful to play a round of golf on as it is to look at. Our View Off Our Balcony Great Smokies Lodge Facing the Golf Course 18 Hole Golf Course Great Smokies Lodge Large Firepits at the Back Patio Overlooking the 18 Hole Golf Course Great Smokies Lodge Colorful Buildings at Great Smokies Lodge They have an indoor and outdoor water park, with a large game room, miniature golf, and indoor/outdoor hot tubs, an indoor and outdoor pool, two restaurants, gift shop, and an adventure forest indoor park. Games and Activity Center Great Smokies Lodge Coming In From the Outside Huge Tube Slides Inter-tubes for Going Down the Slide So if you are looking to get away and chill or have everyone entertained, then this can be the place to go! Let me know if you have been to any of these resorts or to the area and what you like about it.