Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg vacation

rent a house

My family just got back from there.... first tidbit of advise..... DON'T GO!!!!!!! way too commercialized and the crowds can ruin the experience for you quickly!!!
Second tidbit... if you MUST go find a cabin away from the main strip and plan on spending time up in the mountains..... the scenery is beautiful. Take the drive through Cade's Cove and hit ALL the mountain coasters.... lot's of good eats but you will get tired of "home" cooking by the end of the trip. Most of the local places serve the same type of menu. The Hibachi place in Pigeon Forge is REALLY good but the service is terrible.
Dollywood is a neat place and I would recommend you allot 2 days to do that if possible. Don't bet the farm on the ski mountain because if they are having to make snow they won't have many slop)es open and things will book up fast.

(all that said, we were there at the worst possible time between Christmas and New Years so take that into consideration)

I always take the scenic drive across the park to Cherokee, NC. Less commercialized, and the kids would enjoy the zoo there and seeing the Indians and their gift shops.

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ElDawgHawg

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I 2nd this. Seems like all there is to do there is look at some cheap junk on the main strip and buy fake indian moccasins. Very commercialized. Ski mountain isnt worth a $hit and people are everywhere. If you must go, rent a large cabin deep in the woods and stay there. I will never go back.

ETA: only place that was remotely cool was a restuarant that had a stocked pond of rainbow trout. They cooked what you caught. My brothers kids liked that the most out of the whole trip.

Stop in Chattanooga on your way up and see Rock City, Ruby Falls, etc.
Gatlinburg is a cheesy tourist trap, but that's what I love about that town.
The national park is thecplace to spend most days.

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big cabin off of wears valley road

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Yep, much nicer and more secluded but plenty close enough to everything you'll want to see. There is also a road that goes by the Little Greenbriar School that brings you right into the park from there. My girlfriend and I saw a bobcat and bear on it while driving around so we could hear the LSU-ATM game this year.

Also, you really need to check out Elkmont while you're there. The Cucumber Gap Trail is amazing if you and the family can handle it. Seeing all of the old cabins decaying is pretty cool, too. If not in the mood for a long hike, you can still see most of the buildings without getting too far from a parking lot. I highly recommend checking out the old lodge, cabins, and cemetery at the entrance to Elkmont. It's all very underrated.

As a side note, Elkmont got a little newsplay earlier this year when some dude made a video claiming to have found a lost town (Elkmont)

Thanks fellers! I think we are planning in May.
At least it won't frick with my hunting season