With the beautiful Tennessee mountains about a two hour drive from Asheville, it makes for the perfect weekend getaway or if you really wanted to push it, you could even make it a day trip. With two little ones in tow, we decided to book a cute little cabin on AirBnB and make a weekend out of it.
Pony Rides
On the drive up, we decided to stop by the Smoky Mountain Deer Farm Exotic Petting Zoo and Deer Farm Riding Stables in Sevierville.
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While we opted to skip the petting zoo on this trip, we were pleased with the reasonable prices and friendly staff we encountered for the pony rides. Kids can enjoy a parent-led pony ride where they take 3 laps around a little path. It was a big hit with both kids and we'd make it a point to stop here again for future trips.
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Sunliner Diner
Later that evening, we enjoyed dining at the Sunliner Diner in Pigeon Forge. While the food was typical burger, fries, and yummy milkshakes, it was truly the retro and family friendly atmosphere that made the experience.
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From the printed newspaper menus to the music playing on the jukebox, there were lots of little details that added to the fun. My favorite feature was dining in a classic car booth.
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Aquarium
The following day was rainy, but we still made the most of it. First, we headed to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. Be mindful that if it is raining a lot of other families are going to have this same plan as it is a good rainy day indoor activity. We got there early and thankfully it didn't feel overly crowded.
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I have to admit I'm not a huge aquarium fan, but I had heard great things about this one and know it has received numerous awards for being one of the best in the nation. We all enjoyed the tunnels where you can walk under the water and see sharks swimming above and beside you.
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Several sections, for example the penguin area being one of them, had tunnels that you could crawl through and then stand upright in for a more immersive experience. It was pretty amazing being that close to them.
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Additionally, we were super grateful for the indoor play area where both kids could run around and get some energy out. It worked too as they both napped great!
Putt Putt Golf
With no end in sight for the rain, we headed to Crave Golf Club in Pigeon Forge for some late afternoon indoor putt-putt.
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I didn't get any cute interior photos of the candy themed golf course as this actually turned into a disastrous idea with a 1 year old. I had envisioned him waiting patiently in his stroller with his snacks or perhaps even hanging out at each hole with us but instead he wanted to RUN everywhere. I can't say I exactly blame him as inside looked like a child's fantasy. Picture walking through the children's board game, Candyland. I would recommend this activity for the 4+ age group and we agreed we'd try this place again when both kids were a little older.
Dollywood
Finally, the long awaited day was here and the weather was great. While it was a little chilly initially, we dressed warm in heavy coats, hats and gloves, and by the time the sun was out, it felt perfect.
I actually highly recommend you visit Dollywood in November/December because 1) it's beautiful all decorated for Christmas where they bragged about "over 5 million lights" and 2) the biggest reason is the colder weather meant no lines!! We never waited more than 5 minutes for a ride. In fact, some rides we were the only ones on the ride.
Once you park, you might want to take a quick picture with your phone to remember which section you parked. Upon entering the ticket turnstiles, head left and stop by the Ride Measuring Center for your child to get their color coded wristband. This will be so helpful to know which rides he/she is tall enough to ride.
Next, book it to Country Fair or Wildwood Grove which is where the majority of kid rides are located. If you're Type A like me, then I highly recommend downloading the Dollywood app. This will allow you to see wait times for all the rides in the park, which rides are closest to your current location, showtimes, keep track of which rides you still want to ride/have already ridden, and so much more!
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We started our day off in Country Fair on the Shooting Star ride which is a kid friendly drop tower. My husband and daughter had the ride to themselves and she squealed with excitement the whole time. As soon as the ride ended, she was begging to go again, so I switched places with my husband and rode with her.
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Lucky Ducky had no height requirement and Henry was excited to get to go on something instead of just watch his sister.
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Piggy Parade was another hit with our little guy who especially liked the "oink oink" sound effect of this ride as well.
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Busy Bees took us up and down, around and around similar to that of The Amazing Flying Elephants. We also enjoyed Lemon Twist, a dizzy tea cup ride, and The Scrambler had us roaring with laughter.
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Next we headed to Wildwood Grove where we found plenty more rides for kids, and Genevieve enjoyed meeting Flutter, the fairy, and Benjamin, the bear.
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We enjoyed Black Bear Trail, a bumpy ride on the back of a bear and a hopping, jumping ride called Frogs and Fireflies. We soared in the air on The Mad Mockingbird and rode in an acorn on the Treetop Tower.
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Genevieve's favorite in this section was the Great Tree Swing which she rode multiple times in a row. She takes after her Dad for sure with her love for a good adrenaline rush. She was also quite pleased that she met the height requirement to ride the beginner rollercoasters, Firechaser Express and Whistle Punk Chaser. She is already talking about when she's tall enough to ride the others.
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We ended the day with one of the cutest rides in my opinion, the Rocking Roadway where your child can be behind the steering wheel of a classic car. This was another ride that as soon as it ended, we hopped back in line to ride again.
No matter your age, Dollywood is sure to be a good time for all!
Please note: All trip expenses were our own, and as always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
