Thankfully we live exactly 2 1/2 hours away from the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg TN area, and typically visit at least once a year. It’s a really fun vacation spot for families, and you’ll never run out of activities to do. No matter what your interests are, Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg TN never disappoints.
This time around, we booked a cabin through Alpine Mountain Chalets, and really enjoyed our cabin stay. Our cabin, Bear Necessities, was very spacious and with all of the amenities, we felt right at home. Of course, the boys loved the Jacuzzi! 😉
On Saturday morning, we took the kids to Ripley’s Aquarium and they had a blast seeing all the fish, sharks, penguins, and even getting to pet a few stingrays. (completely safe of course) This aquarium does an awesome job of catering to children and has an entire kids playground area with lots of interactive exhibits for learning.
It was so nice to have a weekend away from everything and to really just relax with the kids and have some much needed fun. Just seeing the smiles on my kids’ faces when we all get to do things together as a family, is priceless.
This impromptu weekend away also reminded me the importance of learning to just live in the moment and have fun. Too often, I focus on planning every detail out, and it’s much more relaxing to sometimes just go with the flow.
Hope each of you have a wonderful week, and thanks for stopping by!-Cara
Linking up on Mommy Moments, Inspiration Monday, Creative Mondays, Busy Monday, Merry Monday
We live about an 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg and love going there for weekend trips – especially for kids 🙂 We went to Ripley’s last time, too! It was our first visit there.
It’s such a fun little place to visit. Our kids really enjoy all the activities in the area!
What fun! looks like a great day for all.
Thanks, it was!
Oh it looks like you had such a wonderful and well needed weekend away. We have one planned soon and I can’t wait 🙂
Thank-you, we did! Hope you all have fun 🙂
Adventurous kids!
Thanks!
Aww! What a fun little family trip! Plain old “fun” can be so important in our lives–it’s good to stop and invest in fun once in a while! 🙂 I went to that same Ripley’s Aquarium when I was a kid and we were visiting Tennessee, back when we lived in Kentucky!
I agree, Rachel. So important to just live and let go sometimes. Glad you liked the aquarium as well 🙂
This family is just the cutest!! It looked like you had so much fun 🙂 Sometimes just being with the family is always great!
xo, Jessica || The Petite Diaries
Aw thank-you! We had a blast! 🙂
I am so happy your sweet family got to have a little get-a-away, especially after what sounds like a really tough week! I’m with you, I am such a planner by nature, I often forget to just relax and go with the flow sometimes, it’s always a reminder I need to give myself. Hope you’re having a better week gorgeous! XO -Kim
Aw thank-you Kim! It was so nice to get away and a lot of fun! If you ever get the chance to visit the area, you definitely should! 🙂
This looked like such a fun trip Cara!!! I have never been to Pigeon Forge area but I heard it is a lot of fun! You and your family looked like you had a blast! That dip sounds so yummy!
It was so much fun, and you should definitely visit sometime! & that dip was heavenly! So far we have just tried it by itself, but you can also mix it with cool whip, which tastes amazing too!
Aww I bet they were so excited for your spontaneous trip!! I love going up there.. onr of our best vacations ever was renting a cabin in Gatlinburg!
They loved it! There’s something so relaxing about staying in a cabin for the weekend. Glad you all like it too! 🙂
that’s awesome y’all got a mini getaway!! i love PF–it’s been forever since I’ve been there. what wonderful memories for y’all!
Thank-you! It was a lot of fun! Hope you’ll get to visit soon!
Your family is absolutely adorable! This looks like such a fun weekend getaway! All of these photos are too cute. I would love to stay in a place ‘Bear Necessities.’ I’m such a fan of The Jungle Book.
Thank-you! I kept singing that song the whole time we were there-haha It was a really nice cabin. Perfect for couples or a small family! 🙂
You look beautiful! And such a cute family! Looks like you all had so much fun!
Thank-you! We did 🙂
Oh! It looks like y’all had such a nice time! I love three day weekends and weekend trips! Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN is one of my favorite destinations!
Sarah
http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/
Me too, Sarah! Glad you like it as well 🙂
Looks like such a fun weekend! I have never been to Gatlinburg!
It’s a really fun town, hope you’ll get to visit sometime!
Such a fun getaway! Glad you guys were able to have a family weekend after such a rough week. I’ve been wanting to get up there, it looks so beautiful <3
Green Fashionista
Thank-you! You’ll have a blast once you make it up this way 🙂
Yay!!! I love Gatlinburg! We are about a four hour drive and we end up there every year right after Christmas with Chris’s family. It is always so much fun! Of all the times we have been, I have never been to that crab place though. I will have to put it on the list for next time. Looks like you guys had so much fun.
That’s so awesome, Nadine! I had never been to Harry’s either, but it was such a pretty restaurant on the inside and great food too!
So sweet! We used to family vacation at Pigeon Forge when I was little. It was so much fun! Your boys are so handsome!! 🙂
Thank-you! It’s a fun spot to visit! 🙂
impromptu weekends are the best! sounds like a fun time. kids always love the aquarium (at least i do!!)
I do too-haha! I always love looking at all the pretty fish and the penguins are pretty cool too!
We went to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg TN area this past summer and it is SO GORGEOUS! We live about 4 hours from that area and I hadn’t been since I was a child. I was surprised at how much there was to do around there and decided it was definitely one of my favorite places!
Yes, it has definitely grown over the years to be a huge tourist spot, but we love it! Always something fun and new to do! 🙂
Awww! Looks like you guys had a blast!
I grew up about 45 minutes from Myrtle Beach, SC, which also has Ripley’s Aquarium. I had so many field trips and several birthday parties there. It was such a fun place to go!
Thank-you, we did! Myrtle Beach is a fun spot as well, and Ripley’s Aquarium is a really neat place to visit.
Perfect family weekend away! I’m glad you guys jumped on the opportunity.
Yes, it’s such a rarity we had to take advantage. 🙂
What a fun weekend! I hear nothing but great things about Gatlinburg. We’ll have to make a trip there one of these days!
It’s a fun vacation spot, you all will love it! 🙂
If I lived that close, I’d be there ALL THE TIME. We’re about 5.5 hours away … I LOVE Gatlinburg
We love it too! You seriously will never run out of things to do 🙂
Your boys are so adorable!!! It looks like you had a great impromptu weekend!
Thank-you! We did 🙂
Glad you had a great time. Colten’s commentary is great too. Love you guys.
Dad and Mom
I’m sure, it’s fun to listen to him talk about it all.-haha Love you too!
How beautiful are you all!! Just tickled pink you had a little get away!! What great memories for you and those sweet boys!!
Aw thank-you Andrea! We had a lot of fun 🙂
Sounds like everyone needed some down time. By the looks of your pictures all of you had a great time.
Thanks, we did! 🙂
Cara, what a fun little trip!! Your boys look like they had so much fun exploring and learning new things, too. That crab hoagie sounds heavenly. I’m glad you all had a wonderful weekend : )
Thank-you! We had a blast 🙂
It sounds like a wonderful weekend! It’s always so good to get away from real life for a couple days!
I agree, Lindsey! It was a lot of fun!
Cara this looked amazing! What a fun and spontaneous trip! The aquarium looks like such a big hit…they are the perfect age for really enjoying it. So glad you guys had fun!!!!
Thanks Jennifer! It was so nice to get away! You all should definitely visit the area sometime, you’d enjoy it! 🙂