Rooting for Mem the other night and thought about taking the fam north instead of to the beach this summer. I have two kids under ten who've never seen a mountain. Any of you have east tn experiences for a cabin or cool family hotel spot for June or July? I'd rather drive to tn than fly to Col or Id. Thanks in advance.

Gatlinberg. I got married there and have been back every year since. Beautiful and affordable. It's a great family spot with lots to do.

Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga would be a good experience for them.

Here is a link of a person that rents cabins in the smoky mountains. Supposed to be really top notch!

Good luck

http://www.dogwoodcabins.com/realty/mls.html

(04-27-2011 10:50 AM)Eagle in the gym Wrote:  Rooting for Mem the other night and thought about taking the fam north instead of to the beach this summer. I have two kids under ten who've never seen a mountain. Any of you have east tn experiences for a cabin or cool family hotel spot for June or July? I'd rather drive to tn than fly to Col or Id. Thanks in advance.

Gatlinburg is pretty but can be awfull to get around spring-fall. Pidgen Forged is a total cheesy tourist trap but you can go to Dollyland if you have children.


The Big Sout Fork area is a lesser known but beautiful National Park in North East TN.
http://hemlockbluffcabin.com/


I'm a big Fall Creek Falls fan in South East TN and it is a easy drive over to the Ocoee river from there if you want to ake a float trip. Part of the river was used in the Olympics.
http://www.grandviewcabins.net/

http://www.sunburstrafting.com/ocoee_river_cabin.htm

Lookout Mountain has a very nice development on the Georgia side (most of the mountain is actually in GA.) I think you can google 'lookout mountain rentals' and get the listing. It is about 15 minutes to Chattanooga, and there is much to do there (the Aquarium, Choo Choo, other tourist stuff.)

Pigeon Forge area has lots of cabins for rent, and is still very close to Gatlinburg. And of course there are many condo and cabins available in Gatlinburg, as well. You should have plenty to do, and keep your children entertained.

now, you oughtta know better than to come on this board and put the word "vacate" in the thread title!

(04-27-2011 11:17 AM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  

(04-27-2011 10:50 AM)Eagle in the gym Wrote:  Rooting for Mem the other night and thought about taking the fam north instead of to the beach this summer. I have two kids under ten who've never seen a mountain. Any of you have east tn experiences for a cabin or cool family hotel spot for June or July? I'd rather drive to tn than fly to Col or Id. Thanks in advance.

Gatlinburg is pretty but can be awfull to get around spring-fall. Pidgen Forged is a total cheesy tourist trap but you can go to Dollyland if you have children.


The Big Sout Fork area is a lesser known but beautiful National Park in North East TN.
http://hemlockbluffcabin.com/


I'm a big Fall Creek Falls fan in South East TN and it is a easy drive over to the Ocoee river from there if you want to ake a float trip. Part of the river was used in the Olympics.
http://www.grandviewcabins.net/

http://www.sunburstrafting.com/ocoee_river_cabin.htm

These sites and the one referenced by Princess and others are well worth pursuing. I would avoid Gatlinburg....too commercialized.

Not Gatlinburg, unless your idea of a relaxing family vacation is sitting in traffic...although I did get to see someone pulled over there for a DUI, BY A BICYCLE COP!

I would lean towards the Chattenooga recommendations.

Chattanooga has an extremely nice aquarium, and you can go white water rafting nearby. The mountains aren't as big as the Smokies; however, you'll have less tourists. Lookout Mountain is pretty cool.

http://www.tnaqua.org/Home.aspx

Gatlinburg also offers a cool aquarium.

http://gatlinburg.ripleyaquariums.com/

Gatlinburg is a true tourist town, and you won't run out of things to do with the kids over there. You can also visit Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I highly recommend either.

As much as I dislike some East Tennesseans attitude towards Memphis, they do live in a beautiful area.

Fall Creek Falls is great.

I totally second Chattanooga. Something that hasn't been mentioned is Rock City. I went as a kid and it was neat to take my kids 30 years later. It is a simplistic, neat place with fantastic views. See seven states on a clear day. Also on Lookout Mountain is Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway, which are ok but not a 'must' like Rock City. I'm also a huge baseball fan and love the minor leagues. Chattanooga has the AA Lookouts that play in BellSouth Park downtown. It's no Engel Stadium (previous home) but still pretty neat. Chattanooga is considerably less crowded than Pidgeon Forge/Gatlinburg also.

You don't want to miss the excitement over at Dog Patch Arkansas. The kids can learn that they can marry their kinfolk at age 12. There will be a demonstration on how to make and distribute moonshine. Also there will be a training class on "safety when removing mobile home wheels" and how to call the Hogs.

Is Dog Patch still there? Loved that place when I was a kid.

"vacate" means to take a vacation??

(04-27-2011 12:26 PM)Mimi Wrote:  "vacate" means to take a vacation??

facilitation - facilitate
anticipation - anticipate
masturbation - masturbate

No wonder, people struggle with English.

nutrition- nutritate?

(04-27-2011 11:51 AM)99Tiger Wrote:  Not Gatlinburg, unless your idea of a relaxing family vacation is sitting in traffic...although I did get to see someone pulled over there for a DUI, BY A BICYCLE COP!

I would lean towards the Chattenooga recommendations.

I traveled to Chattanooga on business for 30+ years....very historical....great 2-4 day vacation spot...the Tennessee Aquarium, Imax 3-D Theater, River Gorge Rides, Incline Railway, Ruby Falls,Rock City, Lookout Mt.,near Ocoee Rafting. Get a hotel package. I always stayed in the Read House but....with children....I'd recommend a newer facility such as the Bluff View Inn(800-725-8338). Get a packae which include many of the local attractions. There is a TN welcome center just off Hy 24.

(04-27-2011 12:25 PM)SmokeyOneKenobi Wrote:  Is Dog Patch still there? Loved that place when I was a kid.

I also went to DogPatch as a kid. A few years ago we were up in the Eureka Springs area near DogPatch when we happened to drive by it. It had been closed and abandoned years ago. Most of the buildings and walkways had trees and brush growing up through them. It was pretty sad. It reminded me of the History Channel show about how cities would look if people disappeared.

(04-27-2011 12:37 PM)Mimi Wrote:  nutrition- nutritate?

demolition - demolate?