There are TONS (and I do mean TONS) of hotels, resorts, and cabins to choose from in the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg area. We have stayed at quite a few in the area and have had great experiences with so many. But, there is one we keep returning to. Wilderness at the Smokies.
This property has everything! There would be no reason to leave the resort unless you had to. It has shopping, dining, a place to paint pottery, indoor putt-putt (and outdoor), indoor bowling, 3 waterparks, and MORE! See what I mean?
The waterparks are for hotel guests only, so you don’t have outside riffraff coming in {which is a total plus in my book}. Our favorite area to hit is the outdoor waterpark. The lazy river is the best we’ve ever been on (meaning, you actually move and you don’t spend all your time on it paddling). The waterslides outside are so great! I may or may not have fallen asleep in the tube on the river. There are 3 pretty great waterslides outside too along with the 12,000 foot wave pool.
The 60,000 square foot indoor waterpark is pretty fun too! The temperature inside stays a warm year round, so if you’re visiting in the winter it feels perfect. On a summer afternoon, it does get a bit warm and muggy if you’re just lounging and not actually in the water to cool off. There are 3 really fun waterslides inside, a surf rider, 10,000 square foot wave pool, a kids area (age 3 and under) that is roped off so they can’t escape (I know, sounds wonderful, right?), and Washout Mountain – a playground for all ages with LOTS of water.
{note: we have never visited the third water area at Wilderness because we’ve always been consumed with the indoor and outdoor areas at the main parks}
The guest rooms are nice with wilderness or “lodge-y feel” decor. Every time we have been to Wilderness, we have stayed in the 1 bedroom deluxe room. This comes with a full kitchen, living room, 2 bathrooms, 2 pull out couches, a pull down bed from the wall, a queen bed, and a queen/twin bunk bed. It can sleep 10-12 people easily. If you have a lot of people coming with you, I’d definitely book this room. If there is just 5 or 6 of you like in our family, it definitely gives you the space you need to stretch out.
Here are key 2 tips when visiting Wilderness at the Smokies you’ll want to remember:
1. The resort offers towels for your convenience. You hand them a towel card (that they give you when you check-in) for you to use, then when you are finished for the day, you return the towel and they give you the towel back. Remember, do not forget your towel while you’re outside or inside at the waterparks or you’ll be charged $25 a towel.
2. Wear sunscreen! Even inside where it may seem like you may not need the sunscreen like you do outside. You do! You can definitely get burnt from being in the indoor waterpark.
{Check out my other Wilderness posts.}
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