My family has enjoyed visiting several road-trip worthy destinations from Raleigh and we are always on the hunt for new places to visit. Earlier this month, I was given an amazing opportunity to hit the road and experience Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, TN. Though my family didn’t join me on this “work trip”, I spent 3 unforgettable days learning what makes Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and its surrounding area such an inspiring family-friendly vacation destination!
Inspired by Nature
One of the very first things I noticed about the resort was the peace and serenity that come from being surrounded by nature. A babbling creek welcomes guests to the resort and inside, the lobby presents gorgeous outdoor views through the floor to ceiling windows. Although local attractions are mere miles away, when I was at the resort I really felt like I was tucked away in the mountains, away from it all. |
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Inspired by Dolly
Dolly Parton’s personal touches and uplifting essence are evident throughout the resort, from a gallery wall showcasing her albums to a time capsule containing a never-before-heard recording. Dolly’s spirited quotes and lovely photos are sprinkled everywhere- the elevators, Song & Hearth Restaurant, the walls of the lobby. I’ve had her words “Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More” ringing in my head since this trip, words I hope to inspire in my own children as they grow. As a guest of the resort, I couldn’t help but feel connected in a small yet special way to this incredible woman. |
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Inspired to Relax
It is clear that Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort was designed to be a cozy home away from home for its guests. So many of the public areas made me feel like I was just hanging out at a friend’s house. I can’t remember the last time I wanted to spend my free time in a hotel lobby! But with comfortable couches and inviting fireplaces, this lobby begged me to slow down and smell the coffee or in my case, slow down and drink the coffee that I purchased from the DM Pantry cafe. For those in need of some pampering the resort boasts a world-class Spa where guests can enjoy luxurious salon services and pick up amazing Farmhouse Fresh bath & beauty products. As if the lobby and the spa aren’t enough encouragement for a little R&R, the hot tub is open year-round! This was probably my favorite part of the resort. There is nothing more aaaah-inspiring to me than soaking in a hot tub after a full day of fun. |
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Inspired to Play
When I bring my kids here next time, I know they are going to go crazy over all the fun activities offered by the resort. Every afternoon, hands-on activities are presented in the lobby by resort staff for parents and kids to enjoy as a family. There is an arcade INSIDE the hotel, with air hockey, video games, car races, you name it! Across from the arcade, Camp DW is a really neat creative space where families can paint and create other works of art together during open art hours. Families can also enjoy hours of water-play at DreamMore no matter the season, with a seasonal outdoor pool and a heated indoor open year round! In the evening the resort offers s’mores* by the firepit and kids movies are shown in the outdoor barn (which also has a cozy firepit!). To maximize the “play” aspect, guests of the Dollywood DreamMore Resort enjoy special perks at Dollywood and Dollywood’s Water Country too, with free trolly rides to and from the parks along with time-saver line passes! |
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Inspired for Adventure
I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know much about Dollywood Theme Parks prior to this trip. Growing up in Southern California, I was raised going to theme parks and high-thrill roller coasters so when I learned that Dollywood is home to award-winning coasters and some of the best quality shows in the nation, I was sold. Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country were both closed for the season during my visit but through an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, I learned all about the newest expansion at Dollywood called Wildwood Grove. Wildwood Grove is a whole new “land” that will extend the entertainment and excitement of Dollywood with several new rides and shows!
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Inspired to Explore
While many folks may be familiar with Pigeon Forge and Dollywood in general, this was my first time in the area! It was such a treat to discover all the great things offered in Pigeon Forge convenient to the resort. I’m a thrifty shopper/bargain hunter by nature, so the Tanger Outlets about 10 minutes away were right up my alley. Down the road from the outlets is the Titanic Museum Attraction, which was a genuinely enlightening and moving experience for me. With amazing artifacts, historical accounts and hands-on exhibits, I know my kids would find the museum really interesting and fun too. Pigeon Forge is also home to many exciting shows and more family attractions. Of course 3 days was not enough to squeeze in everything, but I was happy for the chance to see Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, a dinner-theater show based off the infamous historical family feud.
About 20 minutes from the resort, closer to the base of the Smoky Mountains, is Gaitlingburg, TN, a picturesque mountain town. One of my biggest joys in life is exploring “Main Street USA” style towns. Simply wandering around, trying local coffee (*cough* or in this case, moonshine *cough*) and browsing the shops makes me so happy. Gaitlingburg offers all of this and more. My kids were pretty jealous of my time spent at Ripley’s Aquarium but enjoyed going through all my photos of jellyfish, sharks, seahorses and penguins! Gaitlinburg is full of several fun attractions like Anakeesta Theme Park, Ripley’s Mirror Maze, and Guinness World Records Adventure and it will be so much fun to explore them all on our next trip!
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Inspired to Return
Overall, to say I enjoyed Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and the surrounding area is a vast understatement. I had as much fun inside of the resort as I had exploring outside and I feel so lucky knowing that this destination is close enough for me to return soon to experience it all over again (and then some) with my family!
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The Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa provided a complimentary weekend stay and all activities and meals were included for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.
