There’s something incredibly special about carving out time for family—and this summer, Gatlinburg, Tennessee gave us the perfect backdrop for just that.

Our daughter packed up the grandbabies, and departed Pittsburgh, PA by car and headed into the mountains for a vacation we’ll all be talking about for years. Our home for the week? A stunning 4-bedroom, 4-bath mountain retreat complete with its own indoor swimming pool, hot tub, pool table, Pac-Man arcade, and a back patio that looked like it was straight off a postcard. Every morning started coffee on the back porch, and every night ended with giggles, relaxation on the porch swing and grateful hearts.

One of the most unforgettable parts of this trip was watching our grands overcome their fears and learn to swim right before our eyes. Y’all, to see them go from hesitant steps into the water to full-on laps by the end of the week was amazing. The pool was small in size but perfect for us to be able to keep an eye on all 4 of our grands and gave them a sense of security. That kind of growth hits different when you’re living life on the road—it’s a reminder that courage comes in all sizes.

We experienced our first visit to Dollywood—and let us tell you, it was magical and it won't be our last visit. The rides, the music, the food, the Southern charm—it had something for everyone. But the true showstopper? Our grandson being called up on stage at the Bubble Show! His face lit up brighter than the Smoky Mountain sun. That was a proud family moment for sure. And he did not hesitate to let us know for the remainder of the trip that he is a celebrity LOL... We agree😍

We enjoyed the free refills at the drink stations, and going inside to the shows was perfect for a cool down, the kids and PapPap rode a little and then off to a show we would go.

Another way the kids were able to stay cool was by enjoying the Bubble Foam Zone. They came out soaked after rinsing the bubbles off but quickly dried in the Smokey Mountain Sun. One question in our minds we both had was how toxic are these bubbles as we all coughed and our youngest vomitted after bubble intake ... yikes! Check out the video below to see all of the fun!

Before the bubble excitement, we filled our bellies at Aunt Granny’s Restaurant. That southern-style meal allowed us to skip the junk food have a great meal and try multiple menu options. Its family style and refills on meats and veggies are included. It was affordable and delicious. We enjoyed:

• Fried Ocra
• Green Beans
• Collard Greens
• Cabbage
• Fried Chicken
• Sausage & Peppers
• Pot Roast with Vegetables and Gravy
• Peach Cobbler
• Chocolate Chip Cookies

The bill for 8 of us was only $176! This was an awesome deal and we had no need to purchase snacks or other foods for the rest of the day.

The next day, we headed over to The Apple Barn and Cidar Mill, which is a must-visit spot if you're in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. The kids enjoyed the candy shop. And for the adults? Let’s just say we took full advantage of the wine sampling at the Apple Barn Winery. Smooth sips, hearty laughs, and a chance to slow down and savor the moment. It was the perfect grown-up treat in the middle of our family adventure.

Slowing the pace with a movie night with Pap Pap and Grandma was a hit and gave Mom and Dad a chance to have a date night. Grandma and Avery the youngest enjoyed the entire movie while the rest of the crew caught up on some much needed zzzz's 😴

Pap Pap and Grandma were able to sneak in a day of rest while Mom and Dad took the kids for a hike at Mountain Kuwohi, formerly known as Clingmans Dome, which is the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the state of Tennessee, standing at 6,643 feet. It is also the highest point along the Appalachian Trail and the third-highest summit east of the Mississippi River, after Mount Mitchell and Mount Craig .

We joined them later at Anakeesta where we enjoyed walking the Tree Top Skywalk and taking in the moutaintop views.

We all took turns enjoying the hot tub and Grandma and Pap Pap made sure to get in a moonlight soak.

This time together was truly amazing and we consider it a blessing that we all will remember. Building memories together is awesome but not as great as building them together as a family.

If you have questions about the places we have shared in this post be sure to ask in the comments below.

We rate the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg TN area a 10/10 for an affordable fun and friendly family vacation.

Happy Travels,

Kirsten & Mack