RainbowSprinkles Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 Has anyone been there? I'm looking at where to stay and found a place called Sheila's Cabins. Has anyone stayed there? We are planning on going to Dollywood, that we know for sure. What else is there that you would recommend seeing or doing? Any recommendations for restaurants? Anything we should stay away from? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganMama Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 We live about an hour and 45 mins from there. It's VERY commercial/touristy. Lots to do. There isn't a lot in the way of healthy eating, but that's coming from a vegan. ;) You'll definitely want to check out Wonder Works. I don't know anything about Shelia's, but most of the cabins over there are decent. I looked at the listing on vbro, looks cool! There is a Mellow Mushroom in Pigeon Forge! We haven't been to that location, but it is our all-time favorite pizza place. Fantastic food! Trying to think...there's an outlet mall down there as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oasis Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 My dh and I have vacationed in the Smoky Mountains twice, and we love it SOOO much! :001_wub: The first time we stayed in a cabin in Pigeon Forge (and it was amazing!) The second time we had to go cheaper, so we stayed in a Days Inn outside of Pigeon Forge. We absolutely loved Ripley's Aquarium, and if you have a homeschooler's identification card (we printed them from www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org), you will receive a discount. We went to the Aquarium both times we were vacationing in the mountains. After seeing the Aquarium, it was a lot of fun walking the Gatlinburg main strip to see the shops. We drove through Cades Cove, which was absolutely beautiful, and we just happened to see a black bear, too! We had our kids with us (ages 5 and 7) on the drive, and honestly, we wouldn't go back to the Cove with the kids. They were feeling car sick; it was a long drive with lots of curves and hills. They were delighted to see the Cades Cove horses, and the black bear, though. :001_smile: I think you'll thoroughly enjoy the area; it's gorgeous, and offers tons of family activies. I'll add more when I can... I'm at work, so I'm getting interrupted. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oasis Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 (edited) This may contain more details than you wanted regarding renting a cabin, but I found these tips on Trip Advisor's Gatlinburg forum: This set of questions was created by an informal poll of guests who frequent cabins and owners who participate on the TA forums in the Smokies. These are helpful questions and tips for renting a private vacation rental home in the Smokies. Ask these questions and perhaps they will help you find that perfect place for your next Smoky Mountain vacation. - Exterior Questions What are the roads like getting to the cabin? Are they steep, 1 or 2 lanes, paved, gravel, do I need a 4 wheel drive vehicle to access it? How steep is the driveway? Is the driveway paved or gravel? Paved driveways are great, but gravel driveways are better for winter weather in terms of ice and traction. How close is the cabin to the next cabin (privacy)? Privacy issues as how close to other cabins including each side and in front and back of cabin in terms of feet? Privacy - is it secluded/how many other cabins can you see? If privacy is a primary concern ask about vegetation or size of the lot. Very private homes may not need window treatments and the interior photos may reveal that as well. Does the view from the deck look over someone else’s house? Is the view an east facing sunrise view or west sun setting view? What if I book in the winter and the day I get to town it snows 10 inches and I cant get to the cabin. What is your refund policy? Is there any nearby construction to the cabin? i.e. Next door to the cabin. - Location Questions How far is it to the nearest grocery? Where is the home? Most managers and rent by owners will only divulge this information to guests who pay in full. This is in large part for the security of the current guests and for the home itself. However, if you are somewhat familiar to the town the cabin is near, you may want to ask specific questions about the area such as where is the home in relation to downtown or the Parkway or casino or the ski slopes. What are the cabins close to Activities,Dining? - Hot Tub – Spa Questions How often do you clean the hot tub? Is the hot tub emptied and clean before every visitor? These questions are good ones, but some hot tubs have better filtration than others. Some need to be completely drained after each stay and others need to be drained between 14 to 30 days. Ask if the spa has 24/7 filtration or does it only filter the water when the jets are on? Those that only filter during the operation of the spa need to be drained more often than those with constant filtration. Is there someone available to fix the broken hot tub? How long does it typically take to have a person out to fix or clean the spa? The answer to this somewhat depends on the nature of the problem and unfortunately the day of the week and time of the day the problem is reported. Sundays and Holidays may pose challenges to any needed service. Is the spa under cover out of the elements or is out on a deck? In snow many people enjoy sitting in the spa on a deck with snow falling. In the summer it rains a lot in the Smokies and a hot tub out in the open may limit the use during the rain. How big is the hot tub in gallons? The larger the hot tub typically the cleaner it may be and depending on the spa, the longer it holds heat. Some hot tubs have heaters that work at the same time as the jets and keep the water warm during operation. How many adults can use the spa? Do you have to turn the spa on to warm the water? If so, how long does the water take to warm the spa? - Other Exterior Questions Do you have a fire pit? If so do you provide wood or do I need to buy it? Is it a gas log fire set? Do you have a source to buy firewood in bulk for extended stays? What is parking like at the cabin? Do you have covered parking? Can I access the garage if one is present? Can I bring a motorcycle trailer and how many feet do you have to turn a trailer around at the cabin? How do I access the cabin? Are there many steps or ramps? What happens if air conditioner breaks in July can you fix in a couple of hours? This is a good question, but more importantly if any of the major mechanical systems fail, how will they handle the event is what needs to be asked. Owners and managers are somewhat at the mercy of the contracted repairman to fix the problems. - Interior Questions Many of the interior questions should be answered on the owners web site or management company’s as the case may be. However, if you have specific needs for accessibility, bedrooms on the main floor, ramps, steps, and so forth be sure to ask the owner or manager. What exactly is in the kitchen in terms of cookware, appliances and does everything work? How many place servings do you offer in the kitchen? If the home sleeps 6 and there are only 6 servings of flatware and silverware, you are doing dishes at every meal. Do you have central heat and air? Wood burning fireplace or gas logs? Ceiling fans? If you allow pets, do you shampoo the rugs regularly? What is the quantity of cleaning supplies? How many rolls of bathroom tissue do you provide? What linens do you provide? If quality and thread count are important to you as a guest, ask this as well. How old are your beds? - Fees, Policies and Money This is the nitty gritty of renting cabins. Property managers and owners vary widely in the fees they charge for staying in a vacation rental. Be sure to ask about the TOTAL Costs before renting and when comparing cabins. What are the fees, is there a cancellation policy, do you offer return guests a discount? Do you charge cleaning fees including hot tub? Is there an additional charge for over a certain number of guests? Does the company offer trip insurance? What is the check in/out policy? Is there a damage deposit? What is the cleaning fee? What is your refund and cancellation policy? Ask about inside of 30 days and outside of 30 days? Are there booking fees or other hidden fees? - Other Questions If it is a Rent By Owner cabin how far away do you live? Can you respond ASAP to a problem? Are pictures updated/amenities accurate? Does the company provide directions to the cabin? Is the deck built to proper modern building codes and safe? Do you have a floor plan? - Interesting comments Generally, where is the cabin? This is tricky sometimes, as most rental companies don't like to give out the address of a cabin before you rent it for security reasons. However, it really doesn't provide much assistance for a VRBO or rental company to mention that a cabin is "8 miles from Gatlinburg" or close to the Nantahala River Gorge, when it could be one of three directions If you're really interested in a cabin with a view, you need to really scrutinize the pictures of the view from the cabin. If the place claims to have a view yet all pictures of the view are taken in the winter, you may have no view at all in the summer when the leaves are on the trees. Also be wary of cabins that have very few pictures of their cabin to look at. What are they hiding? For me, if the bedspreads/quilts/comforters on the beds looked old, it was a complete turnoff. If they haven't replaced their bedding since the 70s, how good can the rest of the cabin be? If you're renting a larger cabin, ask if there are enough pots and pans to cook meals for lots of people. It's amazing to me how anyone could think that you can cook for 16 or 18 people with one average sized pot and a skillet! Happy Camping! Edited April 12, 2012 by oasis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissad2 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 We love Pigeon Forge and go a couple of times a year. Definitely check out wonderworks and the aquarium. Also the Titanic museum is quite interesting but I wouldn't recommend it if you have small kids...they will get bored fast! I love the Dixie Stampede but it is pricey so we hardly ever go. There are a couple of caverns that are awesome too..Forbidden Caverns and Tuckaleechee Caverns. I preferred Tuckaleechee Caverns as it was more scenic. Cades Cove is beautiful but watch for bear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinlunachick Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 MagiQuest was a ton of fun for dd, and they'll give your little ones loaner wands so they don't feel left out. If you visit the Aquarium in Gatlinburg, (TOTALLY worth it, and a crazy discounted price, btw!) check out the little KarmelKorn shop for yummy popcorn or dipped cones. My dh is still pining for another toasted coconut dipped cone, which no one else seems to have thought of! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomatHWTK Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 We rent through here: http://www.amazingviewsofthesmokies.com/ Look at the pictures and make sure the place looks updated. Some are older than others, but we've stayed in 3 different ones and been happy. Be sure to examine the pictures for the floor layouts- some have open balconies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oasis Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 Here is a list of stuff we've never tried before -- definitely on our to-do list for next time! Restaurants Log Cabin Pancake House Old Mill Square Restaurant Bullfish Grill Park Grill Steakhouse Jordan's Village Creamery Family Activities Gatlinburg Sky Lift Ripley's Believe It or Not! Space Needle Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 We prefer to stay in Townsend. It is quieter and very beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 The "quiet walkway" hikes just off the roads are very nice. They usually run beside a waterway and aren't very strenuous. Abram's Falls is fabulous. It is quite a hike to get to it. (Of course, I was very pg when we did it...) It is a busy trail. The Blonde Giraffe for frozen key lime pie dipped in chocolate on a stick (to die for!) Log Cabin Pancake House: peanut butter/chocolate chip pancakes!!! Along with everything else already mentioned. There is also a place called Parrot Mountain right behind Dollywood. Haven't been, but will be going soon. (Lots of birds). Oh yeah, make sure to visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center. It has a museum area with stuffed (real) animals and preserved plants all for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainbowSprinkles Posted April 13, 2012 Author Share Posted April 13, 2012 Thanks for all the replies and links! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganMama Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Totally forgot about Cades Cove and the Aquarium! Both are excellent. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplykim Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 I would like to second, third, whatever.....(lol) Ripley's Aquarium. It is definitely worth a visit. There's also ice skating and such in Ober Gatlinburg if that's your cup of tea. Have fun! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountitallJoy Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 A good Dollywood tip that I didn't find out about until our 3rd visit or so is that they provide free ice water at all their concession stands. We have some of those refillable mugs from there, and we always take those and a whole bunch of those flavored drop-ins. Saves BIG $$ throughout the day. They also have a pretty liberal "bring your own snacks" policy. We love all things Dollywood! Our favorite place to eat in the park is Miss Lillian's Chicken House. Right next to Miss Lillian's is the Wings Over America (I think is the name) live eagle show. It's another of our favorites. When are y'all going? (You can PM me that if you'd rather, or you don't have to, LOL) Just asking because we are hoping to go next month sometime with our tax refund ~ maybe we could meet! Other than DW, I second the suggestions of Sugarlands and Cades Cove. We've never done most of the other stuff because we live in a tourist area as well and have nearly all the exact same attractions. I hope y'all love it as much as we do! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I cannot recommend Oak Haven Resorts enough. It is beautiful, and we were upgraded to a larger cabin at no extra charge. Wonderworks and the magic show were fantastic! I found the aquarium lacking. Magiquest is great. My husband loved the Dixie Stampede. I thought Cirque de Chine was not to be missed! Fantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 We enjoy Dollywood, the aquarium, and eating at Applewood Farmhouse restaurant: http://www.applewoodfarmhouserestaurant.com/home.html If you like to shop, they have a huge outlet shopping center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball mom Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 The "quiet walkway" hikes just off the roads are very nice. They usually run beside a waterway and aren't very strenuous. Abram's Falls is fabulous. It is quite a hike to get to it. (Of course, I was very pg when we did it...) It is a busy trail. The Blonde Giraffe for frozen key lime pie dipped in chocolate on a stick (to die for!) Log Cabin Pancake House: peanut butter/chocolate chip pancakes!!! Along with everything else already mentioned. There is also a place called Parrot Mountain right behind Dollywood. Haven't been, but will be going soon. (Lots of birds). Oh yeah, make sure to visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center. It has a museum area with stuffed (real) animals and preserved plants all for free. I think this is the pancake place we went too. YUM-O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnbacademy Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 We love to eat at the Apple Barn & Cider Mill: a restaurant, ice cream parlor, and general store. It is in Pigeon Forge. ETA: Oops, same restaurant as above post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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