Flip Out Mama

Disclosure: Wilderness at the Smokies provided our family with a complimentary stay for our original visit in 2013. All opinions and experiences shared are my own. This post has been updated in 2026 with current resort information. Wilderness at the Smokies has changed quite a bit since our family originally stayed there—and honestly, “quite a bit” might be an understatement. We first visited Wilderness at the Smokies during one of our family trips to Tennessee when our kids were much younger. At the time, we stayed at the resort, spent plenty of time in the waterparks, explored the Adventure Forest family entertainment center, and came home with a whole lot of Smoky Mountain vacation memories. Since that original visit, Wilderness has undergone some major renovations and expansions. The indoor Wild WaterDome has been expanded and renovated, Stone Hill Lodge's guest rooms have been completely updated, and the resort has added new lodging and attractions—including mountain-modern ...

Dollywood has always been one of our favorite places to visit in the Smoky Mountains, and looking back at these pictures now makes me realize just how little my kids were when we first started taking these trips. We spent an entire day at Dollywood during one of our family trips to Pigeon Forge, and it ended up being one of those vacation days everyone enjoyed for completely different reasons. Some of us were there for the rides, some preferred the slower attractions, and obviously there was plenty of food involved. 😂 Our original visit in this post was years ago, so Dollywood has changed quite a bit since these pictures were taken. I wanted to update the post while keeping our original experience and photos, and I've added some current information for anyone planning a Dollywood trip today. Here's what our family loved about our day at Dollywood—and a few things to know if you're thinking about adding it to your own Smoky Mountains vacation. A Full Day at Dollywood O...

2026 Note: If you're planning a trip to Gatlinburg, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is probably going to show up pretty quickly on your list of things to do—and for good reason. Disclosure: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies provided complimentary admission for our family for our original visit. All opinions and experiences shared are my own. This post has been updated in 2026 with current planning information. We visited Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies as a family during one of our trips to Gatlinburg, and it ended up being one of those attractions where we spent way more time than I expected. We were there for around four and a half hours, and the kids still weren't ready to leave. It's been a while since our original visit, so some things at the aquarium have changed since then, but I wanted to update this post while keeping our original experience and photos. If you're considering adding the aquarium to your Smoky Mountains vacation, here's what o...

Looking for an unforgettable family experience in the heart of the Smoky Mountains? Well, buckle up because I've got the inside scoop on an absolute blast for the whole family! We just wrapped up our Spring Break trip to Pigeon Forge, TN, and let me tell you, this one's a game-changer. Setting the Scene: A Love Letter to the Smoky Mountains If the Smoky Mountains aren't your favorite place on Earth, they will be after you hear about this gem! Trust me; I've contemplated moving here so many times that I've practically memorized rental listings and long-distance moving companies. It's just that magical. Dinner Show Delight: Hatfield and McCoy Feud Now, let's talk dinner shows – and not just any dinner show, but the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud in Sevierville. Nestled between Wonderworks (the "upside-down house") and the Titanic Museum, it's hard to miss. The fun starts the moment you lay eyes on the building, with a petting zoo outside to k...