Vacations are a time honored practice in my house. Every year we pack up the kids and head off to a destination on the east coast to build family memories. Last year was not going to be any different. Our older boys are in high school now, so we are focusing more on getting away with all of our kids. There are only a few more years until our sons will be heading off to college, so I want to be sure that I take advantage of  vacation opportunities while they still live at home. With that in mind, we set out for a stelar family vacation last fall. Last year’s vacation spot was in the Great Smoky Mountains.  We wanted a family friendly hotel to stay in located near fun and affordable activities to do together. We found that in Pigeon Forge. With four kids still in the house, we needed a large hotel room. This can be a problem for some locations, but not for The Inn on The River in beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Inn has rooms of all sizes. I was able to find the room that fit our needs on their website which has great pictures of the room sizes available.  While booking, I was drooling over the rooms with a king–sized bed, fireplace and Jacuzzi, but reality hit fast and I booked the mini suite with two queen beds, a pullout sofa and a private balcony. The room was everything we thought it would be: Comfortable beds, plenty of room for every member of my family, and a great breakfast included in our reservation. This was not just a breakfast based on a box of stale donuts.  The Inn not only had waffles, fresh fruit, cereals and yogurt but also biscuits, sausage and gravy.  Breakfast is very important to me on vacation. If I don’t have food, I turn into a demanding diva. My blood sugar levels need sustenance in the morning, and my two teenage boys feel the same way. The Inn filled our mornings with breakfasts that had an at-home feel to them.

Large rooms, comfortable beds, a warm lobby and filling breakfasts are three of the four requirements that I have for a hotel. The fourth requirement for my family is a pool. Pools provide kids of all ages with a place to get their wiggles out. If I booked a room somewhere without a pool I would end up with a bed jumping competition of Olympic proportions in my room. The pool at The Inn exceeded my expectations. Not only was there an outdoor pool, there was also an indoor pool. Since the vacation was in during colder weather, the indoor pool was perfect. Fortunately, it only rained one day on our vacation. We had planned on being out hiking that day, but the rain kept us in and the pool saved the day. Instead of Olympic style long jump competitions on the beds, we had a family day spent relaxing and swimming in the indoor pool.

The Inn On The River was the launching point for our vacation, but the Smokies had so much to offer, we had to get out and explore some of the amazing activities found there. The trick was not doing so many activities that we would end the days stressed, but also not doing too few activities, which would lead back to long stretches of children jumping on the hotel beds. My husband and I have to hike on every vacation, so that was the first activity we sought out. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of our favorite places on the east coast to hike, and it is a reasonable drive from Pigeon Forge. My husband poured over maps for weeks planning which trails we would hike. More embarrassing than admitting to my children’s bed jumping ways, is admitting to one of our hikes in the Smokies.  My husband had picked out the trail at Clingmans Dome.  Clingmans Dome is the highest spot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I have a strong fear of heights. I thought that the Dome would be my vacation moment to overcome this fear, but alas, it was not. While my children were enjoying the 360-degree views found at the top of Clingmans Dome, I was sitting at the bottom of the Dome’s path trying to fight off the dizziness that sometimes comes with fear of heights. While that was an embarrassing experience with my family, the view of the fall colors on the short hike to and from the Dome made the entire trip worth it for me. The Smokies offer truly breathtaking views, and no trip to the Smokies is complete without a hike to enjoy them.

The best thing to do after a day spent hiking in the woods is to spend some time relaxing inside. The Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show was the perfect fit. The dinner show is located in Pigeon Forge, so we didn’t have to take a long drive to get there. The food was mouthwateringly fulfilling: fried chicken, barbecue, potatoes, beans, desserts and more. The food was only part of the evening. The show was sensational, and it kept everyone entertained.  The blend of banjos, singing, dancing and laughter was perfect. We were even able to avoid some of the crowds by going to the show on a weeknight.

When I bought our tickets to the dinner show, I decided to buy a package deal so that we could see both the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show and the Family Comedy Show at The Comedy Barn. This award winning family comedy variety show went above and beyond my expectations for the evening. After a second day of hiking the picturesque trails of the Smoky Mountains, we were ready to sit, relax and be entertained. My favorite part of the show was when three men were pulled out of the audience for part of the act. When they were selecting men from the audience, my husband shrunk lower in his seat than I have ever seen him shrink. That made for a good laugh, too. The skit with those men was the funniest one of the evening, and there were plenty of funny skits. They also have a Christmas comedy show that runs late in the year.

A vacation is not a vacation for my boys without riding some roller coasters. Dollywood’s “Smoky Mountain Christmas” (Nov 10– Dec 30) offered up roller coasters and so much more. Dollywood is a family friendly one hundred and fifty-acre theme park.  While my husband and sons were repeatedly riding America’s first wing roller coaster, I was hiding my fear of heights while enjoying the many Christmas shows with my daughter. Our favorite show was Appalachian Christmas. I love Bluegrass music, and this Bluegrass take on Christmas music was outstanding. The Carol of The Trees was also amazing. There were so many trees lit up, my children loved it. The whole park was decorated and lit up for Christmas. This was a great time of year to go to Dollywood.

Two days spent at an amazing amusement park, two days spent hiking, two evenings set aside for comical entertainment, and one rainy day spent in the pool. This vacation was one of our favorites. The Smoky Mountains truly do have something to offer everyone. Spend some time in the Smokies with your family this year. Plan your vacation today by visiting http://www.myinnontheriver.com to check out the great hotel we stayed at in Pigeon Forge. The dinner shows can be found at http://www.hatfieldmccoydinnerfeud.com and http://www.comedybarn.com. Dollywood and Clingmans Dome can be virtually explored at http://www.dollywood.com, and http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/clingmansdome.htm.

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Imagine sitting poolside in your own private cabana… a refreshing glass of blueberry lemonade at your side, AKA Mom on your Kindle and your kiddos enjoying water basketball in front of you while you relax and unwind. Sound amazing? It is! And best of all, this piece of paradise is nestled right next to the most magical place on earth! At the Hilton Orlando you are not only able to enjoy a luxurious and family friendly stay but you are surrounded by several of the major attractions that Orlando has to offer – Sea World, Universal Studios Orlando and you guessed it, Walt Disney World.

Hilton Orlando is rated as a AAA Four Diamond hotel, two time Connie Award winner, and has consistently ranked within the top three Orlando-area hotels on TripAdvisor.com rankings and it’s easy to see why. Upon walking into the gorgeous and inviting lobby you can tell right away that this hotel was designed to provide a memorable experience.

Mornings are a delight at The Bistro, Hilton Orlando’s own modern American bistro featuring simple, fresh, and natural food in a comfortable and casual setting. The menu showcases dishes with farm-to-table ingredients, in season, from Florida’s coastal areas. Kids will love the malted waffles in warm maples syrup and parents will love making a trip to the omelet station where the choices are endless! The Bistro is also open for lunch and offers affordable and delicious fare for you and your family!

Stop by The Spa on your way past The Bistro and make an appointment for later for a ReFresh Manicure, Swedish Massage or a “Me Time” Facial. The fitness center is also open to those guests who want to take advantage of their state-of-the-art Precor Cardio equipment, strength training and free weights. All the Precor stations are outfitted with individual flat screen LCD cardio theater units for personal viewing so working out still feels like a vacation.

Start your evening off right with a divine dinner at Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops. With a wide variety of handcrafted dishes you’ll have trouble deciding between the Kansas City Strip and the Lobster Two Ways. But not to worry, Spencer’s also has plenty of choices to accommodate the little tummies at your table! Chef Kevin Spencer makes sure all his customers are taken care of… big or small! When it comes to wonderful service, ask for Che! Che is a server at Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops and he will make you feel on top of the world with his Class A service and welcoming smile.

After a good nights sleep in one of Hilton’s Serenity Beds which includes an exclusive Suite Dreams mattress and box spring, Super Topper mattress pad, down-filled comforters, Touch of Down pillows and 250 thread-count sheets and duvet covers, you’ll all be ready to head down to the pool for the day. Enjoy a mojito or citrus sangria from Tropics Pool Bar & Grill or grab a snow cone for the kiddos. There’s something for everyone to do with a lazy river, loopy waterslide, frog fountain and recreation courts. Later that night, move over by the fire and eat some S’mores! Yummy!!

Family vacations are all about making memories and building relationships. And if couture comfort and a family focused atmosphere is what you are looking for, AKA Mom thinks Hilton Orlando is the perfect destination!

Make your reservation today at www.thehiltonorlando.com!

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