The weather is getting cooler here and Memphis, and that means the leaves are starting to change! We are about 6 hours from so many gorgeous spots to view the leaves changing. And that makes Memphis a great central location to take a quick little mountain weekend getaway trip! I am rounding up my top 5 favorites below that we go back to most every year! They are all really family friendly, but they’re also great for couples and friends too! They also have several great accommodations from cabins to airbnbs to hotels to glamping domes, but I am just going to share some of my favorite places to stay there. Keep reading for my favorites!
Smoky Mountains – Wilderness at the Smokies and Margaritaville Resort – These are both great places to stay! If it’s cold outside, don’t worry, Wilderness at the Smokies has an indoor waterpark and arcade that is perfect for kids and families. It’s located in Sevierville, TN close to the mountain views and tons of other great places to visit while there. Margaritaville Resort has hotel rooms that are great for couples and friends, and in the summer they have a great outdoor pool and waterslide the kids love. They are located in the perfect location right across the street from Anakeesta! And both places are close to some other favorites like Skyland Ranch, Dollywod and Dolly Parton’s Stampede. There is so much to do in Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge!
Asheville, North Carolina – The Glamping Collective and Autocamp – This year was our first year to be back in Asheville and finally take all the kids with us. We had an absolute blast! While the town has sustained a lot of hurricane damage, once more is open, I would encourage you to visit there as they can use all our help and support right now. The Glamping Collective opened back up a couple weeks ago, and it’s the perfect time to go visit! Autocamp has had to push back their grand opening date twice now due to devastating storms this summer and the hurricane this month, but they should be opening soon in November. We have stayed at two of their properties so far – Cape Cod and Russian River – and they are just gorgeous! They have tons of airstreams, cabins, hammocks, fire pits and other areas to all enjoy. We are taking the kids with us next year and cannot wait!
Hot Springs, Arkansas – The Waters Hotel – One of my favorites in Hot Springs! It is in the perfect spot in downtown with tons of shopping and dining within walking distance. And it has the prettiest views on the rooftop! It’s not the most kid friendly for a large family of 5 being a hotel, but I have taken couples and friends trips here twice over the years and loved it so much! If you’re looking for more room, I would definitely check out Airbnb for a great cabin in the mountains or on the lake. They have a great brewery, bath houses, the Mountain Tower, hiking, Lake Hamilton, Garvan Woodland Gardens, and it’s home to the first National Park in the U.S.! It’s so close, and you should definitely give it a visit! The area is super family friendly!
Ringold, Georgia – Selah Ridge Treesort – My mom and I visited this amazing spot last month, and all I can say is WOW! We cannot wait to go back again and take the kids. It is so perfect for a trip for families, couples, friends, anything. It is so unique! The house was a dreamy cottage style with an outdoor shower, hot tub and pool. It had gorgeous mountain views and some hiking nearby. It is a great place to go to just unwind and recharge!
Branson, Missouri – Big Cedar – We have been coming here for the past 7 years, and coincidentally this is where we got married too. It’s in the Ozarks with gorgeous mountain views and views of Table Rock Lake. They have so much to do there from boating to fishing to dinner cruises to hiking and golfing and so much more. We have stayed in almost every room style here and have went as a couple, we’ve brought other friends, and we have brought the kids here with us several times too. It is perfect for all of the above! At Fun Mountain they have ropes courses, bumper cars, bowling, go carts, arcade and more! And in the town of Branson, let’s just say you’ll never run out of things to do. They have Silver Dollar City, lots of great shopping and lots of fun dinner shows too.
