Connor and I have stayed in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg before, but agree that Sevierville is definitely our favorite. If you're not looking to spend a lot of time on the strip, this area is much quieter and has less traffic. There's still plenty to do and see and of course, Dollywood!
Another local favorite is Five Oaks Farm Kitchen. We had an early dinner here with Connor's parents and were able to be seated right away. Less than a 15 minute drive from the hotel, it was a great spot! Between the five of us we ate chicken pot pie, fried chicken livers, chicken & dumplings, and bbq ribs. They also bring complementary potato soup to the table as an appetizer. We all loved our meals and had plenty to save for a midnight snack. By the time we left at 6pm there was a line out the door, so I definitely recommend eating early or utilizing their call-ahead seating.
The next morning, we were walking through downtown Sevierville when we saw the sign for Honeybee Coffee Co. inside New Hotel Collection Smokey Mountains. We popped in for muffins and coffee since we were in a hurry to get back to the hardware show. I loved my brown sugar iced latte; I wish I could find one like it locally!
On our way out of town on Thursday, we decided to visit the Apple Barn as a family. Connor's parents went ahead of us to reserve a table at Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant while Connor and I finished up our ordering. They were heading to the table as soon as we arrived (15 min wait). Again, we were treated to complementary soup, this time vegetable, along with apple fritters and apple juleps. We enjoyed large portions of country cooking and left stuffed for a long ride home.
The Apple Barn and Cider Mill is such a fun outing for the whole family. The restaurants are delicious, but there's also a Christmas shop, local market, ice cream, and cider donuts to try. The grounds are beautiful and a fun place to stretch your legs before a car ride. We've been several times and always enjoy our visit.
We visited Wild WaterDome Indoor Waterpark both days of our trip because the entry fee is included in your hotel stay. This time of year it's the only water attraction open, but the crowds weren't bad since it was mid-week. There are several areas indoors along with large tube slides. We spent all of our time in the "flying squirrel" area for small children. It is a zero entry pool with a few water features and a small slide. It's also fenced in, so you don't have to worry about an escape artist! The cafe is close by so we were able to enjoy snacks while our daughter played for hours. There is a rack with life jackets you can borrow, but we brought our own along with pool toys and water shoes. There is also a free towel exchange program, so don't waste precious suitcase space by bringing your own.