Instead of heading somewhere warm for my Spring Break, my family used this opportunity to head to somewhere a bit cooler, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. If you are not familiar with the Pigeon Forge area, it is just outside of Gatlinburg and it is one of my family’s favorite vacation spots. Both my husband and I grew up visiting the area so we love coming back and experiencing it with our daughter whenever we get the chance. For this visit, we decided to stay somewhere new that we have both been wanting to visit, The Inn at Christmas Place.
The Inn at Christmas Place is the sweetest little hotel that is literally decorated for Christmas all year long. You are experiencing the spirit of Christmas every day of your visit and you can truly feel the magic of this special holiday in every aspect of the hotel. The architecture of the hotel itself brought a sense of charm to the building and you really felt like you were in a quaint little cabin. Christmas lights adorned the building and a large nativity scene sat just outside the entrance, greeting you as you turned into the parking lot. There was also a very large Christmas tree across from the front entrance that featured carolers singing. The walkway to this tree was light up at night and it definitely made for some great pictures. One of my favorite things of the entire hotel was the doormen. Dressed liked something you would see out of a movie, they were always ready to welcome you inside or wish you on your way.
Out the back door and you will find the perfect area to gather with friends. A small waterfall, plenty of seating, and fire-pits make this an incredible way to start your morning or end your evening. There was a large balcony overlooking the courtyard or you could sit and numerous chairs and benches lining the path. The little waterfall was truly picturesque and was just a great way to relax. Of course everything was decorated for Christmas, giving you plenty of photo opportunities, and sparking joy around every corner.
For our stay, we decided on the King Mini Suite. This room featured a pillowtop king bed and a full sleeper sofa. We had an in-room, two person whirlpool, that Vivi loved! We also had a gas fireplace with a fully decorated mantle and a Christmas tree. Vivi called it her “Christmas Home,” and the whole experience was just magical. Other amenities included a private balcony, refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot, and a flat screen television with a DVD player. Each afternoon, our room was cleaned and our pillows were adorned with Hershey Kisses. It was a sweet treat and something that Vivi definitely loved coming “home” to enjoy.
Of course the room that was decorated the most was the hotel lobby. The trees were immaculate, the decorations were exquisite, and the staff was just as cheerful as one of Santa’s elves. We enjoyed grabbing a hot coffee every morning on the way out, warm cider in the evening, and a cookie every night before bed. All of this could be found just by the lobby counter and was definitely a nice treat.
We loved sitting on the comfy couches and talking with the other hotel guests and we even managed to sneak in a kiss under the mistletoe. Just off the main lobby was another sitting area. It was here that you could find Santa almost every morning during breakfast talking with the children, or on some evenings hosting a sing-a-long. I think it was the addition of Santa that really evoked the spirit of Christmas at the hotel. He was truly the highlight of the entire trip
Another favorite that the hotel offered was a Deluxe Complimentary breakfast. Every morning guests can enjoy homemade omelettes, an assortment of items for a warm meal, and the tastiest cakes and pastries. Besides all of that, you could also enjoy a large yogurt bar with toppings, fruit, waffles, cereals and all the coffee and juice your belly could hold. We tried the hot meal and the omelettes and both were amazing. Vivi liked being able to have all of her usual favorites for breakfast and we just loved getting a quality meal that we did not have to buy!
We made sure to stop by and see Santa every morning after breakfast to tell him about our day and snap some pictures. There was never a wait to see him so Vivi was able to talk to him as long as she liked. He was so patient with her and always had a kind word.
The hotel also featured your typical amenities. Those included a small work out room, an indoor pool, hot tub and an outdoor pool with water slide. The outdoor pool was closed because it was still quite cold on our visit, but I did manage to grab a picture through the fence. We did enjoy the indoor pool one evening, along with the hot tub. It was the perfect way to rest our tired muscles after exploring the streets of Gatlinburg.
Besides the typical amenities, the hotel also featured a few things that were unique to the hotel. The first of those was a Scavenger Hunt. Sheets were available with pictures for you to find things all over the hotel. Once you found all the things on the list you could take it to the front desk for a treat. The Scavenger Hunt was great because it gave you the opportunity to really explore the hotel and enjoy all of the decorations. There was something fun and unique decorating every corner and the Scavenger Hunt was the perfect way to see it all. The other amenity was the opportunity to write a letter to Santa. The cutest little writing desk, complete with stationary, was available to children to write a letter to Santa. The letters could be placed in the mailbox or hand delivered to him in the lobby. Vivi chose to hand-deliver her letter and Santa promised to take care of her this Christmas.
If you ever forgot what was happening at the hotel each day, an information sheet could be found in the elevator each day. The sheet was updated daily with all important hotel information, as well as the weather report and a count down until Christmas.
I could go on and on about the magic of the season at The Inn at Christmas Place but I really think the best way to experience that magic is to plan your own family vacation. Compared to other hotels in the area, it was reasonably priced. When you take into account all that the hotel has to offer, including the deluxe complimentary breakfast, the hotel was very affordable and it is somewhere that we will stay again. There is a lot of places to stay in the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area so I think that it is important to find somewhere unique to stay to make your trip that much more memorable. This is definitely the most unique hotel that we have ever stayed in the area and it really did make our entire trip even more enjoyable.
The spirit of Christmas is alive every day at The Inn at Christmas Place and we are so thankful that we were able to experience that magic first hand. This amazing hotel is the perfect place to stay whether you are a family with small children, a couple celebrating an anniversary, or even a group of girlfriends getting out of town. There is truly something for everyone and no one can resist that Christmas magic. I encourage you to consider booking a vacation and enjoy Christmas anytime of the year!
Disclaimer: I was given a media rate in exchange for my blog post but all opinions are my own. Affiliate links may be used and I may receive a small commission.
