Music Road Resort Hotel

From the outside, the Music Road Hotel looks like any other mid-range hotel whose main selling points are its splash zones and waterslide, which makes the interiors here something of a surprise. The lobby ditches the family-fun image for a much more refined style, with huge columns and breakable antiques on every end table, pedestal, and decorative shelf. The mountain lodge decor so common in most area hotels is nearly absent, though a large stone hearth is still the focal point. Still, the hotel attracts plenty of families, as well as business travelers and large groups attending events at the attached convention center.

Located just off the main Parkway on the river, with a trolley stop outside, Music Road Hotel puts you within easy reach of all of Pigeon Forge's attractions. The Hollywood Wax Museum as well as numerous bars and restaurants are within walking distance. A gateway town to the Great Smoky Mountains area's scenic mountain views and outdoor activities, Pigeon Forge is home to the famed Dollywood theme park, which is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 25-minute drive, through nearby Gatlinburg.

The Music Road Hotel's 163 large rooms are more updated and polished than those at the Music Road Inn, and many have hardwood floors and cherry-wood furniture made in Tennessee. Each has a small sitting area with wing-backed chairs, but no functional work desks. A microwave and mini-fridge are hidden in a nook, and a 37-inch flat-screen TV sits atop a wooden dresser. Bathrooms have double vanities with thoughtful touches such as a cushioned bench underneath and make-up remover wipes included with standard toiletries; there's also a coffeemaker on the counter nearby. Tiled combination shower/tubs have handheld showerheads. All rooms have a private balcony or patio, but the ground floor along the river has patios that connect to the large public terrace. Some guests complain that the air conditioners can be loud.

The large outdoor pool area, surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrella tables, has a 60-foot waterslide, lazy river, and a deep end with a diving board. By contrast, the more subdued, 24-hour indoor pool sits under a vaulted wooden ceiling, with a mural of a Georges Seurat painting on one wall. For additional indoor entertainment, the game room has the requisite arcade games, plus a pool table and air hockey. The attached, multi-room convention center has 14,000 square feet of event space, with event planning and catering staff on hand. Breakfast is free, with hot options like eggs, bacon, and biscuits and gravy, but, aside from a seasonal pool snack bar, there's no other dining on-site. Guests also have the option of visiting the Music Road Inn across the street for nearly identical amenities, plus a fitness center. The hotel also has free Wi-Fi and free parking.