January 2026
by Heidi White
We took a week-long trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with our two kids and dog — a place that holds special meaning for us because it’s where we honeymooned 16 years ago It was a joy to return and explore familiar spots while making new memories together as a family.
We stayed in an ADA-accessible cabin at Little Valley Mountain Resort in Sevierville, hoping for snowy days filled with rest and relaxation. Instead, we were surprised with unusually warm weather in the 60s! While we missed building a snowman, the mild temperatures made sightseeing in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge much easier and more enjoyable.
During our stay, we visited Ripley’s Aquarium and Ripley’s Museum, where the penguin parade quickly became a family favorite.
The kids loved riding the mountain coasters, and we enjoyed treating ourselves to dirty sodas from Sips & Sweets of Gatlinburg. We also spent time at The Island, walking (and rolling) along the River Walk and admiring the Christmas lights up close.
Finally, what is a trip to Pigeon Forge without stopping at Buc-ee’s?
Our favorite part of the trip was the calm, relaxed atmosphere throughout the week.
We had tried visiting Gatlinburg in the past during a peak tourist season, but navigating through crowds and traffic was overwhelming so we left.
This time, the streets and sidewalks were quiet, making it easy to slow down, explore, and truly enjoy our time together.
Our biggest challenge was packing medical equipment and supplies, food, luggage for four, and everything our dog needed into our wheelchair-accessible van.
We knew space would be tight, but we didn’t expect weight to be such a challenge as well.
Tennessee’s back roads were often rough and uneven, which made parts of the drive uncomfortable.
The most meaningful part of the trip for me, as Chris’s caregiver, was seeing him active and engaged again.
The cold weather at home has slowed him down, but the warmth during our week away gave him more energy to get out and enjoy time with our family.
While we explored the resort together, Chris was able to play a game of mini-golf and cornhole.
Seeing his face light up during the Penguin Parade was especially special, and he truly loved exploring all the fascinating exhibits at Ripley’s Museum.
This entire trip was truly a blessing. We are so grateful to Team Gleason for giving us the opportunity to get away and create meaningful memories together as a family.
The past few months have been especially challenging with the progression of ALS and our son’s ACL injury, so this time to step away, rest, and reconnect was deeply needed and incredibly special. Thank you!
We were especially impressed with the cabin. We spent a lot of time carefully reviewing photos to find a layout that would work with all of Chris’s equipment, and we truly believe we found the perfect fit at Little Valley Lodge.
The driveway was uneven with a ridge in the middle, which made it difficult for our wheelchair-accessible van to get up, but the owners were incredibly accommodating and allowed us to drive along the side instead. We could tell that the owners of Little Valley Mountain Resort truly care about making all visitors feel welcome and comfortable!
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge were wheelchair accessible overall, though we could see how challenging it might be during busier seasons.
We appreciated the free handicap parking provided by the county, although those spots were sometimes hard to locate. The paid parking lots we visited did not appear to have dedicated wheelchair-accessible spaces. Everyone was so friendly!
We are so thankful for Team Gleason!!
