Charlotte Blanton
Charlotte Blanton, a Central Florida native and mom of three, holds a business degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After a career in corporate finance, she pivoted to stay home with her kids and found her passion for writing through Mommy Poppins. She loves exploring local theme parks and discovering fun activities for families in Central Florida.
Latest posts by Charlotte
Looking for the perfect family vacation in the mountains? My Florida-based family loves Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, home to endless family-friendly attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities. We've visited this beautiful southern vacation spot several times and always find new things to do in Gatlinburg and new kids' activities in Pigeon Forge for all ages to enjoy.
It helps that both of these Tennessee towns are just moments away from two of the area's top attractions: Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood. And with so many family-friendly Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge hotels, plus cabins in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, you won’t have trouble finding a great place to stay.
Read on for our extensive list of things to do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN with kids. Our Southern States Vacation Guide also includes our lists of the best Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg hotels for families and our guide to visiting Dollywood with kids.
Santa’s coming to town (specifically Orlando)! It’s that magical time of year again; time to snap those cherished photos with Santa in Orlando! Orlando kids (and kids at heart) have plenty of opportunities to meet jolly old St. Nick as he makes his annual visit to Central Florida. Keep reading to discover the best spots to take pictures with Santa across the region.
For more fun Christmas events in the area, look no further than our Orlando Holiday Guide!
Get ready for Orlando Christmas events that are fun and family-friendly this holiday season, including theme park holiday lights, holiday parades, Christmas tree ceremonies, and more! The theme parks offer major fun, like more than 3 million lights on display at SeaWorld Orlando or a magical Harry Potter Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort. Families can visit the charming town of Mount Dora for a lighted boat parade, experience ICE! at Gaylord Palms, enjoy a Florida "snowfall" at Celebration Town Center, and more.
Restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Orlando offer families the chance to relax when it comes to cooking and cleaning. Whether your family is taking a Thanksgiving vacation in Orlando or you live local and want a traditional Thanksgiving meal without the stress of prep, we’ve rounded up the best, family-friendly restaurants in Orlando that are serving Thanksgiving menus for the holiday. Gobble ‘til you wobble at these yummy restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Orlando, as well as tasty spots at Orlando theme parks and resorts.
Because Orlando can get very busy during Thanksgiving, we recommend making advance reservations to ensure your family has a spot—in fact, it may be impossible at some Orlando restaurants to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal without the reservation -- same goes with theme park restaurants as well!
November brings plenty of things to do in Orlando, as we gear up for holiday events from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Orlando this month!
We are so excited to kick off the holiday season this November with amazing light displays at Leu Gardens' Dazzling Lights, Asian Lantern Festival, Magic of Lights Daytona; and the new Illuminate Lantern Festival at Aquatica Orlando! Festive celebrations will also light up the theme parks starting this month, including SeaWorld Orlando's Christmas Celebration, Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort, Disney Jollywood Nights, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Plus, families can continue enjoying the best of fall with fantastic festivals, such as Lake Eola's Fall Fiesta in the Park, Oviedo's Great Day in the Country, and Orlando's Fusion Fest.
We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters!
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