Mountainloft or Laurel Crest

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

If you were going to stay at either of these resorts for two nights (Saturday and Sunday) which would choose?

I am considering driving to FL for our Cruise next year as flights are DOUBLE what we paid a couple of years ago. If we do, since we come back through Tennesse, we will add the Bristol March race (assuming it goes on the weekend I expect it to) on the way home.

I realize it is still a two hour drive to and from the track, so we will drive from FL to TN. Spend Saturday night, watch the race Sunday, and spend Sunday night. Monday we will make the trip back home.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

I have not been to Laurel Crest but have returned to ML repeatedly. It's quiet with a lovely view of the mist over the mountains in the morning (I think this is how the Smokies got their name?)

I think ML is not near much (off strip, but close to a park gate) while I think LC is very close to the action.

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

I think ML is not near much (off strip, but close to a park gate) while I think LC is very close to the action.

LC's a bit off the main drag and up a hill, so it's not right in the middle of things, either, but it's much closer to the Pigeon Forge strip and Dollywood and whatnot. More importantly for us, it's closer to Cade's Cove -- middle daughter got nauseated taking the in-park road there from ML, but had no problem with the route from LC.

We liked ML better as a resort, but we had totally different units, which may have influenced us. ML has the chalets, which are great for us because some of them sleep 8 and you get two bedrooms plus a loft with two twin beds for the price of the other 2 BRs. But the other units are pretty similar, I believe. They both have the usual townhomes and then big buildings with villas. ML is closer to the Gatlinburg shuttle than LC is to any public transportation, I'm pretty sure.

I would say pick the resort based on what you want to do. If you're going to be doing the more touristy stuff in Pigeon Forge or Cade's Cove and that end of the park or water tubing in Townsend, then stay in Pigeon Forge. If you're more about shopping at artisan sorta places or the Aquarium or Clingman's Dome, stay in ML.