The Gatlinburg River Inn is built along the bank of the Little Pigeon River, and the layout is the whole point: every single room opens onto its own private riverview balcony. Room categories run from the King Deluxe with a sleeper sofa to Two Queen Riverview rooms for the family, up to King Premier and Two Queen Premier rooms that add a year-round LED fireplace, the best stretch of river view, and reserved parking right outside your door. Downstairs, a riverbank lounge runs the length of the river frontage with Adirondack chairs, gas firepits and string lights strung overhead, and there is a lawn with hammocks, cornhole and picnic tables plus a seasonal outdoor pool and a hot tub that opens seasonally.

The address is the other half of the deal. The inn sits on Hemlock Street in downtown Gatlinburg, on the trolley line and within walking distance of the Parkway, so the shops, pancake houses and attractions along the strip are a stroll rather than a drive. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is 0.71 miles away, Gatlinburg SkyLift Park and its SkyBridge are about a mile, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park is roughly three miles up the road with more than 850 miles of trail behind it. Mornings start with the free hot breakfast buffet before you head out.