Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort

Harrah's Cherokee is actually in North Carolina, not Tennessee — about an hour from Knoxville if you're driving from the Tennessee side. We've stayed here a few times, and honestly, the timing matters more than anything else. Right now they're doing major renovations on the casino floor, so half the slots are down and people are complaining about the table game minimums being crazy high.

The newest hotel tower is gorgeous though. They added 775 rooms in 2021 with this massive 19-story building that has mountain views from the higher floors. The lobby bar is solid and the terrace pool area is way nicer than the older towers. Just know you'll be doing some serious walking between the hotel and casino — wear comfortable shoes because this place is huge.

If you're not into gambling, they've got the Ultrastar entertainment center with bowling and an arcade. The Event Center books some decent acts — Grand Funk Railroad is coming in August and Culture Club in February. We usually skip the on-site restaurants because they're pricey, but the Gordon Ramsay spot isn't terrible if you're stuck there for a meal.

One thing though — weekends are a zoo. The parking garage fills up fast and the casino floor gets so smoky despite their "smoke-free" policy changes. We've learned to go Sunday through Wednesday if we want any breathing room. Also heads up that they partner with some outdoor stuff nearby like a mountain coaster for $17, which the kids love more than watching us lose money at blackjack.