Anonymous wrote:+1 for Gatlinburg.

Same area, but Pigeon Forge (near Dollywood) has huge "cabins" that can have many bedrooms, bathrooms, and features like game rooms, hot tubs, gorgeous mountain views. My recommendation is not to get too far up the mountain unless you enjoy switchbacks, which can take a while to get back and forth to your cabin. Note: this whole area is extremely kitschy with over the top tourist attractions like Ripley's Believe It or Not, the Titanic Experience, etc. There is, of course, also the Smokey Mountains National Park with its facilities.

Look at Jellystone Yogi Bear Campgrounds. They have cabins you can rent and lots of activities.

Virginia State Parks! Multiple parks that would satisfy all your criteria.

Westmoreland State Park in Virginia has cabins with kitchens and bathrooms along with a firepit and picnic table outside. They are not fancy. There are historic sites within driving distance.

Anonymous wrote:Some of the state parks in West Virginia might work for you. There is one near Berkeley Springs that is fun and has cabins - Cacapon Resort State Park.

I second this. Plus there is a spa here too that is delightful.

Graves Mountain Lodge.

Some of the state parks in West Virginia might work for you. There is one near Berkeley Springs that is fun and has cabins - Cacapon Resort State Park.

Gatlinburg is the obvious choice.

Smith Mountain Lake
Or in the many finger lakes area and there are many.

You could check out Ace Adventure Resort in West Virginia, and see the newest national park

+1 for Gatlinburg.

We loved going to the Smokey Mountains when our kids were your ages. There are so many cabin rental options. We never stayed in any of the community type cabins but that might be a good fit for your family. You can get multiple cabins near each other and then have a pool nearby.

We would split our time between cabin, the National park and the tourist options in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

I need location ideas for a summer vacation that fits these criteria:

-good for a 6 year old, a 4 year old, and a 1 year old (nearby playground, stroller-friendly trails, family activities, swimming, maybe a beach...)
-cabin or rustic aesthetic but with electricity and bathrooms
-place for a campfire
-we want to vacation with the grandparents so we need to be able to get a larger cabin or cabins next to each other
-probably in Virginia or North Carolina or surrounding states (grandparents live in NC, we live in VA)
-dog friendly
-nearby museum(s) or historic site(s) (this is more for the adults)