Things to Do at Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg TN
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Like peanut butter and jelly, or the marriage of “Q” and “u,” Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge were meant to be together. Near the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the neighboring communities are packed with family-friendly fun. Read on for a run-down of things to do at Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge Tours
WHY VISIT GATLINBURG AND PIGEON FORGE
Bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg overflows with small town charm. Its walkable village is a haven for all things southern including great food, spirits, and shops. Sitting in a green valley, the big attractions in Gatlinburg feature stunning outdoor elements like chairlifts, mountain coasters, and sky bridges.
Next door to Gatlinburg lies Pigeon Forge. This little city grew up along the road leading to the Dollywood Park & Resort. Today, the community is an ever-evolving constellation of arcades, thrill rides, dinner shows, and shopping malls designed to entertain the entire family.
Of course, one of the best reasons to visit Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge TN is how close the towns are to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Filled with black bears, waterfalls, and hiking trails; the region abuts one of the most visited US National Parks.
Gatlinburg’s small town charm, Pigeon Forge’s entertainment options, and the stunning natural wonders found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park make this area difficult to beat for families in search of thrills and adventure.
TRIP ESSENTIALS
In the Smokies, and almost every travel destination, I find myself reaching for my Eddie Bauer Rainfoil Jacket, Frogg Toggs Hat, Merrell Hiking Boots, and Crocs Strappy Sandals (wear to dinner or the pool).
Other items I rely on include my Huk Sunglasses and Contigo Autoseal Water Bottle (no spills in the backpack).
But by far, my number one can’t-do-without essential is my Sony RX100 Compact Camera. It fits perfectly into a pocket. Or, mounted on a Mini-Tripod it slips into my Travelon Sling Bag.
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ATTRACTIONS IN PIGEON FORGE AND GATLINBURG
There are so many attractions in the area. Here is a quick summary of what to look for:
Pigeon Forge TN
Theme Parks like Dollywood, The Island at Pigeon Forge, and Parrot Mountain.
Attractions like Titanic Museum, Wonderworks, Magiquest, and the Hollywood Wax Museum.
Thrill Rides like mountain coasters, go-karts, zip lines, mini golf, and rope courses.
Dinner Shows like the Hatfield & McCoys, Dolly Parton Stampede, and the Lumberjack Feud.
Gatlinburg TN
Theme Parks like Anakeesta, SkyPark, and Ober Mountain.
Attractions like the Ripley’s Aquarium, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and Wild Bear Falls Water Park.
Thrill Rides like mountain coasters, go-karts, zip lines, mini golf, and rope courses.
Nightlife like Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Jason Aldean’s Rooftop Bar, distilleries, and pubs.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Sugarlands entrance to the park is about 7 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg and 20 minutes from Pigeon Forge. Staying in one of these towns makes it easy to spend time in the park in the morning, and hit an in-town attraction in the afternoon. Try one of these Great Smoky Mountains National Park tours:
HOW TO GET TO GATLINBURG AND PIGEON FORGE TN
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are resort towns in eastern Tennessee, USA. The closest large cities are Nashville TN (200 miles west) and Atlanta GA (150 miles south). Most visitors will arrive in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge via car utilizing US Routes 441 and 321. The closest airport is McGhee Tyson in Knoxville TN (40 miles away).
Click this link for information regarding airfares to Gatlinburg region.
Click this link for information regarding rental car prices in the region.
GATLINBURG TROLLEY & GETTING AROUND
To navigate the 5-mile Pigeon Forge strip and Great Smoky Mountains National Park you will likely want use of a private vehicle.
In contrast, compact Gatlinburg is best explored on foot. Gatlinburg also has a free shuttle service, the Gatlinburg Trolley, that links downtown to many attractions, hotels, and some addresses in Pigeon Forge.
Outside of the free trolley there is little public transportation. On weekends, holidays, and in the summer, traffic is often bumper to bumper in both towns. Pigeon Forge has free parking nearly everywhere. In Gatlinburg, there are paid parking lots in the blocks behind town.
PIGEON FORGE & GATLINBURG ATTRACTIONS
HOTELS IN GATLINBURG AND PIGEON FORGE
Both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have many resorts and cabin communities in the surrounding hills and mountains. Stay outside of town for a quieter environment.
In downtown Gatlinburg you will find a number of resort-style hotels within walking distance of the Parkway (and on the trolley route). In Pigeon Forge, find more budget and chain-style hotels.
Try one of these well-reviewed hotels:
THINGS TO DO AT PIGEON FORGE AND GATLINBURG TN
Anakeesta
Anakeesta is a mountain top theme park accessed by chair lift from downtown Gatlinburg. At the summit park climb the Anavista Tower, take a TreeTop Skywalk, ride a mountain coaster, zip line, enjoy gardens, and see Astra Limina – an enchanted light and music show that plays after dark. Shop and eat with excellent Smoky Mountain views.
Dollywood
“Dollywood” is Dolly Parton’s Appalachian-themed park. The Dollywood map includes areas for thrill rides, water rides, crafts, shows, music, and shops. The theme park has over 40 rides with huge roller coasters and extreme water slides. Guests enjoy elaborate stage productions, live music, fireworks, and Appalachian crafts.
Gatlinburg Parkway
Downtown Gatlinburg’s main drag, “the Parkway,” is equal parts parade, carnival, and celebration of all things southern. There are art galleries, souvenir shops, arcades, thrill rides, Ripley’s attractions (the aquarium and “Believe it or Not”), and the Space Needle. On the Parkway find great specialty shops, restaurants, distilleries, and wineries to sample.
Pigeon Forge Attractions
Pigeon Forge is king of the large-scale family attraction. The “Strip” is dotted with museums and complexes designed to entertain. Packed into a 5-mile span, travel groups can easily hit them one after another; or, split up so everyone gets to enjoy their favorite. Here is a sampling:
Titanic Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, WonderWorks, Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay, Alcatraz East Crime Museum, MagiQuest, and Beyond the Lens
PACKING ESSENTIALS
We rely on a combination of bags: Our Level-8 28” and Level-8 20” spinners are fun and stylish. Our Delsey Helium 28” hardshell is a workhorse. Our Tomtoc Backpack is great for short trips.
Randy doesn’t use them, but I swear by segregating items into Compression Packing Cubes and Wet Bags.
For security, we place an Apple Air Tag in each bag, and keep a supply of RFID Blocking Sleeves on hand.
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Outdoor Adventure Rides
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge compete for business when it comes to outdoor adventure rides. It would be a challenge to find a location with a higher concentration of thrill rides.
There are mountain coasters (Anakeesta, Moonshine Mountain Coaster, Goats on a Roof, and the Alpine Mountain Coaster); Smoky Mountain Zipline; Pigeon Forge ATV Tours; Rowdy Bear Snow Park (open year round); Hillbilly Golf (set on a hillside); go-karts (The Track in Pigeon Forge, Fun Stop, and Ripley’s); and horseback riding (Big Rock Dude Ranch).
Pigeon Forge Shows
Pigeon Forge has a number of family-appropriate dinner shows that combine music, dancing, stunts, and comedy with a meal. Some perennial favorites include the Dolly Parton Stampede, Pirates Voyage, Hatfields and McCoy Dinner Feud, and Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud.
Also, try the Comedy Barn Theater and Country Tonite Theater for well-reviewed shows.
Gatlinburg After Dark
Concentrated on half-mile strip of the Parkway, revelers will find lots to do in Gatlinburg after dark. Bookended between Blake Shelton’s Ole Red and Jason Aldeen’s Rooftop Bar, there is live music and dancing at a number of bars almost every night.
Also, enjoy tastings at the many wineries, breweries, and distilleries along the strip. Indulge at the Gatlinburg Brewing Co., Sugarlands Distilling Co., Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery, Tennessee Cider Co., Bootleggers Homemade Wines, Smokin’ Banjo Wine Co., and more.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS THINGS TO DO
Island at Pigeon Forge
The Island at Pigeon Forge is an entertainment hub with something for everyone. The complex is packed with great restaurants and shops. It also features carnival rides, a rope course, and huge arcade. The Island’s focal point is the 200’ Great Smoky Mountain Ferris Wheel. There are street performers, dancing fountains, lots of places to relax, and free parking.
Shopping
There are many specialty stores selling high- and low- end “merch” in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. In this section we list three of our favorite shopping complexes with fun specialty stores. The Village and Reagan Terrace are open-air malls on opposite sides of the Gatlinburg Parkway. The Old Mill is a cluster of shops centered around an historic grist mill in Pigeon Forge.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
No list of things to do at Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg would be complete without mention of a day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Popular day trips include scenic drives in Cades Cove, Roaring Forks, and Newfound Gap. Short hikes include outings to Clingman’s Dome, the Elkmont Ghost Town, the Little River Trail, and Laurel Falls trail.
Bye y’all. Holler if you need us, Laura and Randy
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