7 Things You Must Do on a Pigeon Forge Vacation (2024)

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is a small town full ofbig surprises.From a150-acre theme park to a 522,000-acre national park, this popular Smoky Mountain vacation destination is sure todelight the entire family. Here are 7 Things You Must Do on aPigeon Forge vacation.

If you just looked ata map, you mightimagine Pigeon Forge, with its population of 6,000, to be a sleepyEast Tennessee town that tourists merely pass through on their way to nearby Smoky Mountain adventures.But, a quick visit to the My Pigeon Forge Facebook pageis an easy way toclear up that misconception. The page’s more than half a million fans go wild for all things Pigeon Forge, from the announcement of Dolly Parton’s new dinner show to a photo of the popular themed hotel The Inn at Christmas Place.

As it turns out, this mountain town is a tourist magnet that last year alone attracted3.7 million overnight visitors. I recently spent a week exploring this little vacation destination that could, and learnedthat Pigeon Forgeshould not be underestimated!

Pigeon Forge Vacation: Dollywood

Dolly Partonhails from Sevier County and is largely credited with spurring the area’s transformation fromimpoverished coal mining region tothe bustling tourist havenit is today.No visit to Pigeon Forge would becomplete without a visit toDollywood orits sister water park, Dollywood’s Splash Country, an evening at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner attraction or herupcoming Smoky Mountain Adventures dinner theatre show, and, if you can swing it, a stay at Dollywood’s dreamy DreamMore Resort or itsrustic counterpart, Smoky Mountain Cabins.

I loved spending the day strolling through Dollywood, otherwise known as “the friendliest town in the Smokies.” Anostalgic nod to Dolly’s Appalachian heritage, this lovely theme park features first-rateshows, live music, southern cooking, a coal-fired steam engine, thrill rides, wooden roller coasters, river rafts, and even a bald eagle sanctuary. It is a special place that multiple generations can enjoy together — the perfect mix of excitement and tranquility.Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, with tree-lined trailsweaving through iconic attractions, Dollywood takes guestsback to a simpler time of one-room schoolhouses, mountain cabins, craftsmen, county fairs, and good old fashioned family fun.

If you are a true fan, make plans tosee Dolly herself, as she makes her annual appearance in Pigeon Forge at the Dolly Homecoming Parade.

“Pigeon Forge is so appreciative of all that Dolly does for our community, and Dolly’s Homecoming Parade is our city’s way of saying ‘thanks’ to this remarkable woman,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, which organizes the parade. “We also love giving Dolly’s many fans a chance to see her, too.”

Pigeon Forge Vacation: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

You mayrecall national news coverageof the wildfires that swept through Sevier County lastNovember. If so, the National Parks Service has a message for you: “You need to make a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park part of your vacation plans for 2017.” The lush, green forest did not burn down, and continues to standtall asa testament to the resilience of itsecological community. Visitorsmight well notice some charred trees in the mosaic pattern of footprints the fire left behind, but less than2% of the 522,000-acre park suffered damage. The rest is thriving and remains the ecologically diverse natural treasure that last yearmade Great Smoky Mountains National Park America’s most visitednational park.

Pigeon Forge Vacation:Outdoor Fun

I have driven all the way from Texas to Tennessee just to see the Great Smokies — as oneof last year’s 11.3 million visitors to the national park — so, I was surprised to learnthat not all visitors to Pigeon Forge make it the extra 15 minutes tothe mountains. But, after a week full of non-stop adventure and entertainmentduring my Pigeon Forge stay, I could certainly see how fun-loving familiesmightrun out of time!

Want to fly down a mountainside in your personal, speed-controlledSmoky Mountain Alpine Coaster? In Pigeon Forge, youcan! Preferto roll down an oversized obstacle course in an inflatable ball filled withwater? No worries,Outdoor Gravity Park has you covered! There are uniqueexperiencesaround every corner in Pigeon Forge. Whether you’re racing go karts around athree-story spiraling wooden track at The Trackorsoaring200 feet in the airaboardThe Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, you’re sureto have a greattime!

Pigeon Forge Vacation: Museum Fun

If you have teens trying to distance themselves fromthe family vacation, Pigeon Forge will rope them back in. After letting big kidsbe human pinballsatOutdoor Gravity Park,head to the Hollywood Wax Museum where they can take silly selfies with their favorite celebrities. Then, crossthe parking lot for a truly terrifying 5D zombie experience at Outbreak – Dread the Undead. Or, if they aren’t intoscreaming, take your tweens and teensto The Escape Game, a team challengethat involves solving puzzles to escape a locked room in less than 60 seconds.

Whenweather rains on your parade, head indoors tothe Titanic Museum. Visitors tothis ship-shaped attraction in Pigeon Forge receive a passenger card prior to entry, with details abouta real person who sailed onTitanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage in 1912. Assuming this persona makes museum exploration more memorable, as you take in thefascinating exhibits and interact with costumed crew members. It is not until the end of the attractionthat you learnyour assigned passenger’s fate, whether he or shesurvivedor perished in the Atlantic.

Another indoor attractionI found fascinatingwas the brand new Alcatraz East Crime Museum, which recently relocated from Washington, D.C. Filled to the brim with information about the history of crime in the United States, this museum offers a maze of exhibit areas lined withplacards about real life criminals, methods ofpunishment, and updates in crime scene investigation. There are interactive exhibits, including a shooting gallery, interesting artifacts like Bonnie and Clyde’s getaway car, andactivities for “Junior Detectives.” Be advised that if you havelittles in tow, there are some sections you might preferto breeze past.

If you’re looking for 100% kid-centric rainy day amusem*nt,WonderWorks is the place to go. This hybrid science center – entertainment complex has it all: experiments, laser tag, optical illusions, an indoor ropes course, bubbles, a rock climbing wall, you name it! Kids of all ages will love this upside-down museum of fun.

Pigeon Forge Vacation: Exciting Shows

Pigeon Forge is renowned for its dynamicentertainment scene, offering everything from comedy andvariety shows to theatre and dinner attractions. Aftervacation days filled with exciting activities, don’t miss the chance toenjoy an evening of breathtaking Broadway scenes and aerial acts at the spectacularSmoky Mountain Opry, or Country classics and hymns at the Country Tonite show.

Unexpectedside effects of wholesome all-ages shows are all the feels.If the classic American songs and traditionalhymns don’t get get you, the honoring of veterans in the audience surely will. I left each show in Pigeon Forge feeling a little more connected to myroots, thankful to those who have served our country, and more patriotic than when Iwalked in.

Pigeon Forge Vacation: Memorable Meals

My absolute favorite shows in Pigeon Forge werethe ones that stuffed me full ofcountry cooking, then let me play along. In the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, half the audience was adopted into the Hatfield clanand the other half became honorary McCoys. We cheered for our kin as they clogged in happy dance-offs and pitted their best pickersagainst each other onstage. With feisty Bluegrassand plentyof spirited play fighting, family feuding has never been so much fun.

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, too,delighted me long before the show began. Upon arrival, guests can visit withthe equine stars in their stables. Then, 50 minutes prior to showtime, grab a seat in theDixie Belle Saloon to enjoy the Opening ActwithBluegrass bandMountain Rukus. One of the trio, Gary “Biscuit” Davis, is a four-time National Banjo Champion and he is just incredible to watch. This experience alone is worth the ticket!But the nightonly gets better with a four-course feast and an interactive show where you cheer for your assigned side as you eat. We hooted, hollered, and devoured our whole chickens as the livelycompetitionplayed out in the arena before us. Our side didn’t win, but we left happy and full!

Are you sensing a theme here? Go to Pigeon Forge hungry and you won’t be disappointed! This was the trip where I fell in love with all things fried. Fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and even fried corn on the cob. At one point, after several rounds of mouth-watering southern fare, a friend tried to order a sensiblebreakfastand ended up with an oversized bowl of oatmeal as big as her head. Do not resist! Eat all the food! For the most delicious eats, head tothe Old Mill Restaurant for breakfast and Pottery House Cafe for lunch. Then repeat.

In between meals, be sure to wander throughthe Old Mill historic district to see 200 years of Tennessee tradition in action. Guests can make a knife out a railroad spike at the local blacksmith shop, take a tour of the old water-powered gristmill along the banks of the Little Pigeon River, watch old fashioned candy being made, andpurchase pottery that was crafted onsite usingmaterials from the region.

Pigeon Forge Vacation: Fun Hotel Stays

As you may have realized, Pigeon Forge is far fromthe tiny town I was expecting. And I haven’t even coveredThe Island yet! Three million people a year pass through this newshopping / dining / moonshining entertainment complex encircled by the Little Pigeon River, and I had the great pleasure of staying right in the middle ofit all, atThe Margaritaville Island Hotel.

With a village-view room, I was steps away from everything: pampering in the Margaritaville St. Somewhere Spa (I went twice – how could I not?), the rooftop pool (which had the best night views of the color-changing 200-foot Great Smoky Mountain Wheel), and the Bellagio-style fountain lights and music show on the main plaza, which happens every half hour. Add to the mix shops, restaurants, bars, live music, candy and fudge stores, rides and attractions…. Well, it’s hard to believe Ihad time for anything else.

After a week of living in luxury, and eating all the deep fat fried corn on the cob I could get my hands on, I left Pigeon Forge already dreaming of my return. I hear the town’s annual WinterFest celebration is not to be missedand that all of the shows — including those featured in Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration — change for the holidays. I think I’m going to need to witnessthat caliber of Christmas merriment for myself!

For more information on Pigeon Forge, be sure to visit the My Pigeon Forge websiteand follow the page on Facebook. You will find me there, one of the newest fans adding my enthusiasm to all theposts!

I was invited to tour Pigeon Forge. No compensation was received to write this article and all opinions are my own.