My family loves finding fun places to visit for vacations. When it comes to planning a vacation, we always like to find places to go that would be enjoyable for everyone in our family, which means we want to do some family friendly activities. That is what we are talking all about today! Pigeon Forge in Tennessee is a family vacation destination located at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains that offers a distinct variety of new and established entertainment and activities that inspire unforgettable memories and stories. It is an enjoyable & entertaining city that you will have no trouble finding so many amazing things to do with your family to fill your vacation with a lot of fun.
We partnered with My Pigeon Forge share with you some of the most popular attractions around the Pigeon Forge area.
Pigeon Forge Fun-Filled Family Vacation Guide
Food
With Pigeon Forge being such a great family destination, I wasn’t surprised that they had some of the most delicious food options to choose from. Here are some of the ones we checked out.
Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe
Being in the south, I’ve had my fair share of chicken and waffles. And I can say confidently that this was one of the best. My kids thoroughly enjoyed their pancakes! And let’s be honest, don’t you enjoy your food just a little bit more when there are animatronic chickens singing to you?!
This was one of their favorite meals of the trip so, I highly recommend stopping here one morning.
Old Mill
A cherished Smoky Mountain landmark for nearly 200 years. Old Mill boasts delicious dining options, shopping and warm hospitality.
We stopped over at The Old Mill Restaurant by the river and the historic mill. We feasted on a traditional, hearty Southern meal, that was served family-style.
But please save room for dessert!
Old Mill Creamery
Located right across the street, The Old Mill Creamery is a sweet ice cream parlor that incorporates local, farm-fresh ingredients, grains from The Old Mill and homemade candies from The Old Mill Candy Kitchen right next door. I had the Banana Pudding ice cream. Yum! It was so delicious we went back 2x before we headed home.
We also checked our Western Bear & Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast. You can see more about them over on my Instagram Pigeon Forge Highlights.
Lodging
Pigeon Forge has a host of loading options, from over 8,500 hotel & motel rooms to several cabins and chalets. If you are looking for the right fit for your family’s sweet dreams, they’ve got you covered.
Eagles Ridge
We had a pleasant stay at Eagles Ridge Resort. This bear themed cabin was impeccable. This cabin was cozy yet spacious enough for my family of five. The office staff was warm, welcoming and informative. But, the best part was the location. It’s tucked off of the parkway so, you have easy access to everything that Pigeon Forge has to offer but it’s far enough out that you don’t get any of the local noise. Such a beautiful Smoky Mountain cabin!
Entertainment
Let’s talk about the live entertainment and dinner shows. Is there anything better than getting a two for one experience? Dinner shows are great because you get to have a delicious meal and enjoy some live entertainment at the same time. Pigeon Forge is FULL of various dinner shows ranging from Comedy like the Hatfield & McCoy show or the Comedy Barn, to mystery shows like the Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner, or even animal shows as well such as the Dolly Parton’s Stampede. Dinner shows are a great way to spend the evening.
One of the shows we truly enjoyed was the Comedy Barn. Whenever I hear comedy I’m always a bit apprehensive about bringing my small children; however this was a truly clean comedy show for the entire family. We laughed until our sides hurt. And my kids now think they can clog dance.
Attractions
Pigeon Fore has more than 70 attractions, so there is definately something for everyone. I’m sharing just a few that my family enjoyed. There are so many that we have to make a few more trips to experience them all.
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge is the home of Dollywood! If you don’t know about Dollywood, it is a beautiful, 150-acre amusement park immersed in the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains, dedicated to the famous Dolly Parton. The park truly gives you an immersive experience. It is filled with a great day of rides of all thrill stages, entertaining award-winning shows, and crafts and delicious food.
We’ve been to our share of amusement parks but I must say that Dollywood has some unique features that set it apart. This is definitely a family friendly park. That means there is something for people in every age group from toddlers up to seniors. The theme park is clean and mostly shaded. There were some incredibly visually stunning structures within the park.
We enjoyed a five-mile ride around the park on the Dollywood Express and got to see everything Dollywood had to offer. We learned that the Coal Engine named Cinderella was used to transport troops and lumber in Alaska during World War II.
If you are a music buff, you can tour Chasing Rainbows, a museum featuring memorabilia from Dolly’s life and career. My kids couldn’t get enough of the rides. There really is something for each member of the family to enjoy. Even the little ones. Upon entrance to the park, there is a measuring station that can measure your kids and assign them a wristband for easy access to rides that they are tall enough to ride. And Dollywood even color coordinates the rides on the map so you know beforehand if your child can ride.
Pro-tip: Download the free Dollywood App. You can find an interactive park map right on your smartphone.
WonderWorks
WonderWorks is an entertainment center that allows you to get up close to interactive, entertainment exhibits on the themes of space, physics, and math.
Their slogan is “Let Your Imagination Run Wild”. Its buildings are commonly built as if they are upside down. The experience is a combination of education and entertainment. My kids learned so much while they were there.
The Island at Pigeon Forge
If you are just looking for a day of fun, The Island at Pigeon Forge is a great place to visit. They have everything from Souvenir shops, rides, laser tag, bumper cars, and delicious food. This is a great way to spend a whole day because there is plenty of activities and things to do all in one spot. The Island has a little bit of everything.
We took a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel. It is a spacious, air-conditioned pod. Towering 200-feet tall, you can see Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for miles! Yes ,I was a bit scared being so high up but by the 2nd time around I was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful views for the Smoky Mountains.
Pigeon Forge Snow
My family loved indoor snow tubing at Pigeon Forge Snow. My kids are southerners and don’t get to see snow very often so this was an incredible experience for each of them.
Even I joined in on the fun. You’ll have to go to my Instagram Pigeon Forge Highlights to see that video. Oh it’s worth watching. 😉
These are just a few of my personal favorites and also the most popular attractions around Pigeon Forge, TN. If you want to enjoy the beauty and nature of the outdoors while getting in touch with animals, you can go horseback riding at places like Big Rock Dude Ranch. If you are a history buff a great option would be to do the Titanic Museum Attraction tour. You can learn all about the tragedy of the Titanic ship and see real-life items from the shipwreck as well as movie props from the filming of the Titanic movie. If you are a coaster fan then you must try The Coaster at Goats on the Roof. It is a roller coaster that goes up and through the mountains, and they are not kidding when they say Goats on the Roof, there are in fact real live goats on the roof.
If you have never visited and you are looking for a fun family friendly city to visit that also won’t break the bank I would highly recommend visiting Pigeon Forge. Pigeon Forge provides more experiences that create stories visitors love to share. Unlike other destinations, Pigeon Forge combines the scenic beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains with a surprising number (and unique combination) of family-friendly attractions that keep guests returning often.
It is just a really great time and you will never get bored because there is so much to do. And they continue to grow and offer new experiences. Here is a link to an electronic Visitor’s Guide to help you plan your trip.
This trip was sponsored by My Pigeon Forge but all opinions and views are my own.
