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Things to do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for a family?

brina S asked:


We’re headed to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg the week after Easter, and I’d love some hints of things to do. Please only give ideas if you’ve actually done it first hand. OR, things you’ve done that were a bust. Also, we’re staying at Microtel in Pigeon Forge…anyone know anything about it?
My son is 2, and I am 5 months pregnant.

Melinda

This entry was posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 11:45 pm and is filed under Other - United States. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Responses to “Things to do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for a family?”

  1. Chester

    i live right near there, in maryville, and i dj weddings and parties in both pigeon forge and gatlinburg,
    ok, first you guys gotta do dollywood, incredible amusement park, also, downtown gatlinburg has all kinds of things to do, but for the family, definitly include dixie stampede, its food inside and an incredible wild west , rodeo style things to do. this link should help
    have fun, and you guys will love my state and our most famous towns

  2. Mark

    theres so much to lets see……….in pigeon forge you should visit wonder works( an amusement park for the mind),ride go-carts,theater shows like dixie stampede, theres tons of good outlets to go to,oh and while your in pigeon forge and like sea food you need to eat at huck finn’s. in gatlinburg there is alot of shopping to do,the aquarium(so much fun) ripley’s believe it or not museum. you should stay at edgewater in gatlinberg it’s a lil pricey but it’s very nice. i don’t know anything about the microtel but since i’m only like an hour from there i usually just go down for the day, anything else you need to know feel free to e-mail me and i can find out all the info you need. oh yeah they prey on tourist so don’t let tem trick you into the timeshare vacations they will harass you about it everywhere you go.in gatlinberg do not eat at bubba gump shrimp co. trust me it’s way over priced and the food stinks!!!!!!

  3. Ernest

    I don’t know anything about the hotel, we always stay in Gatlinburg. There are tons of things to do!!

    Dixie Stampede, DollyWood, and Splash Mountain are musts while you are there! Dollywood takes a day in itself. Dixie Stampede is a good night/dinner activity. The show is great and the food is just as good! Be sure and get there early because the line gets long to get in. There is a saloon show first and you want to get good seats for that. If you sit up at the top, you’ll be closer to the entrance doors for the real show.

    The Apple Barn General Store in PF is neat. There’s a store, restaurant, bakery (with the best apple fritters and apple cider) and a winery. Smokey Mtn. Knife Works is in PF and worth a trip if your husband is into hunting and/or knives. There’s plenty for you and the kiddos to look at to.

    Cades Cove is a good site to see first thing in the morning. If you get there early enough, the park won’t be too crowded. You also have a better chance of seeing more deer and bears the earlier you go.

    There are several hikes and falls in the National Park. Some are longer hikes than others, but all the falls are amazing. Here’s a site to look at: It will tell you how long each hike is and should show you a picture of what to expect.

    I love walking the strip in Gatlinburg. There are some really great shops. Ripley’s Believe it or Not is right on the strip and it’s neat to see. Hillbilly Golf in Gatlinburg is a neat experience if you like Mini Golf. You ride a tram up a mountain and play the course back down. The Aquarium is AWESOME!!

    Ober Gatlinburg is at the end of the strip. You can ride the tram to the top. The ride is awesome. You get some amazing views of the mountains. At the top there is a bear habitat, ice skating, bungee jumping, arcade and some other things to do. It is definitely worth the ride just for the views, though! The Space Needle is OK. The views from the top are kind of cool, but the tram is much better.

    There are some ‘beaches’ that have great swimming areas.

    I always go White Water Rafting with Smokey Mountain Outdoors (www.smokeymountainrafting.com). It’s a great trip with wonderful guides!

    Have a wonderful time!! I have vacationed there every summer for 20 years and can’t wait for July when I get to go again! :)

    Check out for some other great tips about Gatlinburg. People on there give some great trip advice!