Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer a multitude of indoor adventures, for those days when the weather says to be inside, or simply to explore in their own right. From indoor snow tubing and skydiving to virtual reality and immersive quests, from wildlife to nightlife, from live music to magic shows and indoor sightseeing, here are some of the top indoor attractions in the Smoky Mountains.
Image courtesy of Gatlins Fun Center
Family-friendly experiences like Beyond the Lens take you into a virtual reality/augmented reality world full of photo ops, games, escape rooms, and Virtual Reality immersive rides that feel super real. For the gaming spirit, try MagiQuest in Pigeon Forge. Here, you become the main characters in a living video game full of quests to be completed, adventures to be had, and treasures to be discovered.
Other family-friendly favorites include Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, which was rated the #1 aquarium in America by TripAdvisor last year. With its underwater tunnels and ocean life ranging from sharks to stingrays and penguins, and some hands-on experiences to make memories for children, it’s bursting with life.
For a different sort of escape, you could take in a family-friendly show at Country Tonite, where you’ll enjoy dancing, singing, and family-style comedy presentations that appeal to a broad audience.
Take in the stunning sights of the outdoors from the comfort of an inside experience at the Gatlinburg Space Needle, then follow it up with a show at the Iris Theater, located in the same building at the base).
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are home to a wide variety of unique museums, like the Titanic Museum, which might just give you chills as you learn about the ill fated ship’s last voyage. Or the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, which is fascinating and unique in the world (except for its sister museum in Spain).
For car aficionados, the Hollywood Star Cars Museum in Gatlinburg offer a view of more than 40 famous vehicles, such as the Hummer H3T used in filming The Avengers, or “Herbie,” the 1967 Volkswagen Beetle that was used in filming The Love Bug. Several Fast & Furious vehicles are also on display here as part of the owner’s private collection.
Need more ideas? Our Things to Do page is a great place to get started.
Check our Gatlinburg cabins, Pigeon Forge cabins and our Wears Valley cabins for your best place to stay in the Smokies.
