What are the best things to do in Pigeon Forge? Here are some of the most frequent questions about Pigeon Forge that we get asked by guests renting our vacation cabins.
Image courtesy of Pigeon Forge Chamber
What are the top attractions to visit in Pigeon Forge?
Dollywood is one of the most popular attractions in Pigeon Forge, including its water park called Splash Country. See our guides for ticket and other information – we also offer Dollywood packages giving your 2nd day Free – and here are some of the Best Rides at Dollywood.
The Island is a hugely popular, fun destination in Pigeon Forge. With lots of rides and games to keep the kids excited, shopping for the grown-ups and restaurants for all, The Island offers a unique space where visitors can ride the 200-ft tall observation wheel, or just sit and watch the fountains. There’s even real Tennessee moonshine to sample at Ole Smoky Distillery.
Parrot Mountain and Gardens is in the hills of Pigeon Forge close to Dollywood and Splash Country. Four acres of landscaped gardens offer a bird sanctuary home to hundreds of exotic birds, plants and flowers from around the world. At Parrot Mountain you can hold the birds and play with them! All the family will love the time spent here, and in fall the changing colors of the trees add to the magic.
What are the best outdoor activities in Pigeon Forge?
Quite apart from being close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge has some lovely natural settings in town as well. Patriot Park is a large open and wooded space that usually hosts the concerts and frequent special events in the town, and it offers a peaceful walking path along the Little Pigeon River. The park is also the hub for the town’s fun trolley system, which connects with Gatlinburg, Dollywood and even the national park. Spend some time in the Old Mill historic area of town, next to the park. With things to do and look at (including a selfie across from the famous old water wheel of course), it’s also a peaceful spot in its own right.
One trail you can access from the park is the Riverwalk Greenway, a scenic, paved trail made for walking, running and biking. It runs along the Little Pigeon River, and connects the town from end to end – also connecting with The Island for a change of pace. There are benches to sit and enjoy the scenery and at night the Greenway is lit.
What are the best day trips from Pigeon Forge?
Pigeon Forge offers scenic access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park without going through the bustle of Gatlinburg. Cades Cove is the most popular destination in the park, and from Pigeon Forge the best way to Cades Cove is Wears Valley road, Hwy 321, a peaceful and beautiful drive to Townsend, where you turn south to Laurel Creek Road, and on to Cades Cove. From the Cove, check out Rich Mountain Road for a secluded drive through the mountains over to Townsend.
Townsend itself is worth exploring. This is the Quiet Side of the Smoky Mountains, and offers a break from the bustle of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, and some incredibly scenic views. Townsend has several festivals in the year, and offers less crowded access to river fun. The Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center on the banks of the Little River rents bicycles and river tubing gear, while Townsend has miles of scenic greenways to bike along.
A unique attraction not to miss while in the Townsend area is Tuckaleechee Caverns, a thrilling adventure for kids and parents alike. The mile-long guided tour of this underground world includes the nation’s tallest underground waterfall.
See our Pigeon Forge cabin rentals for where to stay during your visit, and to choose from our more than 400 cabins in the area, see also our Gatlinburg cabins and our Wears valley cabins.
And remember that romance in the Smoky Mountains is made perfect with one of our Gatlinburg honeymoon cabins
