Staying Active in the Smokies

staying-active-pigeon-forge

Top 10 Ways to Burn Calories in Pigeon Forge

Whether you want to stay on track with your workout regimen or just love being active, Pigeon Forge is a great place to burn some calories. With the Great Smoky Mountains all around, you have lots of opportunities for outdoor (and indoor) active fun. You can go horseback riding, ride bikes, hike, take a leisurely walk, go fishing, or just walk up and down the Parkway. There are also lots of fun, family-friendly attractions where you can stretch your legs and get moving a bit. So, if you’re getting a bit of cabin fever, try staying active in the Smokies with 10 of our top picks for Pigeon Forge activities…

  1. Spend a day or two at Dollywood. This impressive theme park with seasonal events, fun rides for the whole family, carnival games and prizes, fantastic shows, fun shops, and unique Southern restaurants and cafes is worth a couple of your vacation days. You’ll definitely burn some calories walking around the park and playing games, although you may gain a few back eating one of their massive cookie sandwiches (the size of your face!) or a slice of one of their 25-pound pies!
  2. Check out the parks in Pigeon Forge. Pigeon Forge boasts some lovely parks for a fun day outside. Patriot Park hosts local festivals and events, and Wear Farm City Park is a 100+ acre park with baseball and football fields, playgrounds, pavilions, a basketball court, and walking trails. You can also visit the Pigeon Forge Community Center, which offers even more activities when you want to stay inside.
  3. Walk up and down the Parkway. An easy (and FREE) way to get some exercise, burn some calories, and enjoy the outdoors in Pigeon Forge is by walking up and down the Parkway. Browse the dozens of unique shops, grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants, or just enjoy a nice day and a walk. Sidewalks up and down the Parkway make it easy to walk around town if you’re up for it!
  4. Explore the The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While this isn’t actually in Pigeon Forge, it’s too big (and awesome) of an attraction not to mention. It’s just down the road near Gatlinburg, and it boasts 800+ miles of trails to explore. If you really want to get active, this is the place to do it. You’ll have tons of opportunities to burn some calories. You can walk to a waterfall, hike a challenging trail, play and swim in streams and swimming holes, go for a trail run, or ride bikes. And of course, there are plenty of places to rest and relax, including picnic areas, fields of wildflowers, park benches, and more.
  5. Stretch your legs at The Island in Pigeon Forge. With dozens of shops, several great restaurants, and some fun family activities, The Island in Pigeon Forge is a great place to walk around and explore. You’ll be active walking in and out of the shops, or you can really burn some calories with some jumps at the Thunderdome Bungee Jump, a 32-foot-high aluminum dome where you’ll be strapped in for some bouncing fun!
  6. Get wet at Dollywood’s Splash Country. Another Pigeon Forge favorite when it comes to family-friendly attractions and fun, Dollywood’s Splash Country features rides, slides, and water features for the whole family. You’ll stay active checking out all the water fun, and you can relax after a busy day with the Downbound Float Trip, which takes you down a 1,500-foot lazy river.
  7. Play golf – or mini golf – on a nice day. From fun themed miniature golf courses to award-winning golf courses designed by the pros, Pigeon Forge boasts some great opportunities for swinging a club. If it’s miniature golf you want, check out Adventure Golf, Fantasy Golf, Firehouse Golf, blacklight golf at Lazer Port, or Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf. If you’re more for a grown-up day of golfing, try Gatlinburg Golf Course, Sevierville Golf Club, or Bent Creek Golf Course.
  8. Get your adrenaline pumping with whitewater rafting. A trip to Pigeon Forge isn’t complete without some time spent in the great outdoors. One way to get active and enjoy the Smoky Mountain scenery is with whitewater rafting! Check out Rafting in the Smokies, Big Creek Expeditions, and Smoky Mountain Rafting, and Wildwater Rafting which are some of the top rafters in the area.
  9. Enjoy a peaceful day on the River Walk Trail. This lovely tree-lined trail is about 4 miles long and runs from one side of Pigeon Forge to the other. If you’re looking for a romantic way to spend the afternoon, a more relaxing way to exercise, or just a nice place to enjoy the day, the River Walk Trail in Pigeon Forge is a great pick. Along with lush trees, you’ll enjoy the views of the Little Pigeon River.
  10. Fly down the hill at the Outdoor Gravity Park. Whether you want to get wet or stay dry, you can enjoy the fun of the ZORB at the Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge. Try the H2OGO, the Fishpipe barrel, or the DRYGO for some crazy fun that will get your heart racing!