The Great Smoky Mountains is a top family vacation destination, with tons of family-friendly attractions, annual events, a wide variety of restaurants, dinner shows, and tons of outdoor family fun. From mini golf and roller coasters at Dollywood theme park to mountain coasters and ropes courses, there are tons of ways to keep kids entertained. You’ll also find laser tag, games at MagiQuest, lumberjacks (Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud), bumper cars, and so many more fun activities.
There is something for kiddos of all ages, but if you’re on a getaway with little ones, we’ve got you covered below. Read on for 25 toddler-friendly activities in the Smokies!
- Go “under the seas” at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, where your tot can experience some hands-on fun at the Discovery Center or waddle like a penguin at the Penguin Playhouse.
- Prove to your toddler that learning really is fun at WonderWorks! They can play with lights and sounds and get their creative juices flowing in the Imagination Lab.
- Take your family for a day of snowy fun at Pigeon Forge Snow! This indoor snow place has an area for making snowmen, snow tubes, and more!
- Engage their senses at the Titanic Museum Attraction, where your child can touch a real iceberg and feel the chill of 28-degree water.
- Give them a taste of homemade ice cream or fudge at Goats on the Roof—and then let your toddler feed a goat!
- Splash and play at Little Creek Falls inside Dollywood’s famous water park, Dollywood’s Splash Country, just off the Parkway. There are plenty of fun kids’ thrill rides as well!
- Teach your tot how to ice skate—even in the dead of summer—at the Ober Gatlinburg indoor ice skating rink.
- Crawl through tunnels and race down slides at Kiddie Land inside Ober Gatlinburg—there’s even a Kiddie Train and Kiddie Cars.
- Visit Ober Gatlinburg, where there are tons of fun things, including a maze, play area, and more!
- Talk about colors, get your child’s picture with an exotic bird, and watch someone hand-feed a newly hatched parrot at Parrot Mountain and Gardens in Pigeon Forge.
- Enjoy some outdoor time as a family by taking your toddler for a stroller ride in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Some stroller-friendly trails include The Gatlinburg Trail and Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail.
- Pack a picnic and head to the Chimney Tops picnic area inside the national park. Then let your little one splash and skip rocks in the creek after your family meal.
- Introduce your child to the delicious taste of homemade apple cider at The Apple Barn in Sevierville.
- Have some over-the-top sweet fun at Crave Golf Club, a candy-themed miniature golf course! It’s a fun place for the whole family!
- Pet and feed a wide variety of animals—from goats to elk to exotic cattle and so much more—at the Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo. Your little one can even take a ride on one of their ponies!
- Visit Baxter’s Orchard with your family in the fall for an afternoon of apple picking; then let your little one help you make homemade apple pie in your Pigeon Forge cabin!
- Play a round of putt putt with your kids at Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf, where you’ll find so much more than an 18-hole course. Your tot can also ride a mining train through caves and beneath a waterfall for an afternoon of fun!
- Take a ride on The Island Express Train at The Island in Pigeon Forge. While you’re there, don’t miss the Happy Swing, Funny Cars, Lil’ Rabbits, or the Flying Horse Carousel!
- Sit back and enjoy Southern foods and an exciting show – with lights and horseback riding stunts – at Dolly Parton’s Stampede!
- Let your toddler pick out a classic toy like a Pedal Car or a Tennessee popgun at Cartoon and Toys inside Gatlinburg’s favorite shopping plaza, The Village. This kid-friendly shop also features Italian charm bracelets, wooden puzzles, Thomas the Train, and so much more.
- Before you leave The Village, stop by The Donut Friar, where your tot can pick out a freshly made donut while you feed your craving for a hot cappuccino or latte. It’s a win-win for everyone!
- Grab a few slices of bread and park at Patriot Park right behind the famous Old Mill in Pigeon Forge. You can feed the ducks with your little one while you wait for a table at one of the area’s favorite Southern-style eateries, The Old Mill Restaurant.
- Pop some popcorn, curl up on the couch inside your Pigeon Forge cabin, and spend the evening watching your toddler’s favorite movie. It’s not often that we get these special moments as a family unless we’re on vacation!
- Bring a game or a craft you and your little one can do while you’re out of town. They’ll love the quality time with you!
- Rock the night away on your covered porch with sweeping views of the Smokies. What better way to end the day than by singing lullabies with your toddler beneath the Smoky Mountain stars?
Looking for more fun-filled days with older kids? Try the Hollywood Wax Museum, go-karts at The Track, bigger roller coasters at Dollywood amusement park, gem mining, the TopJump trampoline park (also has a fun little kids’ area), the outdoor gravity park, the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, or an escape game at one of the escape rooms in the area! There is certainly something for the entire family in Pigeon Forge TN!
Our cabin rentals are also packed with fun, so browse to find just the right fit. When you want a break from Pigeon Forge attractions, come back to your cabin for pool, foosball, air hockey, arcade games, big screen TVs, private home theaters, private indoor pools, and so much more!
