There’s no shortage of family fun in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, making it the perfect destination for a family vacation that everyone will enjoy. WonderWorks is great for kids (or adults) interested in science, art, math, or space, and the Hollywood Wax Museum is the place for star-struck tourists. At the Titanic Museum Attraction, guests can touch an iceberg and tour the ship with the boarding pass of an actual passenger or crew member, and The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge offers history, Southern food, and lots of great treats.
And on top of the big-name attractions — including Dollywood, The Island, and The Mountain Mile — Pigeon Forge is home to miniature golf courses, lots of arcades, go-kart tracks, laser tag arenas, dinner shows, a wide variety of restaurants, and tons of local and chain stores. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do for a day, a weekend, or an entire week in the Great Smoky Mountains.
There are also a few things the area is known for…classic Pigeon Forge experiences you don’t want to miss out on while you’re here. Besides staying in a cozy cabin in the mountains, you can get an airbrush t-shirt, take an old-time photo, visit The Incredible Christmas Place, fish in the Little Pigeon River, or go mining for gems!
Sky Adventures in Pigeon Forge
Always wanted to go skydiving and see what it’s like to fly? Now’s your chance — with tandem skydiving in the Great Smoky Mountains! After all, what better scenery for your exhilarating jump than the beautiful peaks, rolling hills, dipping valleys, and riverscapes of the Smokies?
Believe it or not, aerial recreation involves more than just skydiving. If you’re itching to get back in the air or want to experience flight a little closer to the ground, you’ll love your options in the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area.
Skydive East Tennessee
Skydive East Tennessee is a full-time, professional, tandem skydiving center located in the little town of Dandridge, TN — the closest drop zone to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and the only one in all of East Tennessee! The world-class skydive instructors at Skydive East Tennessee provide quality instruction and specialize in working with people who are brand new to skydiving. So if this will be a completely new experience for you, you’re at the right place with Skydive East Tennessee!
At Skydive East Tennessee, they guarantee a safe and exciting jump, whether it’s your first skydive experience or your 100th. At their jump center, you’ll receive quality student training, and a skydiving expert will be there to help make your skydive experience fun and memorable. They also offer spectators a place to chill at their climate-controlled facility that features a video viewing area, restrooms, a padded pack room, a training room, camping options, and free Wi-Fi.
Flyaway Indoor Skydiving
Maybe you’re interested in skydiving, but you want to take it slow and see what it’s all about before you jump out of a plane. Sound about right? Then check out Flyaway Indoor Skydiving conveniently located on the Parkway near other fun attractions, like Xtreme Racing Center and Crave Golf Club, in Pigeon Forge!
The site of America’s first vertical wind tunnel, Flyway’s body flight experience gives you the sensation of falling without the fear. This facility has become a popular training resource for sport skydivers, competitive teams, and military units. Bring your group for an indoor flying experience next time you’re in the Smokies!
Smoky Mountain Ziplines
Another exciting option is to visit Smoky Mountain Ziplines in Pigeon Forge! If you’re traveling with kids or with a group, ziplining in the Smokies is a great way to have some high-flying fun without the rules and regulations of skydiving.
Kids as young as 8 years old can go ziplining, and the maximum weight for this activity is extended to 275 pounds. Choose their 7-line canopy tour for an outdoor adventure that’s over 150 in the air and covers 800 feet of cable at speeds up to 25 miles per hour!
Scenic Helicopter Tours
Our final option is a flight above the Great Smoky Mountains with Scenic Helicopter Tours! Offering flight tours over the national park since 1972, this attraction is the right choice for those who want to see the sights but who aren’t quite ready to trust a zipline or jump out of a plane. Instead, you’ll be safely buckled inside a helicopter with trusted pilots who will take you more than 1,200 feet in the air.
Depending on the helicopter tour you choose, your flight over the Smokies will give you the chance to view spectacular scenery like Douglas Lake, the French Broad River, the Douglas Dam, the Chilhowee Mountain Range, Wears Valley, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge.
Outdoor Fun in Pigeon Forge
Of course, you’ll have plenty of outdoor activities in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park that boasts hiking trails to waterfalls, scenic drives, horseback riding, picnic spots along sparkling rivers, and fly fishing. And in downtown Pigeon Forge, there are more outdoor activities for the whole family!
Ride roller coasters at Dollywood, explore The Old Mill Square, and watch the show fountain at The Island. Zorb at Outdoor Gravity Park, stroll with your pets through Patriot Park, and relax by the Little Pigeon River. Zipline with mountain views, see Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud, and go whitewater rafting. There are also mountain coasters, animal encounters, gardens, llama treks, river tubing, and oh-so-much more!
Miniature Golf Attractions
Indoor, outdoor, blacklight, on the rooftop, and up the side of a mountain — putt-putt comes in all shapes and sizes in the Great Smoky Mountains! As a fun and relatively inexpensive pastime, miniature golf is great for families with kids, a laid-back afternoon with a group of friends, or a romantic but casual date night for couples. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg feature 12 mini-golf attractions to check out.
- Blacklight Mini-Golf at LazerPort Fun Center
- Circus Golf
- Crave Golf Club
- Fantasy Golf
- Gatlin’s Mini Golf + Blacklight Golf
- Hillbilly Golf
- O’Bears Mini-Golf at Ober Gatlinburg
- Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf
- Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini-Golf
- Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini-Golf
- Safari Golf at The Track
- Treasure Quest Golf
And if you’re up for more mini-golf fun, then opt for a Pigeon Forge cabin rental in Bear Creek Crossing Resort. Guests will not only have access to indoor and outdoor community pools plus a clubhouse with gym equipment and extra space for entertaining but also an adorable 9-hole miniature golf course. Just bring your favorite putters and golf balls, and you’re all set — no fee necessary!
Soaky Mountain Waterpark
Built into the mountainside, this outdoor waterpark spans 50 acres with water slides and rides that create 1.5 miles of zooming fun! Whether you’re more interested in the wave pool or winding river, racing or spiraling, or watching your littlest splash around, Soaky Mountain is the waterpark for YOU.
All ages are welcome with kid areas, thrill rides, and family-friendly options. Plus, there are plenty of restaurants and food trucks to refuel and tackle your next round of water attractions after hanging out at your poolside cabana. Sound like the cool answer to your summer prayers? As a $90-million-dollar investment to the area, we sure hope so!
Gem Mines
There are several great places to go gem mining in Pigeon Forge, where you can dig for gemstones and have them cut and polished to take home! You can stop by for some gem mining fun and then grab a bite to eat or head over to the national park for more outdoor adventures like hiking or going for a bike ride! On the hunt for gem mines? Check out our list of local places to mine for gems below.
- Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
- Old Smoky Gem Mine
- Little River Gem Mine at Prospector’s Rock Shop
- Miner’s Gems at The Island
- Big Rock Dude Ranch at Ponderosa
Tube River Rage
Looking for the coolest place near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee? Look no further than Tube River Rage in nearby Townsend! Located on the upper banks of the Little River at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tube River Rage (formerly known as River Rage Tubing and under new management in 2020) is where the original river tubing outfitter began with over 15 years of experience in the Great Smoky Mountains!
At Tube River Rage, enjoy the longest float down the upper part of Little River, relaxing, taking in the beautiful scenery, and rushing along fun rapids as they come. With safety as their #1 priority, Tube River Rage has licensed and insured shuttle drivers and staff members who are familiar with the river for your water adventures. River tubing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are great ways to cool down on hot summer days in the Smokies, and Tube River Rage has it all!
Indoor Activities in Pigeon Forge
When it’s too hot or cold, windy or rainy, opt for things to do inside! Pigeon Forge has many indoor attractions — including TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena, The Incredible Christmas Place, The Comedy Barn Theater, Lazerport Fun Center, WonderWorks, the Titanic Museum Attraction, dinner shows, and a variety of arcades.
Smoky Mountains Railroad
Itching to get out of the cabin and see the Great Smoky Mountain scenery up close…while riding first class with a scrumptious meal, sipping wine or moonshine, or feeling the wind in your hair? Choo Choo! All Aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for stunning scenery, tasty meals, wine and moonshine, plus seasonal experiences — with loved ones.
See the Smokies by railroad on scenic tours that provide incredible Smoky Mountain backdrops along the journey to stunning stops. And if you’d like a side of history with your train ride — along the Tuckasegee River or the Nantahala Gorge — opt for the narration car that features Great American Rails-N-Tales. Plus, you’ll get complimentary entry into the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum!
Ice Bumper Cars
Ober Gatlinburg has combined a classic theme park ride and frozen water: ice bumper cars. Whether you are watching from the viewing deck from up above or co-piloting an inflatable tube on the ice, the whole family is guaranteed laughs and smiles from ear to ear.
These oversized bright tubes are sure to be a hit with the kids — with the flashing neon lights, easy navigation, and, of course, the good-hearted horseplay, ramming, and nudging. Once the family has had their fun bouncing off one another in the ice bumper cars, jump on over to the indoor ice skating to glide and dance around the rink in ice skates.
Pigeon Forge Snow
The first attraction of its kind in the country, Pigeon Forge Snow has already drawn tons of Smoky Mountain visitors and media coverage to this incredibly fun and unique attraction. Inside, enjoy 60- to 70-degree temperatures while racing down icy lanes made of real snow — 100% water with no additives! Parents can join in the fun or watch from the viewing deck above the slopes.
Construct forts, build snowmen, and make snow angels in the Snow Play area; no reservations are necessary for either attraction inside Pigeon Forge Snow. After hours of flying down the snowy slopes and playing in the winter wonderland, hit up the snack bar for a tasty treat and some rest.
Where to Stay
After your fun day of flying around the Smokies, exploring the great outdoors, and experiencing indoor fun, return to your log cabin in the mountains for an evening of rest and relaxation. Pigeon Forge TN Cabins currently has 450+ cabin options that range from 1-16 bedrooms and can sleep 1-60+ guests. Romantic stays, trips with friends, family vacations, and group getaways are great options. We even have pet-friendly cabins so your fur babies can come, too. Need to fit a certain budget? Browse our budget-friendly cabin rentals. Want to splurge? Our luxury properties are just what you’re looking for! Of course, our amenity selection is top-notch to help guests unwind and recharge.
Cabin Amenities
- Mountain/river/wooded/city views
- Steamy hot tub
- Private indoor pool
- Community pool access
- Indoor jetted tub
- En-suite bathrooms
- King and queen beds
- Big screen TVs
- Blu-ray/DVD players
- Home theater
- Game tables (pool, air hockey, foosball, etc.)
- Arcade games
- High speed Wi-Fi
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Gas/charcoal grill
- Wood burning/gas/electric fireplaces
- Rocking chairs
- Porch swing
Ready to book your cozy cabin stay in the Great Smoky Mountains? Choose a date online or give us a call if you have any questions at 1.866.513.7885. With cabin fun plus so many things to do in Pigeon Forge, TN, this is going to be a trip to remember!