Anybody else like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee?

[gadigger81]

My wife and I are taking the kids to Pigeon Forge for the 4th. The only thing I don't like bout Tennessee except for the Vols, (Roll Tide!) is the 10% sales tax! What are some good things to do there? We've done many of the shows, but needing some more ideas. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[bigscoop]

Use to go there quite a bit with my young boys. Take them fishing in the streams. If I'm not mistaken they are stocked routinely, or at least they use to be. Put some small packs on them, have them pack a few things they will need on their "big adventure" and then find an uncrowded spot along the road where you can pull over and walk them over the drop to the stream. Kids LOVE this simple adventure stuff! Even with the car still in easy reach and in plain sight.

 

[NaturalJWL]

Smokey Mountain Knife Works - http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/main_front.jsp

Even the wife will enjoy that.

Cade's Cove

Oh, don't forget that quarter trolley ride.
Traffic was so bad one night we took it to get across the steet.
Great way to explore the area, 2 1/2 hours later we finally made it back.

 

[spartacus53]

I never even heard of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.. So what's in a name right Everything

At first I was thinking maybe it's somewhat like Valley Forge, PA, but warmer. But coming from the northeast people from this neck of the woods wouldn't even slow down to red literature from a place that has pigeon in its name. As a matter of fact, most people from NYC take vacations just to get away from those filthy birds

From the internet it does look like a good place to visit with its various activities. When you do go, you better take plenty of pictures, because most in the Northeast will not believe you.

 

[spartacus53]

Too bad there are not too many first hand experiences to hear from.. I know that finding links in the internet is nearly impossible..

Oh wait, I take that back

 

[FarmerChick]

4 hr drive for me...not far, been there a few times. nice area.
Pigeon Forge Tourism...google cause near is a ton of things to do. big area for fun/entertaiment

dollywood
gatlinburg
lost sea (sweetwater tn, largest underground lake in USA) not sure on drive but in that area
cherokee (Harrah's casino not that far actually, well good drive but if ya want to gamble...lol)

google tourism for the area because there is so much to choose to fit your type of entertaiment.

have a blast!

 

[rockhound]

There are many things to do in Pigeon Forge,but we like Gatlinburg better. We stay in a motel 1 block off main street and walk all over Gatlinburg. They have a nice aquarium and many resturants.Many novelty shops for the wife and kids,and Ripley's beilieve it or not is there. Also some wild 3D video car rides where most people end up laying on the floor at the end.We do go to Pigeon Forge and Sevierville also but you will need to drive to most attractions. Don't forget the Smokey mountains,some great views and nature walks,hikes,and some nice trout streams.Take you camera,you'll be glad you did. Also there is Dollywood's water park, and Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. After you are done there,go across the mountain and see Cherokee, a living Cherokee indian village, and also Cherokee casino,where you can play all the games the bigger casinos have,blackjack,draw poker,one armed bandit,and many more. Most are arcade type machines,but they do have some blackjack tables,roulette and table poker. The Cherokee indians own the casino and have built a motel adjacent to it and they hand decorated it with paintings made from their own tribes. Franklin,NC is not far from there,where you can dig for gemstones for a fee. Garnets,rubys,sapphires,amethyst,and all kinds of quartz based gemstones have been found there.Even some gold ore has been found. If you like horseback riding Sevierville has a couple of stables, as does Cade's Cove, a walk back in time.Everything is just like it was in the 1800's,with wildlife galore.Have fun. You'll need a long vacation to do all that's there. Have fun. rockhound

 

[diggummup]

There are many things to do in Pigeon Forge,but we like Gatlinburg better. We stay in a motel 1 block off main street and walk all over Gatlinburg. They have a nice aquarium and many resturants.Many novelty shops for the wife and kids,and Ripley's beilieve it or not is there. Also some wild 3D video car rides where most people end up laying on the floor at the end.We do go to Pigeon Forge and Sevierville also but you will need to drive to most attractions. Don't forget the Smokey mountains,some great views and nature walks,hikes,and some nice trout streams.Take you camera,you'll be glad you did. Also there is Dollywood's water park, and Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. After you are done there,go across the mountain and see Cherokee, a living Cherokee indian village, and also Cherokee casino,where you can play all the games the bigger casinos have,blackjack,draw poker,one armed bandit,and many more. Most are arcade type machines,but they do have some blackjack tables,roulette and table poker. The Cherokee indians own the casino and have built a motel adjacent to it and they hand decorated it with paintings made from their own tribes. Franklin,NC is not far from there,where you can dig for gemstones for a fee. Garnets,rubys,sapphires,amethyst,and all kinds of quartz based gemstones have been found there.Even some gold ore has been found. If you like horseback riding Sevierville has a couple of stables, as does Cade's Cove, a walk back in time.Everything is just like it was in the 1800's,with wildlife galore.Have fun. You'll need a long vacation to do all that's there. Have fun. rockhound

I think you about said it all. I would add though ... you may want to check out Forbidden Caverns in Sieverville (nice and cool in there) and also get a bite to eat at the Old Mill Square right in Pigeon Forge. The wife and I visited there when we went ot Gatlinburg several years ago. We had a great time. Also, if your into antiquing, there are many antique shops and a couple flea markets in the area too. I agree, Gatlinburg has many attractions to see and experience as you walk down the main street. As for Cherokee Casino, we went but I lost a couple hundred in about an hour so... Have Fun!!

 

[gadigger81]

Use to go there quite a bit with my young boys. Take them fishing in the streams. If I'm not mistaken they are stocked routinely, or at least they use to be. Put some small packs on them, have them pack a few things they will need on their "big adventure" and then find an uncrowded spot along the road where you can pull over and walk them over the drop to the stream. Kids LOVE this simple adventure stuff! Even with the car still in easy reach and in plain sight.

thanks, we love to do some fishing! Thats a good idea!

 

[gadigger81]

Smokey Mountain Knife Works - http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/main_front.jsp

Even the wife will enjoy that.

Cade's Cove

Oh, don't forget that quarter trolley ride.
Traffic was so bad one night we took it to get across the steet.
Great way to explore the area, 2 1/2 hours later we finally made it back.

Thanks! We always wanted to do Cades Cove. I think we are this time. Thats another bad thing, the traffic there is bad!

 

[gadigger81]

I never even heard of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.. So what's in a name right Everything

At first I was thinking maybe it's somewhat like Valley Forge, PA, but warmer. But coming from the northeast people from this neck of the woods wouldn't even slow down to red literature from a place that has pigeon in its name. As a matter of fact, most people from NYC take vacations just to get away from those filthy birds

From the internet it does look like a good place to visit with its various activities. When you do go, you better take plenty of pictures, because most in the Northeast will not believe you.

You oughta go sometime Spart, I believe you would enjoy it

 

[gadigger81]

here's a couple of links for you.

http://www.mypigeonforge.com/what_to_do.aspx

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g55270-Activities-Pigeon_Forge_Tennessee.html

http://www.pigeonforge.com/activities/

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5234218_things-do-pigeon-forge-area.html


sounds like fun.

Thanks

 

[gadigger81]

4 hr drive for me...not far, been there a few times. nice area.
Pigeon Forge Tourism...google cause near is a ton of things to do. big area for fun/entertaiment

dollywood
gatlinburg
lost sea (sweetwater tn, largest underground lake in USA) not sure on drive but in that area
cherokee (Harrah's casino not that far actually, well good drive but if ya want to gamble...lol)

google tourism for the area because there is so much to choose to fit your type of entertaiment.

have a blast!

Thanks It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive for us, we really enjoy going!

 

[gadigger81]

There are many things to do in Pigeon Forge,but we like Gatlinburg better. We stay in a motel 1 block off main street and walk all over Gatlinburg. They have a nice aquarium and many resturants.Many novelty shops for the wife and kids,and Ripley's beilieve it or not is there. Also some wild 3D video car rides where most people end up laying on the floor at the end.We do go to Pigeon Forge and Sevierville also but you will need to drive to most attractions. Don't forget the Smokey mountains,some great views and nature walks,hikes,and some nice trout streams.Take you camera,you'll be glad you did. Also there is Dollywood's water park, and Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. After you are done there,go across the mountain and see Cherokee, a living Cherokee indian village, and also Cherokee casino,where you can play all the games the bigger casinos have,blackjack,draw poker,one armed bandit,and many more. Most are arcade type machines,but they do have some blackjack tables,roulette and table poker. The Cherokee indians own the casino and have built a motel adjacent to it and they hand decorated it with paintings made from their own tribes. Franklin,NC is not far from there,where you can dig for gemstones for a fee. Garnets,rubys,sapphires,amethyst,and all kinds of quartz based gemstones have been found there.Even some gold ore has been found. If you like horseback riding Sevierville has a couple of stables, as does Cade's Cove, a walk back in time.Everything is just like it was in the 1800's,with wildlife galore.Have fun. You'll need a long vacation to do all that's there. Have fun. rockhound

Thanks! We like Gatlinburg too, It's just cost so much to park there!

 

[gadigger81]

There are many things to do in Pigeon Forge,but we like Gatlinburg better. We stay in a motel 1 block off main street and walk all over Gatlinburg. They have a nice aquarium and many resturants.Many novelty shops for the wife and kids,and Ripley's beilieve it or not is there. Also some wild 3D video car rides where most people end up laying on the floor at the end.We do go to Pigeon Forge and Sevierville also but you will need to drive to most attractions. Don't forget the Smokey mountains,some great views and nature walks,hikes,and some nice trout streams.Take you camera,you'll be glad you did. Also there is Dollywood's water park, and Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. After you are done there,go across the mountain and see Cherokee, a living Cherokee indian village, and also Cherokee casino,where you can play all the games the bigger casinos have,blackjack,draw poker,one armed bandit,and many more. Most are arcade type machines,but they do have some blackjack tables,roulette and table poker. The Cherokee indians own the casino and have built a motel adjacent to it and they hand decorated it with paintings made from their own tribes. Franklin,NC is not far from there,where you can dig for gemstones for a fee. Garnets,rubys,sapphires,amethyst,and all kinds of quartz based gemstones have been found there.Even some gold ore has been found. If you like horseback riding Sevierville has a couple of stables, as does Cade's Cove, a walk back in time.Everything is just like it was in the 1800's,with wildlife galore.Have fun. You'll need a long vacation to do all that's there. Have fun. rockhound

I think you about said it all. I would add though ... you may want to check out Forbidden Caverns in Sieverville (nice and cool in there) and also get a bite to eat at the Old Mill Square right in Pigeon Forge. The wife and I visited there when we went ot Gatlinburg several years ago. We had a great time. Also, if your into antiquing, there are many antique shops and a couple flea markets in the area too. I agree, Gatlinburg has many attractions to see and experience as you walk down the main street. As for Cherokee Casino, we went but I lost a couple hundred in about an hour so... Have Fun!!

Thanks! Forbidden Caverns, thats something else we haven't tried. I will look into it.