Why You Should Visit Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Located at the base of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee offers something for everyone. It is easily one of the best places to vacation with your family. You can have a great time and enjoy the view and the fresh mountain air.

Pigeon Forge offers all sorts of shopping. There are outlet malls that sell everything from dishes and tools to clothes and books. There are stores to buy scrapbooking items, swords, knick knacks, and crafts made by locals. There is even a place for Boyd's Bears that I hear has a lot of special things in it, too!

Family fun runs rampant in Pigeon Forge. There are lots of places to ride bumper cars and go carts, bungee jump, or just play in an arcade. There are shows to see, some funny, some musical, some with food, some without. There are places to see live bears, get funnel cakes and caramel apples and get your picture made in 1800's attire.

While Pigeon Forge is only a short drive from other Smoky Mountain National Park attractions, one of the biggest attractions is right in Pigeon Forge itself: Dollywood. Not only is there the Dollywood theme park, but there is also Dollywood's Splash Country.

Dollywood is a huge theme park. Be prepared to stay the day. Ticket prices are $47.50 for adults, ages 12-59, $34.55 for children ages 4-11, and $42.35 for seniors, 60 and over. Children to age 3 are free. If you go after 3:00 pm, you get the entire next day free, which seems to be the best deal.

Dollywood's rides are broken up into sections, with different themes. An example is the State Fair section. It has a ferris wheel and other "fair" type rides. There are also the little "fair" booths where you can win a prize for doing something like throwing balls at a stack of bottles.

Throughout Dollywood, there are roller coasters, water rides and thrill rides, but there is even a section for the smaller children. A two or three year old can ride their own rides, too. They go slow and are very safe.

Also throughout Dollywood are several little places to just see. There is a 50's era neighborhood with a "drive-in" restaurant, complete with 50's cars in the drive, serving burgers, fries and milkshakes. There is a 50's police car reminicent of Mayberry, and several little stores and the like to make you feel like you have stepped back in time.

In the park also is a replica of a 1800's school, a replica of the house Dolly Parton grew up in, and a church she attended. There is a bald eagle sanctuary where you can take photographs of bald eagles reasonably close. There are also several "photo spots" marked so you can get the best pictures of your family with the best backgrounds. You can take pictures in front of old mills, rides, a giant pond with HUGE goldfish and ducks, on bridges, in front of flower gardens and many other beautiful places.

Crafts are also abundant in Dollywood. You can watch men blow glass into beautiful ornaments, pitchers, candleholders and things, or work with iron or wood. You can buy many of the items to take home.

Everywhere you go in Dollywood you can smell delicious food. You can eat meals or just snacks. There is a great ice cream parlor where you are sure to find something you like. We chose to eat at Aunt Granny's buffet, and I can honestly say it was some of the best food I have ever had.

Once you leave Dollywood, if you aren't too tired, you can drive up and down the strip and find something else to do! There is never a shortage! The family fun centers stay open fairly late, or maybe you can even catch a country star's late show! But, eventually, when you DO tire out, there will be dozens of welcoming hotels and motels for you to relax in.

Enjoy Pigeon Forge on your next vacation and make lasting family memories.