Is Pigeon Forge, TN a good place for vacation?

[pal-mickey]

Planning for summer vacation and since I can't go to my first choice(Disney World), we may go to Pigeon Forge, TN. I'm looking for suggestions of things to do, where to stay, etc. Also I was thinking of staying about 4-5 days. Is that enough time or should I add a few days? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[mrsksomeday]

We love Pigeon Forge, there are many shows to see, places to shop and going up into the Smoky Mountains is a great way to spend the day. We enjoyed Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg also. You could go to Dollywood too. We will be there toward the end of June at my inlaws vacation home. There are many places to stay, it depends on whether you want a hotel room or a cabin.

I suggest eating at the Old Mill too, it was yummy.

 

[goofy67]

Pigeon Forge is a great vacation place. My mom and I go every October or early November to see the leaves changing colors. We always stay at Willowbrook Lodge. This is a wonderful family owned hotel. It is always just us two women and we always feel safe when we stay there. It is clean and and we have never had any problems. They have a wonderful b-fast every morning....gravy and biscuits are to delicious!!!!!!! Pigeon Forge and Disney World are our two favorite trips!

 

[lulubelle6188]

I live about 1 1/2 away from there. There is a lot to do, especially for families. We go to Dollywood and the aquarium all the time. The only problem I have is there is a lot to do and most things only take a couple hours so it can add up price-wise. The Titanic museum is opening next week and it seems to be very interesting, just not sure for how young. Hope you have fun!!
Tiffany

 

[3"Mouse"keteers]

We love Pigeon Forge! We only live about 2 and a half hours away, so we usually just spend a long weekend, maybe 2 to 3 nights, and find that it's plenty of time.There is also a new indoor waterpark/hotel called Wilderness something.

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

Count me in for a positive Pigeon Forge vote as well. As others mentioned, Dollywood and the Ripley Aquarium are "must-do's", and there is plenty beyond that in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, which is only about a 15 minute drive. Great place to vacation, and accommodations and food were pretty resonable as I remember. We got a really nice cabin up in the mountains for about $1100 for a 7 night stay, which I thought was pretty good.

Kids had a great time, and were we not going to WDW this year, that was their vote for our vacation spot in 2010.

 

[neatokimmo]

Dollywood season passes are just $79. If you are a roller coaster fan, you'll need more than one day.

 

[ilovebassets]

I'll probably get slammed for this, but here it goes anyway.

We stayed there for a long weekend earlier this year. If you're looking for something similar to disney in terms of overall class and ambience, don't expect it in pigeon ford.

If you're looking for something a little more campy and are okay with a more redneck type vacation (in terms of the stores and restaurants and attractions available and the overall crowds), pigeon ford may be up your alley.

Personally, I won't be going back anytime soon but it wasn't a totally horrible vacation or anything. Just not where I will be spending my vacation dollars. Even the Great Smoky National Park is somewhat ruined by the very high crowds and general lack of respect for the land and nature that those high crowds bring. We are big fans of national parks and do a lot of hiking around the country and have never seen so much trash or vandalism in any other park by a long shot. It says something about the people who visit it unfortunately.

Please, no flames. The OP asked for opinions and they had been all positive so far. Just wanted to share a different perspective.

 

[neatokimmo]

No flames here, I think "country" is a better way to describe it. On another thread, someone said it was Myrtle Beach in the mountains, that fits it too.

OP, since we just do day trips I can't vouch for going for a vacation. But don't expect Dollywood to be anything like Disney. It is NO where close. Think of it as a county fair without the smelly animals (other tourists do not count!).

If you want a quiet get away, there are lots of nice cabins available where all you can see are trees. Most come with hot tubs. Many are grouped together and share a pool. Just google it.

I'll probably get slammed for this, but here it goes anyway.

We stayed there for a long weekend earlier this year. If you're looking for something similar to disney in terms of overall class and ambience, don't expect it in pigeon ford.

If you're looking for something a little more campy and are okay with a more redneck type vacation (in terms of the stores and restaurants and attractions available and the overall crowds), pigeon ford may be up your alley.

Personally, I won't be going back anytime soon but it wasn't a totally horrible vacation or anything. Just not where I will be spending my vacation dollars. Even the Great Smoky National Park is somewhat ruined by the very high crowds and general lack of respect for the land and nature that those high crowds bring. We are big fans of national parks and do a lot of hiking around the country and have never seen so much trash or vandalism in any other park by a long shot. It says something about the people who visit it unfortunately.

Please, no flames. The OP asked for opinions and they had been all positive so far. Just wanted to share a different perspective.

 

[shalom]

Pigeon Forge is okay, but the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is TERRIFIC. Also, it's free. You can buy guides at the visitor's center for a reasonable fee ($2 for one listing all the waterfalls, for instance), or look them up on the Internet before you go. You can also rent bikes and stuff, and at various times parts of the park are open to biking only (Cade's Cove, for one). There's a back route into the GSMNP from Pigeon Forge that goes through Townsend and there are places for white water rafting and whatnot along that route. The back route from Pigeon Forge is easier if you want to get to Laurel Falls or Cade's Cove - coming in for those from Gatlinburg it's a very twisty road. There's no visitor's center at the Townsend entrance, but I believe there's one near Cade's Cove.

The aquarium in Gatlinburg is pretty neat as well. I hear that summer traffic in Gatlinburg is nightmarish, though - never gone then but my dad has.

But don't expect Dollywood to be anything like Disney. It is NO where close. Think of it as a county fair without the smelly animals (other tourists do not count!).

I'd say Dollywood is like Disney in that it's a theme park, but the theme is a country fair in the Great Smoky Mountains. Although it's more beautifully landscaped than any country fair I've ever gone to. The bird show is great if you need a break from the rides.

 

[maslex]

Glad to read all of this. We're taking our first TN vacation and we're heading to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg in August!!! Can't wait!!!

 

[bcarson]

I love the Smokey Mountains! Last year over Spring Break . We were headed to my dh's family in NC we stoppped here for the night. We got a deal on the Dixie Stampede website that included a dinner there at the aquarium. We loved both. I have never done Dollywood and next time hopefully we will. But were are doing Disney/Universal this year. So it will have to wait.

 

[heatherleigh]

I would do the Ripley's Aquarium and Dollywood. There are also helicopter rides you can go on, that are fun for the kids. I've also heard you can do a tour and look at some old country homes that are still standing. You ride in a tour vehicle. I saw them from the road, but we didn't get close. We used to live in Knoxville, so we went up there a couple times.

 

[RabFlmom]

No flames here, I think "country" is a better way to describe it. On another thread, someone said it was Myrtle Beach in the mountains, that fits it too.

OP, since we just do day trips I can't vouch for going for a vacation. But don't expect Dollywood to be anything like Disney. It is NO where close. Think of it as a county fair without the smelly animals (other tourists do not count!).

If you want a quiet get away, there are lots of nice cabins available where all you can see are trees. Most come with hot tubs. Many are grouped together and share a pool. Just google it.

It's funny how opinions of places go.....we have lived within an hour of the Disney parks since my sons were born. We did the Disney parks till the youngest was 4 and then they chose year after year to go to Dollywood. They loved that park! The playground would keep them entertained for hours on end. They dug the country type things like swinging on a rope etc. We could make the trip to TN for about the same amount of money we spent in Disney parks in just a couple days. It was mountainous and green or snowy depending on the season. We did not spend a lot of time in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg because we went to the park, to other areas using hotel there as base, etc. We would have a blast. Not to far away there is even a park with rides etc on a Mountain(down in Maggie Valley) Pigeon Forge is definitely a tourist money grabber and can nickel and dime you if you aren't careful, though

We are headin' back up there this fall. Can't wait.

OOps I think I quoted the wrong post . Sorry.

 

[sillysmom]

OP, you don't mention how old your children are. I just got back last night actually from our third trip to PF from New York. First of all, many of us, especially in New York, could learn alot from those "Rednecks". They are by far the nicest people we have ever met on vacation ever, and we have been on many, many vacations, within the country and outside as well. We love to cruise and have been on 7 cruises, including 2 Disney and most recently we cruised to Hawaii, and I must say, PF is right up there with our favorite vacation spots.

Our daughter is now 15, we first went when she was 11, then again when she was 12. She got to choose this years trip and wanted to go back to TN.

If you're looking for a "laid back", vacation, you will love this place. There is soooo much to do. Dollywood is an amazing, friendly, inexpensive park. They also have a beautiful water park as well, unfortunately we have always gone during spring break and its not open yet during that time.

There are many, many shows to see, some have dinner included, all at a reasonable price. The one show we see every trip is the Dixie Stampede. Its along the same lines as Medieval Times, and it is the probably the most expensive show in the area, it cost us I think $160 for the 4 of us (DD brought a friend), and it was worth every penny. Many other shows to see that are much less expensive, in fact, some shows have children for free with a paying adult, even the dinner shows.

There are tons of putt putts, go-carts, and so much shopping if thats what you are into.

The cabins I have seen are beautiful, but we have stayed at the Red Roof Inn, which is right on the Parkway (the main road), all three trips. This time for 8 nights, it cost $556. Free breakfast, (eh), indoor heated pool, open 24 hours, and a very nice staff, very clean as well.

Trust me you will love the laid back atmosphere of a trip to PF, no dressing up, no rush, and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Its actually a pleasant trip to drive. It took us 12 hours, and we got to see some beautiful scenery.

If you want to know anything more about PF, feel free to PM me!!!

 

[Green Tea]

My children and I all thought it was the worst place ever. Too much traffic. Too many people. Just nuts

 

[shalom]

It's funny how opinions of places go.....we have lived within an hour of the Disney parks since my sons were born. We did the Disney parks till the youngest was 4 and then they chose year after year to go to Dollywood. They loved that park! The playground would keep them entertained for hours on end. They dug the country type things like swinging on a rope etc.

I've got five kids - they all like Disney movies, but only one of them has the remotest interest in visiting Disney World. I think it's that they'd rather go to the beach or to a park or some other place where they can "do stuff" instead of "ride stuff."

In terms of crowds, I have heard that summer wait times at Dollywood are never as bad as they are at Disney, probably because not everyone going to Dollywood cares about the rides. Dollywood has shows and crafts to watch and whatnot that draw some of the crowd. There's also the Q-bot, which is essentially a Fastpass you pay for (not free, but less than Six Flags I think). Actually it's better than a Fastpass in that you don't have to go to the ride to get in the virtual line, and it buzzes you when it's your time (I doubt you can go whenever you want after your time comes up, though).

I don't know about Pigeon Forge per se, but the GSMNP website says crowds there are heaviest between July 1-August 15, so June might be the way to go. Dollywood is most crowded during the various festivals and on weekends (weekends are the worst for the GSMNP as well) - the festivals are listed on the Dollywood site. The "come early, take a break late morning/early afternoon, and come back in dinner time or later" Disney plan should improve your odds in the GSMNP, and coming early to Dollywood is a good plan, too.

Also, I suspect you'll want to come in the back way, via 321 (Wears Valley Road) if you're in Pigeon Forge. There's a back way into Gatlinburg as well, I think on 416 but it's a lot less direct. Basically, you want to avoid Exit 407 on I-40 and the Parkway (441) between Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. We stay in a resort off of Wears Valley Road that's close to the action on the Parkway if you want it, but still has some feel of being in the mountains. Wears Valley Road is the one that goes to GSMNP without dealing with the Parkway traffic as well. I haven't visited in the summer but that's what I've been told.

 

[lpandorf]

We drove through Pigeon Forge on our way to Gatlinburg for a cheerleading competition mid-March. Just my opinion, I don't think I could spend more then a long weekend in that area. However, my nieghbors love the place and their kids choose to spend a week there every summer. The Dad works for Delta and he can fly free and offers them WDW and they choose to drive to Pigeon Forge over WDW or other trips. Even in March, the traffic was pretty bad on the main strip. And all I saw was lots of putt-putt golf, small car places to race and restaurants. Just me, I'd be tired of that after a couple days. We did enjoy Gatlinburg, but after 4 days there I'd had enough of that, as well. It was expensive. Again, lots of arcades, shops and candy places. As someone mentioned, each thing only lasted a couple of hours and got pricey. Kids loved it, however, and begging to go back. What I do think would be nice, is to go into the Smokey Mountain National Park and go hiking, white water rafting and enjoy the outdoors. That would have kept me happy. I lived in Asheville, NC in my early 20's and love the Smokey Mountain area. Pigeon Forge just no my thing.

 

[pal-mickey]

Thanks for everyones help. My daughters are 16 and 12. They both like roller coasters. Me and hubby not so much. We plan on going in August and since we live in the country that doesn't bother me. Sounds like there will be plenty to do. I'm interested in seeing the Titanic exhibit.

 

[alexensmom]

We go to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge every year for our family vacation. We have stayed many places from one room cabins with kitchenettes, motels, and cabins that sleep 17. I treat these vacations like preparing for Disney. If you want to save money, get a cabin where you can skip the restaurants and cook your own meals. If you dont want the hassle of cooking, plan your budget to eat out. We have discovered lots of out of the way places with good food at very reasonable prices.

Definately go with a plan. Sitting in traffic is not the time to try and decide where you want to go/eat/shop. We usually split our days in half. Just like Disney, no one wants to stand on a mini golf course in the sun and the heat of the day. Our mornings are spent shopping the "strip" (Gatlinburg), hiking, geocaching, and aquarium. We can easily spend a day up until late afternoon shopping at the outlets. We go back to the cabin and spend some time at the pool and then have dinner. We usually play mini golf/race cars in the evening when its cooler. If your family likes shows, this is the place. Amazingly, we have never been to Dollywood, but are going this year as a pre-Disney trip for our DS2.

Traffic depends on the time of year and time of day. If you want to head into Gatlinburg for dinner, dont get in the car at 5 o'clock and think you can drive right in without sitting in traffic.

Do your research What does your family like...being outdoors, shopping, hand-made crafts, theme parks, shows, walk-thru attractions, cheezy attractions restaurants, site seeing, etc. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/ Here is a good starting point. Have fun!!