Pigeon Forge 4 Days.....Itinerary

[disdanny]

Has anyone done the ZORBING attraction there?

DD has a bug up her bottom that she wants to try it.

We're not sure it's worth the travel time and expense just to roll down a hill in a giant hamster ball.

Anyone think differently?

 

[minniebeth]

How long does it take to complete the Jr. Ranger program....I was thinking it was a single activity, but there seems to be more involved

We've done the Junior Ranger programs at a lot of different parks and they are all different. Some are quite involved, while others are fairly simple and easier to complete. Some have taken us an hour, some several hours. It depends on how much you want your kids to get out of it. I'm a Girl Scout leaders, so I'm in the camp of wanting my kids to actually get something out of the program instead of just blowing through it just to get the patch or badge. The activities and amount ususally depend on the age range too. The rangers there are always willing to help the kids out if they need help figuring out/finding information for the activities.
I love the Junior Ranger programs, it's one of the best little known gems of the parks. They are really great and I highly recommend them!

Thanks for the great itinerary ideas too...we will be in Pigeon Forge in the spring and not familiar with the area, so they are great suggestions!~

 

[sillysmom]

We will be making our 3rd trip to Pigeon Forge in 5 weeks. Dollywood, is a wonderful place for sure, but if you are limited for time, I would suggest the Dixie Stampede. It is the one show we go to every trip. Its sort of like Medieval Times, where you eat with your hands and they have all sorts of animal things going on in the middle of the field. Both kids and adults with love it. The Ripleys Aquarium is beautiful, but it is alot of walking.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Our group includes:
me, hubby, daughter 5 and son 7 / my parents and my hubby's parents---all 4 are mid-60's / brother, sis-law, nephew 10 & niece 5

We will be staying in a cabin 6 miles off of Wears Valley Rd. / 3 nights / July 25-July 28

Day 1:
* leave our homes around 9AM (hopefully only 1 stop)
*arrive at the Applewood Farmhouse and have lunch / explore the Apple Barn
*check in / get directions to cabin
*arrive to cabin by 4pm
*Cades Cove by 6:30pm (explore @ Visitors Center---mill/blacksmith/barn)
turn onto Hyatt Lane and hope for some wildlife at dusk

Day 2:
*Metcalf Bottom Picnic area ( hike to the Little Greenbrier School and then onto the Walker sisters cabin---return and have picnic and play in water)
*back to cabin
*The Track Recreation Center (2 hrs + pizza) go-karts / golf / bumper boats, etc.
*The Comedy Barn show @ 5pm
*back to cabin----hot tub

Day 3:
*Townsend Visitors Center
*Little River Railroad & Lumber Museum
*River Tubing with River Rage (older crew probably back to cabin) Picnic lunch here
*back to cabin
*Black Bear Jamboree Dinner Show (men and kids back to cabin and ladies to the outlets)

Day 4:
*breakfast at cabin and depart by 10:30 am
*Bass Pro Shops (guy shopping and lunch)
*head home

Would love suggestions from anyone familiar with this area!!!!!!

Are staying on Cove Mountain? The cabins here have gorgeous views and fairly convenient to the Parkway.
The Outlet shopping IMO is a TOTAL waste of time are there are not really any bargains. Add to the 11.5% sales tax and I find much better deals here at our Outlets. YMMV though.
The Christmas Place store on the Parkway is fantastic and they usually have great deals on the best in Christmas.
There is a Kroger on Wears Valley Road. Open 24 hours and the prices are pretty good.

 

[monkeybug]

Are staying on Cove Mountain? The cabins here have gorgeous views and fairly convenient to the Parkway.
The Outlet shopping IMO is a TOTAL waste of time are there are not really any bargains. Add to the 11.5% sales tax and I find much better deals here at our Outlets. YMMV though.
The Christmas Place store on the Parkway is fantastic and they usually have great deals on the best in Christmas.
There is a Kroger on Wears Valley Road. Open 24 hours and the prices are pretty good.

We are staying at the Inn at Christmas Place (I know...kinda' a weird place to stay on spring break, but the reviews are just so dang good. And they say it smells like Christmas. I like the way Christmas smells!) is the Christmas Place store connected to the inn?

 

[ohiomom28]

Just returned from Pigeon Forge last night. Being slow season, It was still very busy. TRaffic is almost at a stand still a lot of the time. Thats what we spent most of the weekend doing...sitting in traffic. We did some shopping, ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, (waste of money BTW) and went to the aquarium. Kids are free right now too, through 2/28 at all Ripley's attractions with the purchase of an adult. Just text Toxic to 77007! Other than that we hung out at the cabin and in the hot tub and enjoyed the 60 degree weather. Hope you have a great trip!!

 

[Crystal0608]

We are staying at the Inn at Christmas Place (I know...kinda' a weird place to stay on spring break, but the reviews are just so dang good. And they say it smells like Christmas. I like the way Christmas smells!) is the Christmas Place store connected to the inn?

Not weird, we stayed here last May for the first time and LOVED it. Don't forget your camera-awesome Christmas card photo ops here. It is decorated Christmas, smells like Christmas, the Singing Santa is awesome and has a show certain nights and kids participate AND they serve cookies and milk to all ages. He also visits for breakfast and will pose for pics. I noted on the reservation it was dh's bday and we had warm cookies in the room when we got back the first night. It is the PERFECT hotel. I can't wait to go back. It is connected to the Christmas Place, which is right across the street. We got a $10 credit for staying at the Inn 2 nights.

 

[Buckalew11]

while in Townsend look into visiting the Heritage Center.

Also, they'll be resurfacing Cades Cove this Spring. It'll be closed for quite some time. They plan on widening the pull-offs to encourage people to actually PULL OFF and not sit at a stand still backing traffic up so badly. I am not sure whether it will work or not but that is the plan.
I love Cades Cove but rarely go because of the darned traffic.

I'd wait on Dollywood because I think your reasons are valid. I'd also wait on the Stampede--just because of your kids ages (if, in deed, you are returning sooner than later). While a 4 yo would love and enjoy it, it is darned expensive and she would remember better during a later trip. We took DD when she was that age and she did love it. She was chosen to chase chickens and I took pics so I think that is why she remembers that trip. I think she got chosen to chase chickens about 6 times over the years. Finally I was like, pick someone else's kid to get a turn and make a memory. Of course, when she was little, she loved it. DH and I got picked to "ride the pony"--oh brother--and his dad once got picked to play horseshoes.
Good times, great memories.

 

[tinatark]

<snipped> Add to the 11.5% sales tax and I find much better deals here at our Outlets. <snipped>QUOTE]


Sales tax is 9.75 (sounds better than 11.5!)

As far as traffic is concerned, yes, it is busy, and July is the busiest month of the year - but for the visitor who just left, if you were traveling to and from Gatlinburg, there was a rock slide (due to recent rains) which made part of the "Spur" (road from Pigeon Forge into Gatlinburg) one lane.

The one "main" back road is very easy to use - you turn right at Veteran's Boulevard from Dolly Parton Parkway - and stay on it until it dumps you out at the other end of Pigeon Forge. There are several places you can turn from it to go to the Parkway earlier (Wal Mart, Teaster Lane, etc.)

OP, Dollywood may just be a good fit for everyone - it has shows and big rides. Also, if you go @ 3pm or later, the next day is free. It is usually open until 9 or 10 at that time of year.

If you are outlet shopping, go to Tanger Five Oaks - some of the stores I frequent there are Adidas, Old Navy, Gap, Coach, Banana Republic, Reebok, Bass (clothing), Cosmetic Factory Store (you know all of the Clinique/Lancome, etc. bonuses? you can BUY them here!), Under Armour... it's a really nice mall - and for a great dinner, the Chop House there is awesome - and has call ahead seating.

 

[minniebeth]

ate at the Hard Rock Cafe,

Wait! There's a Hard Rock Cafe in Pigeon Forge?! My kids love HRC and we were hoping to get away from all that! We wanted to try more local places to get a feel for the culture of the area. Can anyone tell me where it is in relation to everything? We will have to circumvent that for sure!
Thanks!

 

[ohiomom28]

Wait! There's a Hard Rock Cafe in Pigeon Forge?! My kids love HRC and we were hoping to get away from all that! We wanted to try more local places to get a feel for the culture of the area. Can anyone tell me where it is in relation to everything? We will have to circumvent that for sure!
Thanks!

It's in downtown Gatlinburg, not far from the aquarium.

 

[Lady V]

If you are going into Gatlinburg via the spur then when you pull into Gatlingburg the HRC is directly on your right hand side. Will be hard to not see it as you round the corner.

also traffic is not as bad as a lot of people here say. THere are times which are worse...such as the hour before the nightly shows begin. But unless you are here over the fourth of July you won't see a literal stand still. It is always moving.

Don't forget the Disney Store at Tanger Five Oaks!!

 

[ohiomom28]

If you are going into Gatlinburg via the spur then when you pull into Gatlingburg the HRC is directly on your right hand side. Will be hard to not see it as you round the corner.

also traffic is not as bad as a lot of people here say. THere are times which are worse...such as the hour before the nightly shows begin. But unless you are here over the fourth of July you won't see a literal stand still. It is always moving.

Don't forget the Disney Store at Tanger Five Oaks!!

Unless it's been moved in the last 2 weeks, it's a little further in than just on the right inside Gatlinburg.

Yes, traffic was a stand still and it was because of the spur being re-routed due to the rockslide. I was mentioning it in case she was there during this time. If you have a GPS, it can sometimes take you an alternate way instead of waiting. We used it and the roads are very curvy but it was better than sitting in traffic.

 

[Lady V]

sorry-I meant as you enter Gatlinburg and take the right turn onto the actual main drag it will be right there on your right. (that is a lot of 'right' in one sentence!)
And yes-the road was blocked this past week-I (possibly mistakenly) thought the trip wasn't right now. But-just this morning we took the spur into Gatlinburg and the lanes were clear.
Regardless-have fun!
some more ideas:
The best discounts for things such as go-carts usually are in the morning before noon. Some offer B1G1. A lot of shows offer kids for free with paying adults. The new show at the Miracle Theatre is great. It's called 'Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.'
Have a wonderful visit!

 

[Wishing on a star]

OP, and others planning to visit....

CADES COVE IS CLOSED.....

OP, I hate that you will not be able to do Cades Cove, but, being familiar with the area, and driving over to Cades Cove, and then around the Loop Road (the visitors area is located halfway around the loop... not as you arrive....) I really had to question your plans to go do that in the late-afternoon/evening.

 

[mansionterror]

Just to let you know, the Cades Cove Loop has been closed. They are paving the entire loop road (nice because it really needs it). Anyway it is slated to be re-opened mid to late May. So it will be really, really crowded!

Ha we posted at the same time!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I think the rock slide is being cleared up.

Melissa DoLittle (American IDOL) will be performing at the Miracle Theater.

Hope this helps any planners out there!

PS: thanks MansionTerror! We posted at the same time!

 

[tinatark]

Rock slide is clear - road is no longer blocked there.

 

[LilyWDW]

So, the only thing I can think about commenting on is your plan to eat at the Applewood Farmhouse the day you arrive. If I read it correctly that would be July 25th which is a Sunday... that place will be packed unless you will be eating at a real off time. After church around these here parts lmao every restaurant will be packed... then add that it is a tourist destination on a weekend during one of the busiest times of year... well, expect a wait. Last time I was there for breakfast the wait was about 2 hrs when we were seated... and that was starting to get into the lunch hours.

Otherwise, have fun! I head out that way often since I am only about 1.5 hours away. Personally, I love the Tanger outlets and always find some GREAT deals there! Especially at the GAP outlet! Check the Tanger website before you go for coupons and deals!

 

[minniebeth]

OP, and others planning to visit....

CADES COVE IS CLOSED.....

OP, I hate that you will not be able to do Cades Cove, but, being familiar with the area, and driving over to Cades Cove, and then around the Loop Road (the visitors area is located halfway around the loop... not as you arrive....) I really had to question your plans to go do that in the late-afternoon/evening.

Just checking....is Cades Cove still closed??