Pigeon Forge for first timers

[BrianL]

Gatlinburg and Pigeon are both tourist traps and silly expensive to do things, but it still holds its charm for us. We make it down there at least every 2 years.

I think it's funny how a lot of people warn about it being a "tourist trap" on a website dedicated to Walt Disney World!

 

[wabbott]

I think it's funny how a lot of people warn about it being a "tourist trap" on a website dedicated to Walt Disney World!

I'm caught every time! Can't he'p myself...

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I think it's funny how a lot of people warn about it being a "tourist trap" on a website dedicated to Walt Disney World!

While I would agree that both could be classified as tourist traps, I think we get into what some might see as a different class level (for lack of a better term) of traps. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge feel more like the tourist trap world built up just outside of the WDW bubble vs. what's in it. What's inside the bubble could still be a trap, but it's more like saying you're going to Dollywood vs. focusing on all of Pigeon Forge.

 

[mmbrad02]

This is an extremely popular getaway area where I live (about 3 hours away) and 20 or so years ago it was just kind of the default thing to do but then I woke up and realized how much money you can drop in this area; my husband and I went to Disney in 2006 and 2008 (free dining, etc) for a week for about the same price as a long weekend in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg. That’s not to say it has to be that dramatic but it can go fast!

That said, I always suggest people look up the Bush’s Baked Beans Center. It’s FREE, cute hands on items for kids, there used to be a free photo op, a short film on the history, etc. It’s 1-2 hours probably at most but I think it’s well worth it. It’s not in PF/Gatlinburg proper but a very short drive away. We also enjoy the National Park, Clingman’s dome used to be a “must do” every trip when I was growing up. My husband I went overnight once while my daughter was at camp and enjoyed the sky walk and Anakeesta. Honestly I find it as an okay place for he and I but it’s kind of hard with kids because you are either constantly telling them No to all the bright lights and things to do or you spend a lot of money. Over the years we have done The Stampede, Dollywood, An Elvis show, The Titanic Museum, The Aquarium, The Island (including the Ferris Wheel) and while it was all fine in the moment, none of it really calls me back.

I sound very frugal. I can be. Or I can spend all day But like others have said, it just feels like a tourist trap a lot of the times.

We are going back at the end of July with my husbands side of the family and I kind of dread it, because it’s definitely a mixed bag of tastes and I’m afraid we will drop lots of $$ by the time you fulfill the wants of 13 people. We have a cabin with a spa pool and hot tub so I’m hoping that will be the entertainment for some of the trip at least.

 

[Hisgirl]

What age folks are going? If you're Dolly fans and you're driving, I highly recommend listening to the podcast Dolly's America on your way there. We did something a bit unusual. Through some research, we drove about 30 minutes out from town and find Dolly's old home place, the one that is copied in the park. There's a ten foot fence up, but you can easily seen between the boards. Easy to park and just look where she grew up without trespassing.