Pigeon Forge, TN?

[pixiedustaholic]

We did Wonderworks and were very disappointed. (My kids are age 8 & 12. ) We felt it was very pricey and it was super crowded and we went supposedly in the off season. I'm sure they probably have a website. I'm sure there are tons of families that enjoy it. I just wouldn't classify it as "budget".

We did enjoy The Comedy Barn on our last visit and we will definitely return.

 

[Elvistelth]

We went last summer and my family had a blast. Dollywood was wonderful and we happened to go after 3pm so we ended up returning for free the next day. We stayed the first night in Pigeon Forge and while there was a lot to do it wasn't as nice as Gatlinburg. Pigeon Forge is a lot like Kissimmee outside of WDW. I highly recommend Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que: We ate a dinner and brunch there. There's a Bennett's right by OberGatlinburg which is also recommended. We stayed at the Mid-Town Lodge which is across the street from the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Of all the things we did, Ripleys, mirror maze, Obergatlinburg, shopping, my girls said their favorite thing was gathering river stones in the West Prong...we came home with about 10 pounds of rocks!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

DollyWood is a fun place to go.

 

[sillysmom]

Our two trips (and going again in April) to Pigeon Forge, have been the most fun and inexpensive vacations we've taken.

Keep in mind there are many shows that include dinner, so you kill two birds with one stone. There are tons of putt putts and go carts that are pretty inexpensive.

All of the Ripleys stuff is lots of fun and you can get a combo pass that saves you some money. Also if you're going to Dollywood for a couple of days, get season passes. One gold pass for one adult, will get you 10 or 20% (I think its 20) off everything in the park and free parking, so you're saving money there.

For hotels, try the Red Roof Inn on the parkway. We've stayed there everytime and for our upcoming trip. Its as low as $89 per night. Nice, clean, 24 hour pool, free breakfast, and real nice people working there. Also, very convenient to everything in town.

Wonderworks is amazing, the kids will love it and you will be there all day and into the night. We've been to Comedy Barn, Dixie Stampeke, Chinese Acrobats, I can't remember all the names of the shows.

If you have any questions, feel free to pm me.

 

[turnlisa]

All of this information is amazing! I have to thank all of you and if anyone has anything that hasn't been mentioned, let me know. I hadn't even thought of tubing - and I grew up in Northern Michigan next to a river! My boys will love that.

Gotta thank all of you for the recommendations on restaurants. I was looking at the brochures completely lost and this definitely gives me a great starting point!

I'm really looking forward to the National Park now. I hadn't realized there was so much stuff there. One question: for the fishing there, can the kids do that free? I'm thinking DH and I won't fish but the boys might like to throw in a line.

Any more tips keep 'em coming! This is fantastic! Thanks to all of you for your replies and the time you took to give me the great information. I knew I could count on the DIS!

 

[Elvistelth]

One thing I wanted to add was how safe I felt while in Gatlinburg. The people were all friendly and helpful. An example was one night we were walking along the Smoky Mountain Parkway, going into the shops and passed a fudge shop. The man behind the counter was giving little samples out. My youngest daughter walked up to get one and for some reason the guy gave her a piece that must have been a quarter pound instead of the tiny samples everyone else got. We had other experiences like that where people went out of their way to be nice. I really like it there.

 

[Disneymoon09]

Got to say we LOVE Smokey Mt. Brewery. Their soft pretzels with warm beer cheese are one of my favorite foods in the world. The pizza is great as well and the beer is better than anything else around there(not saying much but it is pretty good).

I AGREE!! best food in PF. We ate there every night on one of our trips and never had a bad meal. The pretzles and beer cheese are awesome and the beer is top notch.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

We drive as fast as we can THROUGH Pigeon Forge to get to the mountains! I hate all that touristy stuff, but I'm from TN. You could easily spend a week in the National Park and spend very little to no cash and have a blast.

On fishing, if you're planning on fishing in the park (or anywhere for that matter) anyone 13 and over will need a license. You can get it at any sporting goods store like Wal-Mart or Bass Pro... A one-day license is $5.50.

Here are some great, easy things to do in the Smokies:

Stop at Sugarlands Nature Center. As you enter the park from Gatlinburg it will be on your right at the intersection of Little River Road and the Parkway. It has lots to do there, some films and as others have mentioned, you can do a Jr. Ranger program.

If you turn right here, you will go towards Cades Cove, the Sinks, Metcalf Bottom Picnic Area. Cades Cove is super busy with traffic but is a motor loop - you can stop and do some shorter hikes (Abrams Falls is nice out of there, place to swim for the kids at the bottom of the fall) there is a little village set up in Cades Cove that shows you what living in the Cove back in the day was like. At dusk they close the loop and do hayrides through the cove. This is a great place to see animals (including Black Bear). There is a camp store there at a campground. You can also bike the loop.

On that road just up from the visitors center if you don't want to go that fall, there is the trail head for Laurel Falls. It is a nice, easy, paved trail that ends in a beautiful waterfall. It is a great hike if you are not a hiker, easy for kids and will be busy.

If at the visitors center you instead go straight, you will be heading up the mountains towards North Carolina. It is a beautiful drive with lots of pull-outs to admire the view. The chimneys picnic area will be on your right, someone has mentioned that - and if you go at supper time, you might see bear here too. They tend to show up at dusk. The Chimneys is a great but strenuous hike a bit further up - you get great views from the top. If you are in moderate shape you can do it - my 2 younger kids (9 and 12) have done it several times. Clingman's dome (paved observation tower) and Newfound Gap are up here (border between TN and NC, very high elevation) and if you keep going you can go to Cherokee reservation in NC. All lots of fun things to do, and free.

As for Dollywood, it is a different experience than the park but I was very pleasantly surprised when I took the kids there on a whim last year. It was much more of a modern amusement park than I expected and they had a blast. They also have packages that get you into both the water park and the park.

I personally would stay away from anything with Ripley's on it. lol All that junk is just tourist trap stuff.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

One more thing as someone mentioned, that Grotto Falls hike out of Roaring Forks nature trail is a wonderful, easy hike. You get there by turning at light #1 in Gatlinburg, and entering the Roaring Forks Nature trail. You can actually walk behind the falls there!

That is one of my favorite trails up to Mt. LeConte as well. If you're feeling like a soldier that day, you can hike up to the highest point in the park where you can actually spend the night, although you won't be able to do it on this short a notice (spots sell out a year in advance!) However, you can do day hikes up to the lodge and they will feed you a hikers lunch - you have to just call and arrange it at least 48 hrs in advance. That is one of my fave places on earth - but it's quite a hike up from there (about 6 mi each way!)

 

[hmcfall711]

Hi there,

I have to say I agree with most information posted here are my highlights:

Hotel choice:
Quality Inn & Suites at Dollywood Lane (TN304)
3756 Parkway , Pigeon Forge, TN, US, 37863
Phone: (865) 453-3490 Fax: (865) 429-5432

DH and I stay here when we go for the weekend, usually in the fall we can get the jac. suite for $89. Right now the choice hotels website lists the rooms at $99- 129.

There is a Denny's really close by that is pretty good and a Shoney's not too far away. It is REALLY close to the Dollywood entrance It is right in the middle of all of the chaos that is the Parkway but it is convient and the pools is nice in the afternoon. They also have a FREE cont. breakfast in the partner hotel next door. Another vote for the Apple Barn. (it also has a candy shop and a small wine shop)

The Old Mill restraunt is great! There is a little shopping community next to it. It is also pretty much right in Patriot Park. (I think someone else called it National Park but it is Patriot Park.) You can get the trolley from the parking area to Dollywood- much cheaper than paying to parking at the park.

A second for Grotto Falls- it is my favorite. There is also a short (2-mile ?) waterfall hike called Laurel Falls. It is even paved part of the way. Cades Cove can be really busy this time of year. I would suggest biking the loop if you feel comfortable with that. There are a lot of great places to stop, look at the buildings, walk around etc. There is a set of building near the end of the loop with a mill and a great shop. Some times they have a ranger giving talks there.

** Please do not get out of your car to take photos of the bears** We see this all the time, for some reason people do not realize these are wild animals who are roaming free. The worst is when you see people put their children close to the bear and its CUB!! to get a picture. A mother bear will do whatever necessary to protect her cub if she feels it is in danger. Attacks are not regular occuraces but could happen. Especially if you are not being alert.

In PF I suggest Rainforest Adventures. It is a mini-zoo. Tickets are about $7 for kids and $12 for adults. They have just added the Aussie walkabout. I have not see it yet but it looks great on the website. It is right behind the Nascar restraunt (its pretty cool to).
http://www.rfadventures.com/index.htm

Also if you are in Towsend DH and I have gone to the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company. Best of all it is FREE. I think it would be neat for boys.
http://www.littleriverrailroad.org/

A Smokies baseball game is a great way to spend a Friday night (they often have fireworks on Friday). They are the minor league team and a fairly economical evening. http://tennessee.smokies.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t553

I personally like the Tanger Outlets best. There are all kinds of mini-golf and go cart areas, you should do at least one, if that is your kind of thing. We really like the wooded go-cart track. It is a track that goes up like a big slide(you can really get you car going at the top).

I also second look for the coupon books. They are everywhere.

Pigeon Forge also has a planning website that can give you some ideas: http://www.mypigeonforge.com/

You can go to PF and have fun with any amount of money that you want to spend. Hope this helps.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

** Please do not get out of your car to take photos of the bears** We see this all the time, for some reason people do not realize these are wild animals who are roaming free. The worst is when you see people put their children close to the bear and its CUB!! to get a picture. A mother bear will do whatever necessary to protect her cub if she feels it is in danger. Attacks are not regular occuraces but could happen. Especially if you are not being alert.

I agree with this completely. This always amazes me.

Another nice place to stay - it's actually in Gatlinburg:

Best Western Zoder's Inn
402 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5681

Right on the edge of Gatlinburg, a river runs right through the middle of the buildings. They have free drinks and snacks and a great free breakfast. Last time I was up there it was reasonable, in the $75 range.

 

[hmcfall711]

Another nice place to stay - it's actually in Gatlinburg:

Best Western Zoder's Inn
402 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5681

Right on the edge of Gatlinburg, a river runs right through the middle of the buildings. They have free drinks and snacks and a great free breakfast. Last time I was up there it was reasonable, in the $75 range.

Been there too and LOVED it. We could open the door to the balcony and listen to the water from the stream.

 

[ilovejack02]

We stay at Carr's Northside Cottages . Have been for years. LOVE IT on the creek and really inexpensive. Always clean and friendly staff. Very homey. NO it is not the most updated, but I love the location and its always been clean.

Someone mentioned they drive quickly through Pigeon Forge LOL ME TOOOO!!! All the tourist junk is horrible. ( well I do love Tanger outlet mall LOL)
I would completely avoid it all if I didnt have a child that of course wants to do it all. Thank goodness he loves the nature of the National Park.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

On our last visit a few weeks ago we stayed at Park Vista because I got a good deal at Hotwire.com, 64.00 a night. Everytime we have stayed there, there has been a bear in the parking lot. It's an "OK" place to stay but we prefer to stay at the Clarion across the street from Texas Road House. We have always enjoyed our stay there. It's neat and clean and the staff is very friendly.

One place that I would NOT recommend is Day's Inn, it get's horrible reviews. We made the mistake of trying it years ago and NEVER again.

WARNING: There was some kind of problem with some cabin rental place taking money from people and then skipping out. It was some place that would only take checks. (red flag) It was on Tripadviser.com a few weeks ago so you could check it out there. That has always been a concern of mine.

 

[LovinPooh]

We were thinking of going to the Bristol race next year and checking out PF. Is PF anymore crazy as far as prices when racing comes around? I ask cause we planned a trip this past Feb and all the hotel anywhere near Daytona jacked up their prices.
Is Dollywood open year round?

 

[Elvistelth]

http://www.dollywood.com/dates-hours/
There you go.

 

[richmond282]

COMEDY BARN. Excellent show and reasonably priced. 22.95 with 11 and under free

http://www.comedybarn.com

If you call the comedy barn and ask for a combo ticket deal, they'll sell you tickets to 2 shows for close to the price of one. I recommend the Black Bear Jamboree (It includes dinner too.) My DH, my DD, and myself went to both shows including dinner at the Jamboree for $100.

 

[Lady V]

And dont forget the Disney Outlet in Tanger Five Oaks!!!

 

[MissouriPrincess]

We went two years ago and had a blast. We are pretty budget-minded. We found a coupon for a great rate at Super 8 if that tells you anything. We just needed a place to sleep and a pool. We also had a fridge and microwave in our room.

We did Dollywood for two days. We had a great time. On your next day after the three o'clock arrival, I'd get there at rope drop. We also used the trolley system from Patriot Park at 50 cents a person each way instead of paying for parking at Dollywood. We also used the trolley system to get to Gatlinburg. Parking seems to cost in Gatlinburg.

We did the aquarium. We all enjoyed that. I'd get there as close to opening as you can as well. We spent the afternoon strolling the streets of Gatlinburg.

We did Cades Cove and Roaring Forks. We had a great time. We cooked hot dogs and hamburgers for both outings.

Advice--don't cook hot dogs and hamburgers at dusk at the Roaring Forks picnic area. A bear ran out of the woods right for us and scared us to death. Luckily, my husband shouted at it and it went away. Then, two police officers chased it out of the picnic area on foot. We were spooked, but we had a great story. So did the other family having a picnic not too far away. They were standing on their picnic table after we recovered from bear shock and looked up!

 

[Sleuth]

We went in June and it's a very expensive place. We ended up missing Disney so bad as we went to Dollywood thinking it would be a replacement trip to Disney since we couldn't really afford Disney this year (we're trying to go anyway LOL).

We ended up visiting Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum & the Stars Cars Museum. Both are extremely expensive - like $30+ for adults. Yikes! Plus you're out of there in like 30 mins.

The most fun we had besides taking the drive through the mountains was doing gokarts in Pigeon Forge. That was the kids' favorite thing the whole trip! One of the gokart vendors had a buy one get one free until noon on Monday (and a few other week days) so we each got two gokart trips and had a ball.

Dollywood sucked (IMO) it's hard to figure out where you're going (even with their maps) and it just isn't Disney.... No magic