Anyone who shares my love for just being a Tourist will adore going to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I remember visiting this beautiful Smoky Mountain Valley when I was a child, and it was just a quiet, little, picturesque village, a quaint mountain town, mostly undiscovered. But that is not the description today! When Gatlinburg outgrew its physical space and Dolly Parton decided to promote “her neck of the woods,” Pigeon Forge went from being a fork in the river to one of the most popular vacation spots in America. The tiny town of about 5,000 residents now provides one of the very highest quality, wholesome entertainment centers in the United States and hosts over eleven million visitors each year. If your family likes to have fun, appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery and air, walk in streams, enjoy midway rides and great shows, play golf, eat very well, shop- till -you -drop, this is the place to come for one of your BEST, fun-filled holidays ever!
Although US Highway 441 is thick with traffic, and lined on each side with all the attractions you or your children could ever desire, the flow is handled well by good parking areas and a Fun Time Trolley system which will take you almost anywhere in the area for a quarter.
When you leave the main highway, just a block or two in any direction will take you beyond the crowds to quiet, beautiful places where you can dip your feet into streams, walk in the woods, or play on the grass. Even some of the family motels like Main Stay are located in lovely residential areas. This town has no other business except to make its tourists happy, and every person in Pigeon Forge is involved. You are a welcome visitor anywhere you go.
Weddings are a big part of the tourist industry here, and you can select from several wedding chapels. You and your intended could arrive in jeans, and have a beautiful chapel wedding with every detail from bridal gown to cake and rice, done for you according to whatever budget you have. You couldn’t find a more fun place to spend your honeymoon, with every kind of accommodation available from cozy log cabins to luxury suites. You can enjoy quiet, romantic walks in the mountains or find the many fun attractions and shows.
Shopping in Pigeon Forge, TN
Find something for everyone
I wanted to spend a day shopping, and found I could spend a week (and a LOT of money) and never go in all the shops. Some are in lovely centers like The Christmas Place at Bell Tower Square, or you can choose the less picturesque Discount Malls, of which Pigeon Forge has many huge ones with hundreds of outlet shops . Next time, I’ll just let my husband play golf all week, and I’ll just shop. There are several lovely golf courses in the area open to the public, and they offer hilly challenges.
Louise Mandrell Theater is also home for The Blackwoods Singers
Family Entertainment Shows are a main feature of Pigeon Forge. There are currently twelve, which offer both daytime and nightly shows seven days a week from April through December. Of course, Country music is at its best here, but you’ll also find excellent Gospel, Rock ‘n Roll, Bluegrass, and more. You can also choose from comedy shows, illusion, horse shows, and dinner shows. If shows are what you enjoy, you can schedule two or even three a day! Louise Mandrell has an all new show each season with beautiful costumes and all her musical talents and those of her energetic team. Louise Mandrell also leads a song and praise service here on Sunday mornings, free to all.
Dollywood’s newest Adventures and Museum.
And don’t forget Dollywood has shows within the park all day and evening. The country theme park is so much fun for all ages. You’ll not want to miss the new attractions added this year. And Splash & Play park which was opened in 2001.
Pigeon Forge has wonderful shows day and night, so you can catch them all for great family entertainment!
The Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show is an entertaining horse show with Civil War story line and beautiful horsemanship, songs and dance.The meal is exceptionally delicious for similar type shows.
Be sure to enjoy some of the old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness country cooking at the old-time favorites like the picturesque Old Mill Restaurant and Log Cabin Pancake House. From inexpensive fast food chains to Santo’s Italian Restaurant with live piano music while you dine to gourmet cuisine at Chef Jock’s Tastebuds Cafe, you’ll find meals for any budget and palette. The Pigeon Forge Welcome Center at Traffic Light #2 (yes they’re numbered here in
big, bold signs so you can find your way easily…a brilliant idea!) and the Visitor Center at Traffic Light #5 can help you with anything you need to know and make reservations for you. For information call 865-453-8574, or 865-429-7387.
Real Travel Adventures 