38 Most Exciting Things To Do In Pigeon Forge With Kids

If you’re looking for things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids, you’ve come to the right place! Pigeon Forge is a beautiful town in the Smoky Mountains that is full of old-time charm. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, delicious food, historical sites, or unique experiences, you can find it in Pigeon Forge!

Which of these things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids will you do first?

Is There Anything To Do In Pigeon Forge With Kids?

Of course, there is! You may be wondering if it is worth traveling Pigeon Forge from Gatlinburg or other areas in Tennessee and the answer is overwhelming, yes! From outdoor adventures to indoor curiosities, you can find tons of cool things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids.

What Are Fun Things To Do In Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge?

There are tons of fun places to go in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. We are going to dive into the best things to do in Pigeon Forge in this article and you can read about the best things to do in Gatlinburg here!

What Can You Do For Free In Piegon Forge ?

If you are debating whether or not to go to Pigeon Forge because you are traveling on a budget, you have nothing to worry about here. You can find tons of free things to do in Pigeon Forge for solo travelers, family travelers, and those traveling as a couple.

things to do in Pigeon Forge, sky lift overlooking city

Things To Do In Pigeon Forge With Kids

Dollywood

A classic attraction when you are in the area. Dolly is a country idol. I adore Dolly and the work she has done for children. (anyone else singing Jolene, Jolene, Joleeeeeeeeeeneeee…? no? okay lol) Dollywood is an amusement/water park, but they also have a resort, cabin rentals, and dinner shows.

Titanic Museum

The Titanic Museum is perfect for history lovers or those just looking to get out of the rain. The museum is shaped like the actual ship and is built to half scale. It holds over 400 Titanic artifacts! This is one of the most unique things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids!

The Island

Ranked #6 best amusement park in the US and #9 best amusement park in the world. The Island in Pigeon Forge is super popular right now. We seriously can’t get on Facebook without seeing someone is visiting The Island. Add this park to your must-see in Pigeon Forge list!

The Old Mill

The Old Mill is one of the very best restaurants in Pigeon Forge. It can be argued that a trip to Pigeon Forge is worth it just for the mouth-watering good food from the Old Mill! The restaurant is built inside an 1830’s gristmill giving you a view of the river as you eat. Their hushpuppies are delicious, but really so is everything.

My daughters seriously ate their weight in hushpuppies while we were there, ha! All parents who are currently in the phases of parenthood where you have a baby or toddler who is convinced that they can feed themselves… Do yourself a favor and invest in a couple of these.

Hollywood Wax Museum

One of many of the famous Hollywood Wax Museums. This one was originally located in Gatlinburg but is now in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster

You must ride one of the mountain coasters while in The Smoky’s. Exhilarating and fun ride!

The Smoky Mountain National Park

I think this one goes without saying, buttttt.. You should for sure take a drive through the Smoky’s. Stop and look out the many overlooks, have a picnic, go waterfall hunting.. maybe even hike a few trails while you’re there.

Adventure Park Ziplines

The park is located in Sevierville, Tennessee. Besides having a mile and a half of ziplines through the mountains, they also offer horseback riding along rugged mountain trails.

Hillbilly Golf

A typical American vacation isn’t complete without some mini golf, right? This particular golf course is on top of a mountain and is Appalachia-themed. Considering I’m from Appalachia, this course makes me giggle and would be my mini-golf course of choice!

Gatlinburg Skybridge

This skybridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in The United States. The bridge is located on top of the skylift in Gatlinburg Skylift Park.

Ole Smoky Moonshine

Get yourself some moonshine at this old-style distillery. They also offer tours! (they even have some interesting moonshine pickles…?!?)

Hollywood Star Cars Museum

For all your car, film, or history lovers.. the Star Cars Museum is the attraction for you. They have all sorts of stars cars including The General Lee and the 1966 Batmobile!

Mountain Mall

We always like to make a stop at the Mountain Mall in Gatlinburg. Shopping while traveling can be one of the most memorable activities. Our favorite store in the Mountain Mall is Pepper Palace. They have a few other storefronts in the area as well. They have so many different salsas, hot sauces, and dips. We love going in and trying all the different sauces on chips. It’s a blast to watch people not be able to handle the heat (including me, haha) We always eat with a hot sauce and a salsa or two. Currently, our favorite hot sauce of theirs is Autumn in The Smoky’s!

Ripley’s Haunted Adventure

The ultimate haunted house in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Open 365 days a year and you must be 6 years old or older to enter.

Kryptology Escape Room

A fun escape room with interesting themed rooms such as; Lost in Roswell and Davinci’s Challenge!

The Track

The Track is a small family fun park with bumper cars, arcade games, mini golf, bumper boats, and a race track.

Wonder Works

I have been to Wonder Works once and I really enjoyed it. The magic show was amazing and the fact that the building looks like an upside-down mansion is so much fun!

Cades Cove

Driving through The Smoky Mountains on the 11 mile Cades Cove Scenic Loop is a must when we visit! The scenic loop is a simple one road with some pull-off areas for you to enjoy the views. I have seen bears, elk, and deer along the loop. Cades Cove is one of the best places to see bears in the wild in the Smoky’s. There are stops along the loop where you can see old churches, log cabins, barns, and more. When someone asks me what to do in the area, I always tell them CADES COVE!

Parents, this isn’t an attraction that you can easily use a stroller while you’re out and about. If you have little ones that you need to keep close to you or who won’t want to walk. I always tell people, you have two options. ONE, use a toddler/baby carrier. TWO, use a backpack with a safety leash/harness.

A super popular option for carrying bigger toddlers is the Lille Baby 3 in 1 Carrier.
For safety harnesses, the Munchkin By My Side Backpack has 4.6 stars on Amazon. It’s great because it isn’t just a harness, it’s an actual backpack that you can keep a sippy cup, snacks, etc. in.

Ober Gatlinburg

Ober Gatlinburg is an amusement & ski park. I’ve ridden their famous tram up to the top of the mountain, but that was years ago and I would love to do it again. I was a lot younger when I last rode it and very afraid of heights. I imagine going around will be much more enjoyable!

Outdoor Gravity Park

An outdoor zorbing amusement park with four different tracks to try out!

Apple Barn Winery

The Apple Barn is in a 1910 historic barn. The general store sells delicious homemade treats! (The apple butter is AMAZING)

Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin

Located in Sevierville, TN. This is our favorite place to have breakfast when we are in the area. Yummy, always busy, but delicious. We had wanted to include mainly attractions in the list, but I’m throwing in a few places to eat as well. Only our very favorites!

Scenic Helicopter Tour

Take a breathtaking scenic tour over the mountains in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Things To Do In Pigeon Forge With Kids Continued

Gatlinburg Space Needle

Get a 360-degree view of the Great Smoky Mountains and the city of Gatlinburg at the top of the Gatlinburg Space Needle.

Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo

Adorable little zoo with over 140 species and a petting zoo area.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not

The museum of oddities! See shrunken human skulls, crazy human talents, and animal skeletons.

Smoky Mountain Knife Works

THE place to go for knives, throwing stars, whips, and any other thing of the sort.

Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze

Step into the Marvelous Mirror Maze if you dare. Can you find your way through?

Wild Bear Falls Water Park

An outdoor/indoor mountain-themed water park with a lazy river and heated pools.

Tanger Outlet Mall

Large shopping mall that’s perfect for rainy days or when you are just looking for a good deal on things you’ve had your eye on! We always make a pit stop at the Tanger Outlets before leaving Sevierville.

Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster

If you missed out on the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, try the Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster. OR maybe you loved the Alpine coaster so much you need to ride this one as well!

Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini Golf

Fun forest-themed mini-golf course. Playing mini-golf is one of the most iconic Pigeon Forge attractions!

Goats on The Roof

A fun gift shop where you can get homemade ice cream and fudge. And there are actual goats walking on the roof! You can even feed them yourself using a special goat cycle machine.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smoky’s

We love this aquarium so much! The last time we were there a woman diving in the shark tank blew kisses and made bubbles for my oldest daughter. She made our experience at the aquarium so special.

Alcatraz East Crime Museum

Another one for all you history lovers. This museum takes you through the history of crime in America. In the eastern part of Tennesse, there are so many cool sites to check out, but one of the best attractions in Pigeon Forge and in all of Tennessee, in general, is the Alcatraz East Crime Museum!

Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show

If you want to be entertained, then you want to be at the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show. They put on quite a show and you are sure to leave feeling amused and with a full belly! This dinner show is one of the most popular things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids and will be an amazing addition to your Pigeon Forge bucket list.

Dolly Parton’s Stampede

The Dolly Stampede is a dinner show where you are served a four-course southern feast while you are entertained by pyrotechnics, music, and comedy performances. This is one of the most iconic things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids!

Village Shoppes

This is an old-timey area in Gatlinburg with shops, restaurants, and attractions. Very festive at Christmas time! You will love the Village. Fulls of places where you can get a delicious snack or pick up a souvenir, The Village has amazing vibes, and simply walking around the area is something to add to your list of must-do Pigeon Forge activities!

We hope this gives you a good idea of things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids!

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