By Timothy Sexton
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, are sister cities that offer plentiful family fun in the Great Smoky Mountains. There are as many family activities in these two scenic mountain villages as you'll find throughout the parks at Disney World--and that is not even including the fact that during the winter you can also participate in winter sports.
Dollywood
Founded and named after country music superstar Dolly Parton, Dollywood is a fully functional theme park with roller coasters, water rides, thrill rides and kiddie attractions. The Tennesse Tornado is a great roller coaster, the Mountain Slidewinder is a water ride guaranteed to get you wet and the Dreamland Forest is perfect for the littlest kids. The music is good, the food is delicious and the rides are top notch. Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge.
Obergatlinburg
A tram will carry you high above the spectacular trees to land you in Obergatlinburg, a combination ski resort and amusement park. Obergatlinburg offers a large skating rink even in the middle of what can be a sultry summer in Gatlinburg. When the snow is falling, this is the perfect spot for skiing and snowboarding down some thrilling slopes. When the snow isn't coming down hard, they use fake snow to supplement the situation. During the summer you can still take a long, pleasant ride on the ski chairs and ride down the toboggan trail on wheels instead of a sled.
WonderWorks
The upside-down house in Pigeon Forge is not the result of an avalanche gone horribly awry; step inside and take part in a series of fun and educational scientific experiments. If you have ever wondered what it's like to experience an earthquake, make water bubbles bigger than a car or test yourself against a rock-climbing wall, WonderWorks offers the opportunity. There is also a mammoth Lazar tag game here that can involve the entire family.
Mysterious Mansion
It's Halloween year-round at this haunted house in Gatlinburg that is probably more appropriate for older kids and teens than the younger set. Some kids under 10 might find this experience too intense, but it's a perfect spot for older kids and teens. There are hidden passageways, ghouls and goblins galore, and all the chills and thrills you expect to see at a haunted house during October. Nobody who steps onto the balcony that suddenly falls beneath you is disappointed by that heart-skipping effect.
About the Author:
Timothy Sexton is an award-winning author who started writing in 1994. He has written on topics ranging from politics and golf to nutrition and travel, and his work appears online for Zappos.com, Disaboom and MOJO, among others. He has also done work for "Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy." He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of West Florida.
