By Shelley Frost
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is nestled at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains and offers a multitude of entertainment options for visitors. The main road through the city is dotted with souvenir shops, restaurants, miniature golf courses, go cart tracks, museums and theaters. Nature lovers can venture just outside of Pigeon Forge for entertainment. Sevierville and Gatlinburg are a short distance from Pigeon Forge and offer more attractions for area visitors.
Dollywood & Splash Country
Dollywood is a hugely popular attraction in the Pigeon Forge area. Named for popular country singer Dolly Parton, Dollywood strives to encompass the heart of the Smoky Mountains into its attractions and shows. Dollywood holds four yearly festivals: the Festival of Nations, KidsFest, National Harvest and Music Celebration and Smoky Mountain Christmas. Splash Country is a water theme park located next to Dollywood. It includes a number of water slides, a lagoon pool, wave pool, kids' area and floating river.
Dollywood & Splash Country
2700 Dollywood Parks Boulevard
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
800-365-5996
http://www.dollywood.com/
http://www.dollywoodssplashcountry.com/
Old Mill Square
The Old Mill Square offers restaurants and shops, including a bakery, pottery store and craft shop. The Mill that serves as the heart of Old Mill Square was built in 1830 and is still a working mill. Meal and flour are still ground at the mill, and visitors can watch the process. Other demonstrations include pottery, bread and candy making.
Old Mill Square
175 Old Mill Avenue at Traffic Light #7
Pigeon Forge, TN 37868
865-428-0771
http://www.oldmillsquare.com/
Helicopter Tours
Many helicopter tour companies offer scenic views of the area. Many of these tours fly guests over the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Helicopter tours vary in length and views.
ZORB
The ZORB ride is a unique way to view the Smoky Mountain area. It is basically a large inflatable globe that you fit inside and roll down the hill. The hill is specially designed for the ZORB globes. The Pigeon Forge location is the only official ZORB globe riding location in the United States.
ZORB Smoky Mountains
203 Sugar Hollow Rd
Pigeon Forge,TN 37863
865-428-2422
http://www.zorb.com/zorb/smoky/
Whitewater Rafting & Tubing
The Pigeon Forge area hosts many companies that offer whitewater rafting and tubing excursions. Most companies offer two different whitewater rafting excursions with varying classes of rapids. The smaller rapids typically accommodate children as young as three on the rafts. Whitewater rafting and tubing allow nature lovers to enjoy the outdoors while cooling off in the summer months.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding gives Pigeon Forge visitors another view of the area. Tours of varying lengths are offered by several companies in Pigeon Forge. Horseback riding skills are not required for the tours in the area.
About the Author:
Shelley Frost has been a freelance writer since 2007, specializing in parenting and education. Her work can be found on websites such as ModernMom.com and PreschoolRock.com. Frost holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with a minor in reading from the University of Northern Iowa.
