By Katherine Kally
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, offers activities like indoor skydiving and whitewater rafting in addition to the natural attractions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pigeon Forge is also the home of Dollywood, Dolly Parton's own amusement park, where you can enjoy rides, shows and live music and watch gifted artisans at work.
Dollywood
A visit to Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is a day filled with activity and adventure set against the backdrop of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. You'll find amusement park rides like Thunderhead, a wooden roller coaster that sends you on a fast ride through the woods around the 125-acre park. Dollywood recently opened SkyZip, a multiple zip-line adventure that sends you soaring over the Smoky Mountains. You'll see demonstrations of crafts like glass blowing and blacksmithing performed by master artisans. A showcase of country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music performs live each day. Vacation packages are available combining your accommodations and tickets to the theme park.
Dollywood
2700 Dollywood Parks Boulevard
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
800-365-5996
dollywood.com
White Water Rafting
Take a whitewater rafting trip down the rapids of the Pigeon River with Wildwater, Ltd. Choose to brave the class III and class IV rapids of the Upper Pigeon with guided tours for everyone ages eight and up. If fast-moving water isn't for you, opt for a lazier ride down the Lower Pigeon with guided tours for everyone beginning at age four. Both rafting trips offer breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains. Arrive at check-in early and experience a 40-foot climbing wall for anyone over six years old.
Wildwater Ltd.
P.O. Box 309
Long Creek, SC 29658
800-451-9972, 866-319-8870
wildwaterrafting.com
Indoor Skydiving
Experience indoor skydiving in a 21 foot-tall vertical wind tunnel located in Pigeon Forge. You'll receive 20 minutes of instructions, 15 minutes of preparation and 3 minutes of actual skydiving time. There are both height and weight restrictions for participating, so make sure that you meet the requirements listed on the Flyaway Indoor Skydiving website.
Flyaway Indoor Skydiving
3106 Parkway Drive
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
877-293-0639
flyawayindoorskydiving.com
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Pigeon Forge is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a magnificent place to picnic, hike marked trails or stay overnight in one of the campgrounds. Make campground reservations as early as possible so you won't be disappointed. You can also drive through the park. The Newfound Gap Road, the park's main roadway, leads to additional attractions in Cherokee, North Carolina, including a Cherokee Indian reservation. You can also find visitor programs available at visitor centers within the park. Traffic tends to back up during peak visitation times such as the summer and the autumn seasons. Make reservations and find more information on the park's website.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-1200
nps.gov/grsm
Resources
About the Author:
Katherine Kally is a freelance writer specializing in eco-friendly home-improvement projects, practical craft ideas and cost-effective decorating solutions. Kally's work has been featured on sites across the Web. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of South Carolina and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
