This week is our first family trip to the Smokey Mountains. Today we had lunch at the Mill in Pigeon Forge, then drove to Clingmans Dome and Cade’s Cove. On the way back to Atlanta next weekend, we plan to drive the Foothills parkway and Tail of the Dragon. If you're familiar with the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg area, are there any other family-friendly must-see or must-do's that you'd recommend?
For what it's worth, my wife wants to see a show and I'd really to try one of the alpine coasters--but we are traveling with five young kids and we're not sure what local attractions will accommodate them.
Family friendly?
sweet knife store.
Unfortunately there used to be a police museum with a heavy emphasis on Bufford Pusser.
Guinness Book of Records Museum.
Aquarium of the Smokies.
honestly i’m Drawing a blank on the name of a lot of stuff but Gatlinburg is astoundingly family friendly. There are brochures everywhere to lure you into places to spend your money. And it’s all pretty darned cool, you can spend much time and money there.
KyAllroad (Jeremy) said:
There are brochures everywhere to lure you into places to spend your money.
This is all I feel like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are. Just E36 M3holes full of traffic and places of no real value trying to lure you in and take your money.
Parking is a bitch in Gatlinburg. Occasionally, you can get lucky and find a free parking spot, but don't waste time looking for one. Park at the first place you see, that has available spots. There are shuttle busses that run the main drag all day and night. Free, IIRC. Sometimes walking is quicker, though.
There is a fun Alpine Coaster there. It's on the main drag. Scared the hell out of my GF, but I loved it. They have carts that can accommodate parent /child. Go at night!
It is the redneck wedding capital of the world.
Check out the Hollywood Star Car Museum, Speedwerkz Exotic Car Museum or Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum. I just googled car museums in Gatlinburg. I was down in that area in 07. Beautiful part of the country.
It's an open air carnival that used to be a town. Cades Cove, Clingman's Dome, and hiking are the highlights, and the elk. The aquarium is cool, but you have the one in Atlanta. I have yet to do the Alpine Coaster but that looks awesome. We go to Wildnerness in the Smokies a couple of times a year and avoid Gatlinburg. I drove through last spring to go to Cades Cove and didn't realize how expansive it had gotten.
Everything I know about Gatlinburg I learned from Johnny Cash.
As far as shows, hit Dolly's Stampede. It's dinner and a show. There's no utensils, so be prepared for that.
Ride over to Cherokee, NC to gamble away the kid's college fund.
For the most part, it's very touristy and I'm not a huge fan, but mostly because I've been there A LOT. It's just a few hour drive and it was our go-to vacation spot as a kid. We're headed back there this summer with our church youth group, but I could go the rest of my life and never step foot in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg again.
I just got back from Gatlinburg and it was ok, but was not the Smokey mountain experience I was hoping for. I was appalled by the Pigeon Forge area. It was like Las Vegas and a sleazy carnival mid way had an ugly baby and dumped it where a functional town should be. All the worst aspects of America's crass consumer centric entertainment culture on full, gaudy display. Gross.
Make sure you hit the new section of the foothills parkways on your way to the dragon. That road is lovely and has some killer views.
(not) WilD (Matt) said:
It was like Las Vegas and a sleazy carnival mid way had an ugly baby and dumped it where a functional town should be.
This is a remarkably accurate description of it.
I drove my '75 Duster to a car show in Pigeon Forge years ago (work trip, I was doing a story on the show). Some jackass stole a piece of trim from my car while I was parked on the strip. No chance the trim fell off, it was there when I parked, gone when I got back after lunch. Traffic was awful. The only redeeming part was I convinced my company to spring for a cabin instead of a hotel room so I brought my wife and son along. They had fun playing in the creek and woods by the cabin.
I won't be going back any time soon.
It’s actually gotten worse in the past 5yrs or so. It’s slowly becoming “there is no off season” anymore. I took a job in Sevierville and if I have to travel from the north, it’s stupid amount of time to get anywhere, polar opposite the other direction.
If you like beer or ‘shine, plenty of places around for it.
Ranger50 said:
It’s actually gotten worse in the past 5yrs or so. It’s slowly becoming “there is no off season” anymore. I took a job in Sevierville and if I have to travel from the north, it’s stupid amount of time to get anywhere, polar opposite the other direction.
If you like beer or ‘shine, plenty of places around for it.
Wait, it is WORSE since the whole place burned down a few years ago? Maybe people are coming to support the area. As much as I don't like the GatlinForge, it is pretty much the only source of jobs in the area, so it does serve a local economic purpose.
In reply to slefain :
I do believe so. One reason I know of that could be a small bump in tourism is The Island in PF. They built a new convention center along with it and it hosts multiple events through the year.
I'm close by, and had little nice to say, which appears to agree with the consensus.
Tourist trap.
Beautiful land, though.
