Travel Articles and Tips

Family Friendly Things To Do In Pigeon Forge Tennessee 

Bright Lights, Big City. You probably think I’m referring to New York City, but in fact I am talking about Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee?! Nestled in the heart of the Great Smokey Mountains, there it is, in all its glory—a six lane, five mile long strip filled with anything and everything a child could ever want. Arcades, amusement park rides, attractions, Nascar inspired Go-Kart tracks, waterslides, restaurants, ice cream parlors and the list goes on and on. Recently my two children, including my daughter with special needs, and I traveled to Pigeon Forge and had a blast discovering its many personalities.  Here are some of the highlights from our trip including some great tips for those who have a special needs traveler: ​

• Dollywood:   If your family loves rides, great food and live entertainment then a trip to Dollywood is a must! Take a ride on the Dollywood Express, a 1938 steam locomotive that is the oldest attraction in the park. When you return to the station after your ride, be sure to catch the live magic show and encourage your kids to raise their hands when asked to help out. They will learn magic! Visit the Country Fair section of the park were you will find old school rides and games. For those kids seeking a little more thrill, check out one of the five rollercoasters in the park. The Tennessee Tornado, a looping coaster, and the Wild Eagle, a steel Wing Coaster that is 210 feet high and goes up to 61 miles per hour, are two of the most heart-pounding rollercoasters in the park!  A great family show to catch is at The Dreamland Drive-In where you can hear fun music and see costumes from the 50’s and 60’s.  When you are ready to grab some lunch, if you have a hot dog lover in your family, be sure to stop at Dogs N’ Taters. They serve foot-long corndogs and yummy hand cut tater twirls. The menu also includes a delicious, piled-high one-third pound all beef chili cheese dog. It's delicious!

Special Needs Tip: Dollywood is open for business for both cognitive and physical disabilities. Be sure to visit their ride accessibility center when you arrive at the park to get a park accessibility guide which highlights all the rides, shows, services and amenities for those with specific needs. They will provide you with a front of the line pass so that you can bypass the long lines and they also have a brochure that highlights all the rides and indicates which ones are safe for those in wheelchairs

• ​Wonder Works:   Your family’s adventure begins the moment you pull into the parking lot. Standing before you is an enormous upside down building! As you enter through the front door, you feel as though the whole building is going to collapse around you! Wonderworks has over 100 hands-on exhibits that will test your imagination, skill and intelligence. There is something for all ages, including mom and dad. Learn how natural disasters occur, take a ride in a space shuttle, lay on a bed of nails, play in the bubble lab, or see how your athletic skills compare to the pros in soccer, baseball and football in the virtual sports exhibit. Climb high in the largest indoor ropes course that glows in the dark! For thrill-seekers, try out the Xtreme 360 bikes and the Wonder Coaster. Wonderworks will keep you and your kids busy for hours!

Special Needs Tips: Wonderworks has lots to offer for both cognitive and physical disabilities and welcomes all families. Some of my daughter's favorite exhibits were Hurricane Hole, where we experienced a Category 1 hurricane with 71 mile per hour winds. She also enjoyed the Bubble Lab and Google Earth which is a virtual globe and map that allows you to travel anywhere you want within a matter of seconds! There is plenty of room to move around if traveling with a wheelchair. ​

• ​The Great Smoky Mountains National Park:  When you and your family are looking for some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of Pigeon Forge, spend an afternoon in The Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The Smokies cover over 500,000 acres and are filled with wildlife, beauty and rich history. Take a hike, rent bikes or pack a picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Ten miles from Pigeon Forge is the Sugarlands Visitor Center where you can begin a nice hike with your family on the Gatlinburg Trail. The flat trail travels 1.9 miles one-way toward the outskirts of Gatlinburg and follows along Little Pigeon River. You will be sure to see lots of joggers, walker and bicyclists. A wonderful way to unwind and refresh. 

Special Needs Tip: For those with a child in a wheelchair, Sugarlands Visitor Center has an accessible trail which is located on Newfound Gap Road, just south of the center. Accessible interpretive exhibits located along the one-half mile paved trail describe the unique historic and natural features as the trail winds along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.  An audio tape tour is also available from Sugarlands Visitor Center.

• Dixie Stampede:  What a fabulous night of family fun! Great entertainment with horse stunts, magic tricks, musical productions and a friendly North vs South competition that engages and energizes all of     the nightly guests. This is also a dinner theatre, so while enjoying this wonderful entertainment, you will be a served a four-course southern style meal that will set your taste buds on fire! Be prepared to eat the entire meal with your hands because no silverware is provided. The evening closes out with a video of Dolly Parton singing “Color Me America” and you can’t help but feel proud to be an American.  This is a great night of family entertainment and something to definitely put on your list of to-do’s.

Special Needs Tips: When we visited, there were quite a few people in wheelchairs. The staff did a nice job accommodating them with a seating area specific for those in a wheelchair. Be sure to mention any special needs you or a family member has when reserving your tickets so they will be prepared and can serve your family better.

• ​RiverStone Resort and Spa:  What a great place to stay and play! The resort offers log cabin and condominium rentals. All condos come with a full kitchen and washer and dryer. You can choose from 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedroom units. The resort is conveniently located on Dollywood Avenue, about a block away from the main Parkway strip. It is nice and quiet. They have a world class Spa, where they offer massage therapy, facials, pedicures and body treatments and a fitness center for mom and dad. For the kids, they have an indoor pool, playground and game room, as well as an outdoor Lazy River, which was a big hit! The resort was a nice place to come back to in the afternoons for some down time where the kids could swim, relax and have more fun. 

Special Needs Tips: For those of you who have a water-lover in your family, the Jacuzzi tubs are large and very nice. You will need to lift your child in and make sure they are secure. Also, the indoor pool has a lift. If your child is in a wheelchair, ask for a room with a full body massage shower and don’t forget to request a shower chair.