Must Visit Family Vacation Spots In Pigeon Forge, TN

Dollywood in the Smoky Mountains

I love Dollywood, so much! There are tons of opportunities for family fun at this amusement park. If you aren’t familiar with the wonder that is Dollywood Park, let me give you a little bit of background.

• Yes, it’s named after that Dolly – the great Dolly Parton. She’s from this area and some of her family members even work at the park!
• It opened in 1986 as Dollywood but the Rebel Railroad (more on that later) opened in 1961.
• Dollywood ranks as one of the top 50 most attended theme parks worldwide, with roughly 2.5 million visitors every year!
• Dollywood has rides, amazing food, craft vendors, kids’ areas, shows, the list goes on and on.

There are so many parts of Dollywood that are perfect for your family vacation, no matter the ages in your group.

If you need a little break from the sun – you can head into the Hidden Hollow in Wildwood Grove. This is an indoor playground for ages 1 – 13. It has slides, climbing, and some interactive games too.

I don’t have any pictures of this area BUT there is also a little splash pad and music area called Wildwood Creek.

Food Options at Dollywood

First, you need to know that Dollywood has some AMAZING food options. They have sit-down restaurants, a buffet, quick-service spots, food stands and the most amazing cinnamon bread in the entire world.

We didn’t take advantage of the sit-down restaurants for this trip, but people rave about Aunt Granny’s Kitchen.

My (and O’s) favorite snack was definitely the soft pretzel shaped like a butterfly. Butterflies are a significant theme around Dollywood so I was all about this. Plus, it was delicious.

If there is any food you buy at Dollywood, it has to be this cinnamon bread from the Grist Mill. I’m not kidding, it’s the most amazing thing in the world. I’m pretty sure I ate almost our entire loaf in about 4 minutes.

The Island in Pigeon Forge

This spot is a really awesome addition to Pigeon Forge. You could seriously spend hours here eating, drinking (if you’re 21!), playing games, and shopping.

The most notable part is the GIANT Ferris wheel. Joel and I are both terrified of heights, but our little daredevil child wanted to ride this so we gave in and only had minor panic attacks. You ride the Ferris wheel with up to 8 guests in an enclosed glass gondola on your trip 200 feet into the air.

If Ferris wheels and heights aren’t your thing, here are some of the other rides and activities at The Island in Pigeon Forge.

• Funny Cars
• Happy Swing
• Miner’s Gems (an Olivia favorite!)
• Sky Tykes
• The Flying Horse Carousel
• The Island Ropes Course
• Twist ‘N’ Shout

During our trip, O and I scurried away from the group to play some arcade games. We both LOVE them. They have a mini Dave & Buster’s type set-up called Arcade City and it’s awesome.

You can purchase a “play card” that you swipe to play as many games as possible! Then, you win virtual tickets which is way easier than carrying around a bundle of paper tickets.

Food & Drinks at The Island in Pigeon Forge

There are SO many great food options for food at The Island. Since we had a large group, we opted for the family style restaurant, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen.

They are a family-style setting restaurants with tons of options for the whole family and endless food. So, yes if you want to eat all the delicious fried chicken you want – Paula Deen’s is the spot for you.

Joel and I also visited this restaurant when we visited just the two of us, so it’s a great option no matter how many people you are with on your family trip.

A few of the other delicious places to eat (and drink) are listed below.

• Dick’s Last Resort
• Dude’s Daiquiris
• Margaritaville (you can also stay at this awesome hotel!)
• Mellow Mushroom
• Poynor’s Pommes Frites
• Timberwood Grill
• Yee-Haw Brewing Company
• Ole Smoky Mountain Moonshine

Shopping at The Island in Pigeon Forge

There is SO much shopping at this cute little outdoor-style mall. There is a really good mix of kitschy type stores like the Pepper Palace and super cute boutiques.

Our favorite shop was the Big Rock Candy Kitchen which has homemade treats like fudge, gelato, and saltwater taffy. But, there are also other delicious treats like rock candy, fun chocolates, and bulk jellybeans!