pigeon forge, gatlinburg entertainment & attractions

First time visitors sometimes ask, "Is there anything to do there?"
To put it simply, you'll run out of time before you run out of activities.

East Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains is a world class resort destination within a day's drive of the entire eastern half of the United States. The Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area is a family-friendly vacation destination receiving approximately 11 million visitors a year, however many first time visitors do not realize that Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are separated by only 5 miles of scenic road through the Smoky Mountains National Park. Our location gives you access to all of the entertainment and attractions of both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg! Children never want to leave, with an endless assortment of kid-friendly attractions everywhere.

The Dollywood theme park, located in Pigeon Forge, is known as "The Entertainment Capital of the Smokies." Known for appealing equally to adults and children, the 118-acre park offers live entertainment on over a half dozen stages, more than 30 rides and attractions, crafts demonstrations, as well as shopping and food for all tastes. Dollywood is also home to the award-winning Mystery Mine (named 2007 Best New Attraction by www.themeparkinsider.com) and Thunderhead (voted the No. 1 wooden coaster in the world by Amusement Today). Can't beat that.

Open April through December, Dollywood presents ongoing special events throughout the season: the Festival of Nations international exposition, KidsFest, National Music and Harvest Celebration and the spectacular Smoky Mountain Christmas with over 4 million holiday lights.

We are famous for our live entertainment theaters, presenting top-quality shows in state-of-the-art venues. You'll find over a dozen theaters here, some of which earn national awards each year.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is a state-of-the-art facility as entertaining as it is educational, voted #1 aquarium in the nation by TripAdvisor. There are more fish in this aquarium than there are people living in the entire town of Gatlinburg.

Ride the world's largest cable tramway over the mountain to the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort offers 8 trails for skiing and snowboarding, as well as a year round indoor ice skating arena.

Take your pick among world-class championship golf courses or sample the local vineyards at one of our award-winning wineries.

During the summer months, Dollywood's Splash Country, a unique mountainside 25-acre water park provides fun and relaxation for all ages.

The Smokies have a well-deserved reputation as a shopper's paradise. You'll find five factory outlet malls, plus many more factory stores. Artists and craftsmen of every genera make their homes here, many opening their workshops to the public. There are so many specialty shops, you're certain to find the perfect gift or souvenir.

The region is known as "the honeymoon capital of the south," and you'll find wedding chapels of every kind. You can even arrange for a private ceremony in one of our luxury log homes, complete with photos, a catered meal, flowers and everything else needed for the perfect day.

The excitement continues year-round, with activities and festivals for every season. Springfest finds our cities resplendent with flowers and foliage. Summer in the Smokies means fun in full swing, with a dizzying variety of events and attractions. In autumn, the changing leaves put on a glorious display across the mountainsides. When the leaves have fallen, Winterfest begins in early November where millions of lights transform our cities into winter wonderland and the live theaters introduce their holiday shows. After the holidays, the Winterfest remain until February and a quieter Smokies attracts skiers, Valentines Day couples and winter travelers.

The crown jewel and namesake of the region is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most-visited national park in the country. Renowned for its breathtaking beauty, the park not only protects this natural environment, but also preserves the pioneer and Cherokee cultures that once flourished here. Covering 520,408 acres and reaching elevations of 6,643 feet, this national treasure has been designated a United Nations International Biosphere Reserve for its diversity of wildlife and variety of plant life. It is an outdoorsman's dream come true, with some 800 miles of trails and wild mountain streams.

A scenic drive through the National Park takes you to the Qualla Boundary Cherokee Reservation, where you'll find Harrah's Cherokee Casino, specialty shops and entertainment interpreting the Cherokee past. Nearby, the Great Smoky Mountains Railway makes excursion runs through valleys, past lakes, along rushing streams and back through history.

With such a wide assortment of activities, the entertainment and attractions of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are sure to keep families and groups of all ages happy. We look forward to seeing you!