Dollywood,...Pigeon Forge,TN

Looking at going in October with the family... anyone been,, thoughts.. what to do, or not do, where to stay, etc... any info would be much appreciated... thanks

We are headed that way for Spring Break (staying in Gatlinburg). Can give you a run down in a few weeks.

I went a few years back with some family in TN. I was surprised by how much I liked the park and how nice it was. You'll have a good time.

Wife and I went there a couple of years ago. She liked it a lot. Not really a guy kind of place, but it was Ok.

We went there for a week vacation several years ago. The area is very touristy and there are a lot of attractions/shops to see and do. We rented a small cabin just outside of Gatlinburg in the edge of the Smokey Mountains. I don't remember the company name that we rented the cabin through but there are several of I remember correctly. Just do a Google search for them.

didnt go to dollywood but did a tour through that country. my fav was the jd distlerly in lynchberg

See Rock City

Hitched hiked my way through there years ago headed to Memphis. Beautiful country,.

Went on vacation near Townsend, Tenn. Rented a cabin then rented one in blue ridge and finally Nantahala area North Carolina. Enjoyed Townsend the most.

Never been to Dollywood. Entire Gatlinburg area is a giant tourist trap. It’s gotten much worse in the last 20 years. I do some business in that area and stay in town. I was there last summer and tried the moonshine tasting, (Great way to meet folks if you’re there alone, would also be fun with the wife, the women were hammered.) I would recommend it. The Aquarium is also very interesting after the moonshine tasting, my boys would love it.Sitting on the sidewalk benches watching women go by in the summer is also not bad. I never have found a really great place to eat dinner there though.

Pigeon forge is much easier to drive around as it is a 6 lanes highway, but you get into gatlinburg and its a rwo lane road that is never not bumper to bumper. Be prepared for that.

Lots of touristy stuff to do, research what might tickle your fancy. Several
Museums/points of interest you might find interesting. If military or vet always ask for a discount.

Dollywood is a decent theme park, some fun roller coasters and it is a clean park.

Foodwise, the apple cider farm in PF is good, like a cracker barrel on crack. The local goat is a must eat, great food and recommend reservations. Havent eaten many other memorable places, but the moonshine and whiskey tours were not running die to covd, those would have been fun. Can still do some tastings, but getting thru the crowds is tough.

Classy lady.....

Sounds good.. thanks guys,. Huntfly67.. when you get back let me know the details.. have a good trip..

There are some very nice cabins you can rent. They are about the same price as a hotel room $125 or so a night.

That area is where I'm from.....well down the road a bit... Limestone (Davey Crocket birthplace) to Jonesboro (Tennessee's oldest town) is where all my family is from. Its been a while since I've been to Dollywood. Took my kids when they were young....20 years ago or so. Its basically a nicer, down home version of Walt Disney World. Like mentioned Gatlinburg is a tourist town now....was very nice place to visit back when I was in high school but it exploded years ago. Beautiful country and the nicest people you can meet. There's all kinds of places to go in the area....all catered to the tourist though.

Me and the family just returned from Gatlinburg before the freeze. Dollywood was closed due to Covid, but we enjoyed Piegon Forge and Ober Gatlinburg quite a bit.

Indoor water park in Seiverville was nice and all the go cart places were enjoyable

Been there years ago as a kid and remember having alot of fun. Things that stick out where a really cool cabin we stayed in outside of Gaitlinburg, the aquarium there, Dollywood was fun and way better than a six flags style of park, shows in town and putt-putt, and lastly bluegrass being played everywhere.

If you go, be sure to check out Smoky Mountain Knife Works just up the road. Worlds largest knife store, it's huge. They have alot of junk but also alot of high end knives.

Just got back last night (well, technically, this morning at 2:30), with almost 2,500 miles added to the odometer in exactly a week. A little 'tired-head' kicking in right now, but we had a good time in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. The bride is from Tennessee, so Spring Break is dedicated to seeing my in-laws out there for the foreseeable future. We left the almost 2 year old with his grandparents and took our oldest (9) and had a really nice time with the oldest as the center of attention. We started a quest to get him to every National Park last Spring and on Tuesday, Smoky Mountain NP made our fifth NP to visit this year.

My impressions of the region and trying to equate it to something a Texan could understand would be to say the PF/G'burg area is like a cross between a carnival on steroids, First Mondays in Canton, Round Top, Frederickburg, and, if you could swap the mountains for a river, New Braunfels all rolled into a mountain valley (the locals call 'em hollers). Does that make sense? We could have killed another day shopping and playing out there.

The region offers high density shopping for stuff no one really needs and entertainment venues that one's life would not necessarily be enriched by wrapped in a beautiful natural setting. Not being negative, just this was my initial 'feel' for the region upon arrival; as it was my first trip there.

On Day 1 arrival, we hit the Titanic Museum and Pirate dinner show. Our home base was the 'Christmas Hotel' in PF, because it had an indoor heated pool for the kiddo. As cheesy as a 24/7/365 Christmas themed hotel may sound, accommodations were beyond expectations and I would stay there again. Titanic Museum was quite impressive, and enjoyed by all. Pirate dinner show was enjoyable, but not a repeat event for me; having been to Medieval Times in Dallas and some of the Vegas Cirque' shows, this was definitely the B-Team - but it was right up the 9 year old's alley.

Day 2 we hit G'burg and the first venture into the National Park for a short drive. In G'burg, the aquarium was $150 of disappointment. It was basically a juiced up Grapevine Mills aquarium; didn't hold a candle to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus. Spent most of the morning goofing off around G'burg, ate lunch at Pancake Pantry (recommend), and then went into the park. Great Smoky National Park was absolutely beautiful. It was my second trip into the park (last time was from the NC side) and it never fails to impress. Lots of fun trails to hike and explore. We didn't get to see any bears or elk, this time, but saw plenty of deer and turkey. We killed Day 3 in the park and headed back to relieve grandparents of child care late in the day.

I could spend days and days in the park with a fly rod hitting the streams that go through it.

Erinn is an elementary school teacher and loves Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program, therefore I know a return to the PF Area is in my future and it will include a trip to Dollywood. That is a good thing.

When we go back, I will definitely spring for a jeep tour as I was driving the whole time and know there was some things/sights I missed. Ober Gatlinburg looked like it'd be fun. I would like to do some rafting or tubing on the rivers at some point as well.

My wife says Ruby Sunshine and Annakeesta.
She been in Knoxville the past ten weeks.

that is some great info! Thank you.. I understand what you are saying and kinda expected it. We still plan on going the fall. Thanks again/!