Do you need ideas of activities to do in the Pigeon Forge area? Look no further! Keep scrolling for a list of things to do that the whole family can enjoy.
1. Enjoy the Winterfest Lights
Every year, Sevier County is lit up with millions of lights with the kickoff of Winterfest in Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg, and Sevierville. This celebration is one of the most anticipated in the region. View the lights as you are driving around, walk through them at The Island in Pigeon Forge and the Wonders of Light Walkway, and view the wonderful displays at your favorite businesses like Dolly Parton’s Stampede and The Old Mill!
2. Take a Guided Tour Through the Smokies
Driving in a new place or having to choose between all the great options can be stressful, so take that work off your shoulders. With our guided tours, you can know that you are in good hands, and you will see all the best stops, photo-ops, and more. Guide services can also connect you with anything that you need for a complete vacation. Check out these guided tours:
- Pink Jeep Tours
- Rocky Top Tours
- Smoky Mountains Jeep Tours
- Smoky Mountain Tour Connection
- The Redneck Comedy Bus Tours LLC
3. Visit the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community is one of the largest collections of traditional artists and crafters in the U.S. With over 200 shops focused on specific arts, this 8-mile loop in Gatlinburg will give you plenty to look at. Woodworkers, glassblowers, soap makers, and more are all waiting for guests to come witness their craft.
4. Take a Hike in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
If you are brave enough to face the cold, take a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to see some sights that are only visible in the winter! No leaves on the trees means you can see farther without any obstruction to your view. This season is not as crowded as others for hiking, so this is the perfect chance to sneak in a peaceful stroll. Make sure to dress warm and check out A Walk in the Woods for a guided tour! If you forgot any gear at home, stop by NOC to get what you need.
5. Go Shopping
Winter is the best time of year to shop in the smokies. From holiday deals to post-Christmas sales, you will certainly be able to stretch your dollars farther. Plus, the shops will provide shelter from the cold weather outside. Visit Tanger Outlets in Sevierville to shop for all of your favorite brands and stop for some food too!
6. Make Crazy Winter Memories at Ober Mountain
One of the most popular winter destinations in the area, Ober Mountain has tons of winter activities to enjoy. They have 10 different ski trails of varying difficulty, along with snowboarding! If you don’t trust your balance, check out their snow tubing. If the outdoors is not for you, head inside to go ice skating and have fun on the ice bumper cars. Ober Mountain also has plenty of shops and a food court!
7. Get Warm with Wine and Moonshine
When a lot of people think of the Smoky Mountains, they think of Moonshine. If you are one of these people, we have many options for you. Our distilleries offer free samples of products, so you can get a taste of everything before you buy it. Make sure to give our members a visit:
- Apple Barn Winery
- Cades Cove Cellars
- Currahee Vineyards & Winery
- Hillside Winery
- Iron Forge Brewing Company
- King’s Family Distillery
- Mill Bridge Winery
- Mountain Valley Winery
- Old Forge Distillery
- Ole Smoky Distillery
- Tennessee Shine Co.
- Yee-Haw Brewing
- Tennessee Legend Distillery
- Junction 35 Spirits
8. Ride the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
This isn’t your everyday Ferris wheel. The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel at The Island has climate-controlled pods so you can enjoy this attraction all year long! Get a bird’s eye view of Pigeon Forge and see the mountains covered in snow. This is one of the most popular activities, and it is worth the stop!
9. Play in the Snow Indoors
If you like to play in the snow but don’t like the cold, Pigeon Forge Snow is the place for you. Kept between 60-70 degrees all year long, this business offers snow tubing and a snow room to play in where you can build snow men, make snow angels, and more! This is the first indoor real snow tubing facility in the United States, and they have made quite the name for themselves!
10. Visit a Museum
A great way to escape the cold and have fun is to visit one of our many museums. Visit the Hollywood Wax Museum to see your favorite celebrities or stop by Cooter’s Place to see props and memorabilia from the iconic TV show The Dukes of Hazzard. For true crime fans, stop by Alcatraz East to enjoy an interactive experience detailing the history of American crime, and see things like Charles Manson’s guitar or Jeffrey Dahmer’s glasses. For anyone who loves ships, visit the Titanic Museum for an unforgettable experience where guests learn about life on the ship and get to touch an iceberg! Also check out Bush’s Visitor Center to see the history of the family business known as Bush’s Beans. They have exhibits, an old-fashioned general store, and a café.
11. Go Mini-Golfing
When it’s too cold to mini-golf outside, just step inside! Crave Golf Club is a wonderful candy-themed mini-golf course with both outdoor and indoor courses. Both courses have 19 holes: the indoor course is 18,500 square feet, and the outdoor course is on the roof! Inside they also have mini bowling and a candy shop beyond any child’s wildest dreams. Stop and play, then treat yourself to sweet victory on your way out.
12. Visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
No matter the weather or the temperature, there is not a bad time to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! There are so many creatures to see and exhibits to explore, you could spend all day there. See penguins, walk through a tunnel of sharks, and pet a stingray! The aquarium also has a giant indoor playground for children. This is the perfect place for families to enjoy time out of the cold.
13. Go to the Arcade
Who doesn’t like playing games and winning fun prizes? At our member businesses Arcade City and Big Top Arcade, your whole family can enjoy a mix of classic arcade games and digital games to win awesome prizes. Just fill up your game card and go! Arcades are full of fun for the whole family, and there are plenty of memories to be made.
14. See a Live Show
From comedy to horses to biblical tales and more, there is a live show for every crowd in Pigeon Forge. For those who like to laugh, the Hatfield and McCoy dinner show or the Comedy Barn is the perfect place to get the giggles going. For those who like to be amazed at talented performances, visit Dolly Parton’s Stampede to see countless tricks on horses. Country Tonite is another show filled with talented performers and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Be sure to check out our other live shows as well:
- Biblical Times Theater
- Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theater
- Micro Wrestling Federation
- Murder Mystery Dinner Show
- Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud
- Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show
- Red Skelton Tribute Theater
- Array Variety Show
- Illusionation: The Magic of Jason Hudy
15. Take a Helicopter Tour
Tired of seeing the Smokies from the ground? Get a higher view! Scenic Helicopter Tours offers a multitude of rides for guests to see breathtaking views of the area. See beautiful lake and river views, or ride at night to see all the Winterfest lights from above. They also offer extended tours and romance packages for anyone who wants to make the experience extra special.
All of the businesses in this article are members of the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce. For more information about how to make the most of your trip to the area, click here.
