Summertime in East Tennessee is nothing short of hot and sunny! We’re not complaining but sometimes it’s good to have plans for when the day is just too hot to be walking around. We’ve put together a list of awesome indoor and outdoor activities to get through even the hottest days of summer in Pigeon Forge.
1. Apple Valley Creamery
The Apple Valley Creamery is located at the historic Apple Barn and Cider Mill in Sevierville, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. All of their ice cream is handmade from only the finest ingredients, using local fruits and other products when available. Try one of their 60 flavors, rotating different flavors with the seasons. Ask for a sample of the deep dish apple pie, butter pecan, or award winning Smoky Mountain fudge. All of the baked goods are made from scratch from their own recipes, including breads, muffins, cookies, brownies and delicious cobblers in apple, peach and blackberry. Come in and try a sample of their apple coffee cake, apple walnut or famous blackberry cobbler bread.
2. Crave
Voted BEST mini-golf in Pigeon Forge and top 13 mini-golf courses in the country, Crave Golf Club is an attraction you don’t want to miss during your next visit to the Smokies! Crave Golf Club offers two candy-themed mini-golf courses that are Willy Wonka approved. No matter how hot it is or even if it’s raining, Crave offers an indoor course with 19 unique holes. Crave also offers mini-bowling, a giant candy store, and escape rooms!
3. Ripley’s Aquarium of The Smokies
Escape the heat and dive underwater, seriously! Take a swim with sharks, turtles, and penguins! Okay maybe not literally but pretty close! Come face to face with sea creature of all kinds and even get to touch a few of these friendly creatures! You can also splash with the stingrays and even ride the Underwater Boat Adventure. There’s a reason Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies was voted Best Aquarium by USA Today and you have to experience it!
4. Smoky Mountain Outdoors Rafting
Take a dip into the Pigeon River for a cool and thrilling experience of white water rafting! Whether you like the rushing waters and class III and IV rapids or the calm and relaxing class I and II rapids, the Pigeon River has it all. You can head to Hartford, TN just outside the Smokies for a day full of these adventures! Smoky Mountain Outdoors Rafting offers the best white water rafting along with ziplining, ropes course, and family more family adventures.
5. Chill Out by The Pool
When planning your summer vacation to The Smokies, be sure to book a stay somewhere with a pool! If you aren’t spending the day bouncing around attractions or hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, relax by the pool or lazy river. Most, if not all, hotels and resorts in Pigeon Forge and surrounding areas will have a pool, lazy river, and more! Soak up the sun. make a splash, and enjoy the most of you family vacation!
6. Pigeon Forge Snow
Pigeon Forge’s indoor snow facility, Pigeon Forge Snow, is sure to keep you cool on those hot summer days! This 35,000 square foot facility is packed with 12 snow covered lanes! In addition to snow tubing, you and your family can also enjoy the Snow Play area. Have a snowball fight, make snow angels, and so much more in this area!
7. Ole Smoky Distillery
A trip to Pigeon Forge isn’t complete without a trip to one the Ole Smoky Distillery locations! The same 1800’s recipe is bottled into every jar and you can even check out how’s it’s made while you enjoy FREE samples! With additional new seasonal flavors each season, it’s one of the best ways to chill out during the summer months in Pigeon Forge.
8. Rocky Top Mountain Coaster
Zipping through the mountains and catching some serious wind is what you can expect at Rocky Top Mountain Coaster! Reaching speeds of up to 30 mph, this attraction is projected to set records as the longest coaster in East Tennessee. What better to cool off in the Pigeon Forge heat?
