Driving the main strip in Pigeon Forge can be overwhelming for a first time visitor. There are so many options for shows, entertainment, and amusements. And they are not cheap! As a regular visitor to this area for the last 6 years, here are 7 places worth splurging in Pigeon Forge!
Zorbing
https://www.outdoorgravitypark.com
Ever heard of zorbing? There are only a handful of places around the world that you can do it so take the opportunity while you are in Pigeon Forge! This is so unique as well as exhilarating and is definitely worth the ~$20 cost per roll. You need to wear your swimsuit because you will get soaked, and it’s available year-round because they keep the water a warm 90°. And trust me, it may not look fast and scary, but once you are zipped inside that ball, its a wild ride that you won’t forget! Ages 5+
Wonderworks
https://www.wonderworksonline.com/pigeon-forge/
Wonderworks is not unique to Pigeon Forge (there are several locations in the Eastern United States) but it is tons of fun and a great value if you plan to spend the day there. For ~$30 you get a full days worth of activities including climbing walls, a glow in the dark indoor ropes course, 4D theatre, arcade games, flight simulators, bubble lab, a wonder art gallery and more. You can experience an earthquake, hurricane force winds, lie on a bed of nails, play a giant keyboard with your feet and even enjoy some G-Force inducing rides. This is entertaining and educational for kids and adults. All ages.
Beyond the Lens
https://www.beyondthelens.com/pigeon-forge.php
My kids (as well as the adults) loved this place and we spent hours here! It has virtual reality games, an escape room, countless selfie spots, an alien ball-pit and Bigfoot sightings! For around $28 adults/$16 kids you really get your moneys worth considering all of the VR games are included in the price. They have cameras to take photos of you and I loved getting all the photos emailed to me to keep for our memory books! All ages.
Top Jump
This is a fantastic place to let the kids run wild for a few hours. Its ~$16 (1 hour)/$24 (2 hours) and has trampolines, climbing walls, dodge ball, a Ninja Warrior style obstacle course, a play area for smaller kids as well as a jumping platform. We stop here almost every time we visit Pigeon Forge. All ages.
Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokeys
https://www.ripleyaquariums.com/gatlinburg/
Ok this one might be a little bit if a stretch…because its actually in Gatlinburg and not Pigeon Forge! But it is a world class aquarium that is so entertaining for my kids that we bought season passes! In addition to the shark tunnel you can walk through, they have an indoor multistory playground, an interactive area where you can touch jellyfish, stingrays and horseshoe crabs, a penguin habitat and a special exhibit area that changes seasonally. They even have a glass bottom boat ride over the the shark tank!
Alcatraz East Crime Museum
This is an excellent museum for those that love Dateline and crime shows as much as I do. Learn about crime through the centuries and see real evidence and clothing from history’s most famous criminals. Where else are you going to see Ted Bundy’s VW Beetle and OJ Simpson’s Bronco all at the same place? This place is super engaging and interactive but my kids sometimes wanted to rush through faster than me. Best for ages 10+.
Titanic Pigeon Forge
https://titanicpigeonforge.com/
When you drive by and see this giant Titanic shaped building, you may assume that its just another lame tourist trap. But it is not! This museum is a fine collection of Titanic artifacts and recreations of rooms from the Titanic. They even have the original violin that played as the Titanic sank. This place is incredible, but I found that my kids wanted to move through the rooms more quickly than I did. Best for ages 10+ (or younger kids with good attention span).
Enjoy your trip to Pigeon Forge! Check out some of our other adventures!
Best Hike at Arches National Park
