Gateway to the Smoky Mountains: The Best Places To Visit In Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN

Nestled near the foot of the Smoky Mountains and lying right next to Smoky Mountain National Park is Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  The area provides a great place to go camping in the mountains or to just drive through during the fall.  While many from Tennessee and neighboring states might be familiar with Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge I had never heard of it having been born and raised in the western United States. So as I rolled into Eastern Tennessee on a Thursday evening in October a couple of years ago I was amazed at this new treasure I had discovered. Not only does it sit in one of the most scenic places I have ever been to, but it also was incredibly busy and full of tourists! How had I managed to never hear about a place that appeared to be as busy as the Las Vegas Strip? I’m still not sure how but it definitely left such an impression on me that I went back to visit the following year. Unfortunately, I still live in the West and I can’t visit these places often but I plan to whenever I get the chance. My friends often wonder what the attraction to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee would be.

These two places have so much to discover from Dollywood, to lots of family attractions, pancake houses and beautiful scenery, especially if you want to see the fall leaves as they change colors. So let me tell you some of the reasons why anyone visiting TN or the Smoky Mountains should visit Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN.

Ok, so it might not be the beaches of Hawaii or California but Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN are both great vacation destinations to visit. They have great access to Smoky Mountain National Park, theme parks, restaurants and other attractions that we all love to visit as a tourist. These factors make it a great spot for tourists who enjoy staying at a comfortable hotel or maybe renting a cabin that features tons of great amenities and privacy. It is also a prime location for casual campers who want to get the experience of the great outdoors but also want to be close to attractions when the weather is bad or they need an escape from their adventure in the outdoors. It is also perfect for more serious campers who can’t imagine why people would want to be anywhere but the outdoors!

Smoky Mountain National Park lies between Tennessee and North Carolina and is the most visited National Park in America with 8-10 million visitors each year. According to the park’s visitor information it has 800 miles of hiking trails. This includes access to the Appalachian Trail which can be accessed at numerous locations. One of these locations is Newfound Gap which is where the borders of the two states meet. This is an amazing location with beautiful overlooks. Enough could never be said about the scenery at Newfound Gap.

This area has great locations for those great camping tents you have been able to find for camping. They have sites for backpackers, horseback riders, RV’s and your run of the mill family campers.

I love Dolly Parton and one thing I dreamed of doing as a child was visiting Dollywood, for those of you who don't know this is Dolly's theme park. When I was young a "Smoky Mountain Christmas" starring and written by Dolly, came out. It has been one of my favorite holiday movies since and is the only reason why I knew this amusement park existed. If you are expecting a huge Six Flags style amusement park you will be disappointed but if you are expecting a down home place with comfort food and southern hospitality it will be perfect. It has a couple of heart pounding rollercoasters as well as, family friendly rides. I love food and one of the best elements of this amusement park is that it serves amazing food. It features some amazing southern cooking inlcuding some great bbq!

It also is home to quite a few festivals throughout the year, a bald eagle preserve, live music and includes a tour bus she once used and a museum that captures why Dolly is so well beloved. I definitely would recommend touring Dolly Parton's tour bus, it even includes a couple of Dolly's famous wigs. They also have a replica of the house she grew up in the Smoky Mountains. If Dollywood is the only reason you visit, it will be well worth your time! You don’t have to be a fan of Dolly Parton or of country music to enjoy it. And people of all ages will enjoy it. Dollywood also has a waterpark next door!

Horseback Rides: This is something that is a favorite for many kids. There are many locations you can get horseback rides at when the weather is decent usually between mid March through late November.

Fall Foliage- Obviously you don’t get this year round but the amazing trees in this area create stunning colorful backdrops as leaves change during October. It’s great even if it’s just for a weekend drive. It’s hard to tell exactly when this occurs and can vary from year to year. Even if you don’t get to see it during the prime of colors changing you won’t be disappointed.  I've been to the Smokies twice to see the leaves change both times in October.  It's kind of hit or miss and unfortunately I missed the peak for seeing the leaves but many of the trees had already changed colors so it was still worth it. The weather channel's website can usually give you a better idea of when the prime time to see the fall leaves are so if you are a little more flexible in when you leave and prepared to leave at the last minute that might be an option for you.

Wildlife Viewing- The wildlife in this area is expansive. On one trip my husband and I were on a drive to Newfound Gap when we came across a cub climbing a tree! Fortunately, we were one of the first to come across it and we were able enjoy it before the bear jam began. Unfortunately, we didn’t have our camera so the cell phone was our only option to capture this amazing experience. Of course, make sure you are safe and keep a proper distance from the wildlife!

Sometimes you need a good meal and sometimes meals over a campfire or that you make in an under stocked kitchen just don’t cut it. Maybe your hotel room doesn’t have a kitchen. No matter the reason you want to eat out Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have amazing restaurants. They literally line up both sides of the street. Particularly popular are pancake houses which have great pancakes and are practically on every corner.  I'm not sure why there are so many pancake houses in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, maybe it is that pancakes and camping or staying in a cabin is a natural fit. They also have the typical chains you expect to find just about anywhere and local steakhouses.  I recommend the Alamo Steakhouse which had quite a long line when we were there but it was well worth the wait.  Actually every restaraunt I ate at had long lines whether it was the pancake houses or Olive Garden so be prepared to wait when you go to eat.

This area is a great area for families and they are geared towards great family entertainment.  Miniature golf courses, go cart tracks, dinner shows and shopping outlets are just a few of what the area offers to entertain your family.    Not enough?  How about helicopter tours, magic shows and Elvis museums?

Have I convinced you yet of all of the reasons you should visit? If so you are probably wondering where you should stay! Of course, you don’t have to pitch a tent to enjoy this area. There are plenty of hotels, timeshares, and cabins that you can rent out.

The cabins provide a little more privacy for you and your family and allow you to enjoy the great outdoors without actually roughing it. Since they have their own kitchens you can also save a little money by not going out to all those great restaurants for every meal. Cabins are abundant and there are many companies who rent them out. They are not all the scary backwoods cabins you might picture in the Smoky Mountains. Most are updated with many modern amenities and include things like kitchens, pool tables, hot tubs and big screen TVs. This is a great option when temperatures are cold and weather is more unpredictable. You can find cabins close to, in between or in both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. All of the cabins in the area are named. I stayed at one called, "Mystic Sunrise," that's offered though Timber Top Rentals. This cabin was in great condition and I would rent again through them. You can find a Barbie Dream House Replica called, "Barbie and Ken's Dreamhouse offered through Volunteer Cabin Rentals, but it doesn't look anything like it. I haven't used this cabin rental service so I can't tell you what it's like.

Another reason why we enjoyed our cabin rental in Pigeon Forge was that we could buy some food at the local grocery store and not have to eat out every day and it saved us some money and some time waiting in lines at some of the restaurants.

If you choose to camp make sure you come well prepared with a tent suitable for the conditions of the Smoky Mountains. If you need help figuring out which tent is suitable for you read, 7 questions to ask when shopping for cheap tents. Also, this website provides some more information on finding the tents that right for you.