Things To Do
There’s no shortage of activities to do during your stay in the Great Smoky Mountains, that’s for sure. But, here’s an easy guide of our favorite things to do in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and surrounding areas in Tennessee.
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GOLF
There are actually a number of great golf courses in the area for the hardcore golfers. Since we’re a family-owned cabin rental company, we thought we’d give you a list of some mini-golf spots for the whole crew.
Hillbilly Golf
This mini-golf course in Gatlinburg is unique! Take a ride to the top of the mountain and pick from two 18-hole courses then enjoy unique “Hillbilly” challenges like stills, outhouses and more.
Crave Golf
Crave golf in Pigeon Forge features a 19-hole indoor and a 19-hole outdoor course to choose from, but that’s not all. There’s also escape rooms, bowling a candy store and ice cream!
Ripley’s Mini Golf
Ripley’s Davy Crockett mini-golf course features 2 unique themed courses for 36 total holes of golf to play. Their sister location in Sevierville “Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf has even more! photo: Ripley’s
GAMES / ARCADES
Our family loves a good arcade… I mean LOVES them. And we’ve got a list of some of the best in the area along with some other fun spots to really immerse yourself in the game.
Arcadia
Arcadia in Gatlinburg, TN is one of our favorite arcades to visit. Over 30,000 sqft of arcade, video games and immersive simulations will keep you busy for a bit. Did I mention you can win name brand prizes and eat some great food, too?
Appalachian Axe Co.
The Appalachian Axe Co. in Pigeon Forge sets itself apart from other axe throwing spots with its blacklight targets and a huge variety of throwables. They even have seasonal targets like Zombies during Halloween! photo: Appalachian Axe Co.
HeadCase Escape Adventures
Four different escape room concepts are featured at HeadCase Escape in Gatlinburg including themed staff members! Most games last between 30 minutes to an hour and are fun for the whole family accommodating up to 8 players. photo: Headcase Escape Adventures
The Axe House
There are two locations to choose from in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville if the traffic gets a little thick. Enjoy some axe throwing, drinks and food here with the whole family! (They even have foam axes for the littleun’s) photo: The Axe House
The Escape Game
The Escape Game is conveniently located at The Island in Pigeon Forge and features five different escape room games you need to solve in under 60 minutes. Online booking is easy and children under 4 are free! photo: The Escape Game
Fannie Farkles
This is another one of our favorite spots for games! Fannie Farkles is right in Gatlinburg and has tons of games to choose from and prizes you can win. A great spot to take the whole family, you can also grab some grub here as well!
BREWERIES, DISTILLERIES & WINERIES
Ciders, wines, craft beer, spirits…and moonshine. The Tennessee Smoky Mountains have it all and here’s our picks for the best spots to check out if adult beverages are on your agenda during your stay.
Tennessee Cider Company
This is the first Cidery to open in Gatlinburg and they offer free samples! Offering several flavors of cider as well as mead and wine selections – this is a great spot to stop in and have a drink and grab a bottle or two for gifts.
Ole Smoky Moonshine
Starting with Moonshine, Ole Smoky Mountain Moonshine now offers moonshine, whiskey and canned cocktails. And with two locations in Gatlinburg and one at The Island in Pigeon Forge, there’s one right around the corner during your stay 🙂
Apple Barn Winery
Apple Barn Winery is located in Apple Barn Village in Pigeon Forge. And their unique approach to wine leaves out the grapes and uses apples instead, what else?! photo: Apple Barn Winery
Tennessee Shine Co.
Shine, whiskey and Shine Wine available here with locations in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley and Sevierville. They feature fun flavors like a variety of Moon Pie choices, Moonshine Cherries and more. photo: Tennessee Shine Co.
Mill Bridge Winery
Mill Bridge offers local wines and hard cider as well as fun outdoor seating overlooking the Little Pigeon River at this Pigeon Forge spot. photo: Mill Bridge Winery
Mountain Valley Winery
Mountain Valley is one of the oldest wineries in Tennessee and includes a line of sweet fruit wines. They hold free tastings 7 days a week and open at 9am. photo: Mountain Valley Winery
Hillside Winery
Hillside is our pick if you’re a fan of Italian wines. They feature a great selection of Italian-style options and are open 7 days a week. photo: Hillside Winery
Sugarlands Distilling Co.
Sugarlands offers tours, workshops and tastings…oh and beverages! They offer shine, whiskey, canned cocktails and unique spirits like their line of “Sippin’ Creams”. photo: Sugarlands Distilling Co.
Junction 35 Spirits
Not only does this Pigeon Forge spot produce a wide selection of spirits at their distillery, they also offer tastings and an amazing kitchen and bar. If the rest of the group isn’t into it, leave them with some BBQ Nachos and get to sippin’! photo: Junction 35 Spirits
OUTDOORS
While there are loads and loads of activities you can do inside while staying at one of our Hapey Cabin Rentals (at our cabins and out and about!) – we are located in the Great Smoky Mountains, after all. So, we’d be bad hosts if we didn’t give you our list of some amazing things to do to enjoy the amazing natural beauty that’s all around us.
Hiking – National Park Service
This is a great link to learn more about hiking The Great Smoky Mountains in our area. You can hike the area year-round and experience something new. The hardest part is picking which trail!
Mountain Harbor Inn Boat Rentals
Head to Douglas Lake just minutes from Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge for your choice of Pontoon Boats, Speed Boats (even kayaks and paddle boats) rentals and enjoy a day on the lake. You even get free ice cream with each rental!
Cades Cove Stables
The Cades Cove Stables offer guided trail rides, carriage rides and hayrides with options for the entire family whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced equestrian.
Harper Bros. Horseback Riding
If you’d like to do some horseback riding but don’t want to take the drive to Cades Cove, Harper Bros. now offers 15-20 minute beginner “Meadow Rides” for ages 5 and up.
Anakeesta
This mountaintop park offers amazing views, shopping, dining and thrills with their tree top bridges, zip lines or AnaVista tower. Or you can just grab a drink and relax in a chair while soaking in the views.
River Rat Tubing & Whitewater
Choose between some lazy tubin’ or an exciting whitewater adventure to get your blood pumping. River Rat even has riverside cabanas that can be rented out for the day!
Legacy Mountain Ziplines
If you’re the kind of person that enjoys zipping through tree lines 500 feet above ground at 50 mph then we recommend Legacy Mountain. Seven different zip line routes for ages 3+.
Scenic Helicopter Tours
How about a birds-eye-view of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Dollywood, Gatlinburg and more? This Sevierville-based company offers tours, private charters and even specialty flights for those special moments.
Rafting in the Smokies
Not only does this outfit offer whitewater rafting adventures, but they also offer more casual family floats, a pavilion for special events, zip lines and a family “adventure island” they really have everything for a full day of fun!
Fly Fishing The Smokies
Book guided, all-inclusive fishing trips with experienced guides out of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Cherokee NC, and Bryson City. Even if you don’t know how, these folks will teach you how to fly fish!
Fishing – National Park Service
Use this link to learn all about fishing in the Tennessee Smoky Mountain area, permits needed, the types of fish, and where to find them with this info from the National Park Service.
Smoky Mountain Adventure Tours
Book guided scenic tours that take you off-road in open-air pink Jeep 4×4’s! The local certified tour guides will get you to places no accessible by others for some great scenery, nature and photo-ops!
LIVE MUSIC & SHOWS
If you’re looking for some entertainment in and around the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area we’ve got a few picks you’ll love from intimate nightclub feel to full blow spectaculars 🙂
The Listening Room Cafe
This spot is songwriter focused, hosting some of the regions best talent. The spot also service food and drink so make a plan to kick back and enjoy some amazing music in a friendly setting. photo: The Listening Room Cafe
Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud
This Pigeon Forge spot is a blast for the whole family. There’s the Lumberjack Show and the Adventure Park where you can try your hand at lumberjack life. There are packages available to enjoy both activities for a discount, too!
Country Tonite
Have a blast at this fast-paced show filled with familiar country hits, comedy, dancing and more. They even showcases country music celebrities like Ronnie Milsap, the Oak Ridge Boys and others. Good for the whole family. photo: Country Tonite
Ole Red
Blake Shelton’s spot in Gatlinburg hosts established and up-and-coming country music stars with great drinks and food to boot…boot scoot that is. If you love a good time and a little dancin’, this is the place.
ANIMALS
We’re animal lovers ourselves which is why we have pet-friendly cabin rentals! If you want to get up close and personal to some amazing creatures, here are a couple of our favorites.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Explore the Shark Lagoon in a glass bottomed boat, visit penguins, coral reefs and experience special events like the Pirate Family Sleepover!
Parrot Mountain and Garden of Eden
With hundreds of birds, thousands upon thousands of flowers and trees, you’ll really feel like you’re in the Garden of Eden! Hold and feed the amazing birds and walk through the beautiful gardens at this Pigeon Forge location. photo: Parrot Mountain and Garden of Eden
SIGHTSEEING
Everywhere you look is beautiful when you’re in the Smokies. Seriously. Every direction. And there’s a bunch of other picks on this list to give you something to look at, but here are a couple more 🙂
Gatlinburg Skybridge
This is the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America and either a great way to scare the bejeezus out of a loved one afraid of heights, or an amazing experience while you’re in the area – maybe both!
Gatlinburg Space Needle
Take in the Great Smoky Mountains and Downtown Gatlinburg from over 400 feet in the air. You can get your tickets online and take the elevator to the top to see the Smokies in 360° panavision.
SHOPPING
Everyone needs a little retail therapy. And it’s no different when you’re on vacation – ESPECIALLY if you’re staying in the Smokies with all the great places to grab unique gifts and mementos of your trip. Here are some of our faves.
Harper Bros. Mountain
We’ve mentioned Harper Bros. before, but they also have a great store to get tons of different Smoky Mountain themed gifts, snacks and they even sell Starbucks coffee if you need a caffeine fix. photo: Harper Bros. Mountain
Izzy Bees Stuffed Friends
Izzy Bees is located in the Gatlinburg Mountain Mall inside the Enchanted Castle. Sounds fun already, right? Well, head there for you pick of over 125 stuffable animals. photo: Izzy Bees Stuffed Friends
Goats on the Roof
This place is hard to miss – just look for the goats roaming around on their roof! Once you’ve parked, then you need to make up your mind if your going to feed the goats, take the goat coaster, shop or mine gems…maybe all the above!
Christmas Place
If you love Christmas like we do, this shop at the foot of the Smokies is a must visit. Get hundreds of ornaments personalized, trains for under the tree, trees, lights…just go! photo: Christmas Place
The Island In Pigeon Forge
So many of the recommendations we’ve already listed are located here you’d think we wouldn’t have any other reason to mention it. WRONG! Art, Toys, Comics, Farmhouse decor, Beauty Products, and tons more are located within this pet-friendly, free-parking, Pigeon Forge location.
AMUSEMENT PARKS & RIDES
One of the things the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area has always been known for is the amazing parks and rides we have. You haven’t really stayed here if you can’t tell an amusement park story after. Here’s some of our favorites.
Ripley’s Super Fun Park
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Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride
If you want to feel like you’re smack dab in the middle of Jurassic Park without the whole, “being eaten by dinosaurs part” – then you definitely want to check out the boat ride at Jurassic Jungle.
Dollywood
Dollywood may have been the only reason you came to the Smokies! We can’t recommend the park named after the Queen herself enough – We have season passes ourselves. They really do it up right on the holidays!
Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater
If you love those rides that make you feel like you’re right there in the action – this is the place for you. The digital effects and moving seats make you feel like you’re in the thick of it all – hold on tight! photo: Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater
Skyfly
One of the newest attractions to hit Pigeon Forge was worth the wait, we think. This ride makes you feel like you’re flying through the air and the effects like wind, mist and smells (Yes, smells!) make you forget you’re on a ride.
Mountain Monster Pigeon Forge
If you love a good, heart-pounding thrill – this would be our pick. Choose between the 200 foot Monster Fall, getting launched 170 feet in the air on Monster Launch or a 200 foot swing over Pigeon Forge and the Smokies on the Monster Dive!
Ober Gatlinburg
Ober Gatlinburg has something to do for every season of the year. Snow tubing, ice skating, bumper cars, mazes, rock climbing and more offer tons of options for the whole family year-round. photo: Ober Gatlinburg
The Track
It’s not just the four go kart tracks or the Blaster Boats or Bumper Cars that make The Track in Pigeon Forge one of our favorite places. It’s also the kid’s rides, Skyflyer and Fat Daddy’s arcade!
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
The wheel is one of the ways to know you’re getting close to The Island in Pigeon Forge. The all-glass gondolas make the views from this 200 foot tall wheel pretty outstanding and even more special at night when all the lights are on!
Wonder Works
This huge indoor amusement park is the perfect way to sneak in some learning while you’re on vacation. With all the different exciting areas to explore, the kids will never suspect they’re learning!
Beyond The Lens
The interactive games, photo ops, exhibits and even rides make this indoor amusement park all about pop culture a blast. photo: Beyond The Lens
FlyAway Indoor Skydiving
If you’ve ever wanted to experience skydiving but don’t want to end up a pancake in a field somewhere – FlyAway is the closest you’ll get to the real thing in a completely exhilarating environment. photo: FlyAway Indoor Skydiving
Pigeon Forge Snow
If you find yourself wondering what to do on a rainy day or maybe it’s a bit too hot to walk around Gatlinburg or the National Park – Pigeon Forge Snow is open year-round with snow tubing lanes and a snow play area!
MUSEUMS
Don’t think of our museum picks as stuffy places where the staff is watching your every move. These spots are a blast with experiences you’ll be talking about to all your friends.
Alcatraz East
This crime museum delves into forensic science, crime prevention, the justice system and more with tons of interactive exhibits, temporary exhibits, guest speakers and amazing artifacts related to American crime history.
Titanic Pigeon Forge
Not only is the Titanic an amazing site when riding through Pigeon Forge, inside is also full of history and stories about the most famous shipwreck in history! There’s also amazing events and shopping to be had inside – not to mention the photos!
Hollywood Star Cars
If you love cars, love the movies – or both – Hollywood Star Cars in Gatlinburg has over 40 cars on display from both TV and movie lore you have to see to believe.
WATERPARKS
If you’re visiting us in the warm Summer months, you gotta make time to visit one of our picks for keeping cool in the Smokies.
Soaky Mountain Waterpark
Water coasters, raft races, windy slides, wave pools, cabana rentals, kiddie pools… we don’t have enough space to list all the different excitement Soaky Mountain has in store. photo: Soaky Mountain Waterpark
Dollywood’s Splash Country
Dollywood has so many waterpark attractions that there’s bound to be something for everyone in the group. If you want to take it easy, there’s a lazy river and wave pool, if you like it more adventurous there’s rapids, slides, drops and more – really something for everyone’s tastes.
DOG FRIENDLY INFO
We love dogs, we’re doggy parents and all our cabin rentals are dog friendly. Which means we’ve got the scoop on all the info you need for your furbaby if you want to take them out and about.
Pets – National Park Service
This page will give you all the important details about where you can and can’t take your pooch in the National Parks System. Important info to read before you head out for the day.
Walking Trails
The city of Sevierville has an amazing greenway to walk your furry friend and enjoy the sites and sounds of the Smokies. Check out this page for the details and pick your favorite section to explore!
Pet-Safe Off-Leash Dog Park
This great off-leash dog park in Sevierville has a section for both large and small dogs, agility courses, doggie bags and water – everything you need to get your pup’s energy out! It’s also conveniently located to the main drag in Pigeon Forge, too!
