(0)While kicking back in your outdoor hot tub and watching movies by the fire are fantastic ways to spend your Smoky Mountain vacation, downtown Pigeon Forge and TONS of shopping, restaurants, and fun attractions are only a short drive away! With so many options, planning a day in Pigeon Forge can seem daunting. Just showing up on the Parkway is not the worst idea, but sometimes it’s nice to be prepared so you don’t’ just drive around not knowing where to go or what to do. Just like our Options For YOU helped you find the perfect cabin, we can help you plan your perfect day in Pigeon Forge! With years of knowledge about the Pigeon Forge area and first-hand experience of many of the local favorites and lesser-known gems, we can provide you with options for building your best day on the Parkway!
Wake Up with the Wildlife
An early riser kind of crew? There are a few ways to enjoy the mornings in the Smokies – even good spots to catch a sunrise before heading to the downtown Parkway. Here are some pre-breakfast ideas to choose from:
Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is one of the only paved hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains and only takes about 2 hours to hike to and from the magnificent 80-foot waterfall cascading down the mountainside. It’s a great hike for families or those who would otherwise struggle with rougher trails, and it’s absolutely breathtaking!
Cades Cove
The 11-mile traffic loop around Cades Cove is one of the most visited areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! In the early morning light, the wildlife come out to scour the fields and the edges of the forests for food; it’s a great opportunity to catch glimpses of wild turkeys, elk, and black bears.
Clingmans Dome
See the sun before she rises over some of the tallest mountain peaks from the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Clingmans Dome! Stand in the tall viewing tower and let your gaze be carried for miles and miles of glorious rolling mountain peaks – views you will surely remember for years. But don’t forget to bring your camera!
Hearty Southern Breakfast & Coffee
Now that you have worked up a bit of an appetite, sit down to a divinely delicious Southern breakfast! Don’t like large meals in the morning? Pigeon Forge has some charming coffee shops where you can nibble on a morning pastry with a tasty cup of joe.
Flapjacks Pancake Cabin
2734 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Surrounded by a charming cabin atmosphere of natural wood and rustic brick, savor every bite of your delicious pancakes or waffles right out of your own little iron skillet!
Espresso Yourself
3331 Old Mill St
Pigeon Forge TN 37863
Snag a log rocking chair inside with a warm signature latte, or enjoy warmer weather outside at the log chair high-top tables with a cool iced coffee or smoothie!
Lil Black Bear Café
3068 Veterans Blvd.
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Get a taste of some delectable authentic local breakfast and lunch at the family owned and operated little café conveniently located along the Pigeon Forge Trolley route!
Shopping in the A.M.
Mornings are the best time to get some shopping in, because you beat the majority of the crowds and temperatures stay mild. There are tons of great shopping stops in Pigeon Forge, so here are some of our favorites!
Stages West
2765 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Even if cowboy boots and flannel aren’t your everyday style, you won’t want to skip this huge store during your shopping trip! From western to cowboy to boho, Stages West offers a large selection of beautiful clothing that has kept them in business since 1975, even through a fire that destroyed the original structure in 2015!
Tanger Outlets in Sevierville
1645 Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Just a little bit down the road is the area’s largest outlet shopping center, with all your favorite brands: Nike, Michael Kors, Forever 21, Coach, and many more!
Moon Pie General Store and Book Warehouse
3127 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
From old-fashioned candies and drinks to Southern souvenirs to classic Moon Pie products, the Moon Pie General store is a great place to peruse for gifts and your next favorite book!
Lunchtime!
Pigeon Forge offers plenty of familiar fast food picks if you’re in a hurry, but if you want something more authentic and have a little more time, take the opportunity to enjoy a midday meal at one of these great stops!
Mama’s Farmhouse
208 Pickel Street
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Like the name implies, Mama’s Farmhouse serves up all the down-South favorites – fried chicken, meatloaf, and other rotating daily specials – with big portions and mouthwatering sides.
164 Old Mill Ave
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Located right on the Pigeon River, pull up your chair and get a taste of some of their Southern-style specialties under $12! Savory fritters complement their homestyle corn chowder, along with tons of other secret recipes.
Blue Moose Burgers and Wings
2430 Teaster Lane #108
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Whether you want to catch the game or try some of their award-winning wings offered in 16 different flavors, Blue Moose serves up American-style classics like hamburgers and hot dogs and continues to be a local favorite!
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que
2910 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Locally owned and operated for over 26 years, Bennett’s will show you what BBQ done right tastes like with succulently tender pulled pork, ribs, and beef brisket!
Smoky Mountain Fun in the Afternoon Sun!
It’s time for some real Smoky Mountain fun in the afternoon! No matter what your idea of fun is, there is something for everyone downtown on the Parkway. Whether you want to be scared, get your blood pumping, or have fun learning new things, you are sure to run into an awesome time!
106 Showplace Blvd
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Escape from Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors, stop the next zombie apocalypse in Outbreak, and shoot ghosts with special laser guns in Castle of Chaos before coming face to face with life-like celebrity wax figures at this 4-in-1 attraction!
Goats on The Roof
1341 Wears Valley Rd
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
The name says it, but this attraction packs a lot of fun beyond the pastoral pals on the roof! Mine for gems, ride the mountain coaster, and feed the goats with a pulley system!
LazerPort Fun Center
2782 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Thousands of square feet of arcade games, indoor and outdoor putt-putt golf, laser-tag, and go-carts make for a fantastically fun day for the young and young-at-heart!
Tour downtown Pigeon Forge on a very inexpensive trolley ride through the city; get out when you see an attraction that piques your curiosity, and hop back on the trolley to skip parking lot frenzy! The Trolley is the best way to see all the lights during Winterfest in the Smokies!
Scenic Helicopter Tours
1965 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Fly over the Smoky Mountains for the most incredible views from the sky with a wide range of tours offered as low as $29!
Boisterous Shows to Compliment Exquisite Food
While a quiet dinner by the Pigeon River may be your ideal end to an eventful day in downtown Pigeon Forge, you can also end on a high note and attend a hilarious and exciting dinner show. From thrilling to acrobatic acts to murderous mysteries, dinner shows are a memorable way to eat a meal!
Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud
119 Music Rd
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Try not to laugh as you watch an age-old hillbilly family feud play out with jokes, acrobats, and hilarious schemes!
3849 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Be dazzled by serenading Southern belles, impressed by talented equestrian teams jumping through fire, and delight in a heavenly 4-course Southern meal!
Biblical Times Dinner Theater
3849 Parkway
Pigeon Forge TN 37863
Watch all your favorite Bible stories come to life right before your eyes with live animals, talented actors, and divine food!
Smoky Mountain Nightlife
If you are still feeling energized after your dinner show, visit the lively lights and sounds of the Parkway for some more Pigeon Forge fun before heading back to the cabin for a restful night’s sleep!
Smoky Mountain Brewery
2530 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Looking for a little adult-friendly nightlife? The Smoky Mountain Brewery offers tasty micro-brewed beers, delicious specialty cocktails, and savory eats.
The Island
131 The Island Drive
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Follow the lights of the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel to great shopping, awesome family fun on the ropes course, The Escape Game, and so much more at The Island in Pigeon Forge! Watch the hypnotic lights of the one-of-a-kind musical fountain show as all your favorite hits pair with waterworks.
Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
867 Wears Valley Rd
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Race around rock formations and through the forests on a single car coaster down the mountainside! During the day, race the sunlight through the trees and, by night, fly along the neon lights of the track illuminating the dark forestry.