Family Fun Vacation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
This post was sponsored by Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Tourism, but like always all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have a confession. I have never been to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. My friends would go down for holiday breaks and talk about the fun they had on the strip. I imagined the “strip” as a tiny country town with fudge shops, antique stores and other mom and pop shops. Boy, was I wrong. It seriously felt like a family-fun Vegas nestled in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains.
There are a multitude of attractions and it is easy to get overwhelmed that is why I have narrowed down some of the must-do's on a family vacation in Pigeon Forge.
1. Where to stay
Black Fox Lodge hosted us and honestly I don’t think we could had stayed at a nicer place. The rooms were cozy with a balcony overlooking a stream and the Great Smokey Mountains. The pool was fantastic for small children and adults and the location of the hotel was perfect. We had immediate access to all of the fun activities that the strip offered and loved that we could walk to a ton of attractions.
Each morning we woke up and had a great buffet breakfast with a wide variety of foods to choose from. It was a great start to our busy day.
However, my favorite thing about Black Fox Lodge wasn't the rooms or amenities, but the staff. On our final day my husband was busy loading the car while I attempted to take both kids down to get breakfast. After strapping our one year old into a high chair and taking the toddler to pick out his breakfast while trying to still keep an eye on the baby I realized, “this is not easy.” That was until a staff member went over to keep an eye on the baby for me and make sure he was happy and safe. It was such a sweet thing to do while I juggled plates of food for everyone.
2. Dollywood
You have to take the family to Dollywood! It is the most unassuming amusement park and is hidden in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains.
We went during the Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival, which I highly recommend. Bluegrass music filled the streets of the park and delicious smells of barbecue filled the air. It was quite an experience.
We spent the majority of our time in The Village area ,, the toddler area. Our 3 year old had a blast and to our surprise there were even rides for our 1 year old to enjoy. Which he loved!
We decided to partake in some of the barbecue food that was being served up and we have to say everything was delicious! We especially loved the brisket nachos with a tall mug of sweet tea.
The park was so clean and all the staff were extremely helpful and so kind. We will be back!
3. Fun on the strip
There was so much to do on the strip. I honestly wanted to do it all. We had heard great things about the shows and next time we visit we will attend one. However, this time we decided to check out The Track. The Track is a family fun park that has an array of toddler and baby rides, as well as go-karting and other activities for adults. Our kids really enjoyed it!
The Track also has an arcade which was a great break from the summer heat. It was so fun watching the kids smile and laugh as they rode all the rides.
4. Where to eat
Since our stay was short and we ate at the hotel for breakfast and Dollywood for lunch we really only had time for one meal. We chose The Local Goat based on yelp reviews. It did not disappoint. If you like giant burgers, mountains of french fries, and really good beer and cocktails then you’ll love this. I went with the black and blue burger and it was delicious. After supper we decided to get desserts, because that’s what you should do when you’re on vacation. We got the bread pudding with salted caramel ice cream and it was everything a dessert should be: large, sweet, and delicious.
It was a great trip and we will be back with our extended family. If you would like to learn more about how to plan a family vacation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee then click HERE.
For more ideas on where to stay and what to do in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee click HERE