10 Things to Do with Kids in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

There’s something to amuse and excite families of all ages at Dollywood. Let the wee ones take a whirl on such rides as the Busy Bees merry-go-round or scramble over fire engines in the FireHouse play yard. For older kids there’s the Mystery Mine roller coaster that races through an abandoned mine and many other thrill-inducing rides like the free-falling Drop Line and Dizzy Disk.

Families could also explore the area’s history and landscape by hopping aboard the Dolly Express for a scenic train trip or stopping at the 1890s Calico Falls schoolhouse. If visiting from the second week of November through December, you’ll be treated to nightly vacation parades and the festive Santa Land exhibit.

Gatlinburg’s ski resort offers 10 trails for skiers and snowboarders to explore, with equipment rentals and lessons available. Beyond its winter activities, Ober is a fun place for families year-round with amusement park rides, a huge indoor ice-skating rink, mini-golf, water raft rides and the chance to see bears and bobcats in the Wildlife Encounter zoo.

The easiest way to get here is by catching the aerial tram ride from downtown, which costs about $13 for adults and $10.50 for kids aged 5-11. There’s an admission fee for each attraction, so you’ll save money by buying a wristband that allows entry into several places. Prices and opening hours vary with the season.

Known for its hearty breakfasts, Crockett’s serves up inches-thick pancakes, the grandly-named “Waffle of Insane Greatness”, and skillets spilling over with sugar cured ham and pecan smoked bacon. And so much more. If you’re counting calories, you’ll probably get your week’s worth with the biscuits and grits alone (tip: don’t count them here).

Aside from the food, Crockett’s earns its family-friendly credentials with its frontier-style cabin setting complete with a roaring fireplace, hay bales and rustic wood from old barns – it feels more like the first stop of a mountain adventure journey than a restaurant. There’s no children’s menu but one order of a scrambler or skillet could easily be shared by 2 or 3 kids.

Ripley’s brings the marine world to the mountains with this elaborate aquarium full of colorful ocean life and interactive exhibits. Discover weird and wonderful sea creatures like the octopus, scorpion fish, pufferfish, corals and horseshoe crab. Families flock to the penguin exhibit where they can go through the underwater tunnel for an amazing close-up look. Another tunnel brings you face-to-face with giant stingrays, green sea turtles and sharks.

Save money by buying combo tickets for entry to the aquarium plus 2 or more Ripley's sights in Gatlinburg including Ripley's Believe it or Not, Haunted Adventure and the Guinness World Records attraction.

Ideal for a budget-minded family to enjoy the great outdoors, you’ll find walking trails, a playground and plenty of leafy green space to run around in the park. Kids can try their luck casting a line from the children’s fishing pier along the creek, which is stocked weekly with rainbow trout from the park’s fish farm.

There’s no fee or fishing permit required but you’ll need to bring your own gear and check the signs for rules and regulations. Entry to the park is free but non-residents are charged a fee to use the pavilions, which must be reserved in advance.

It’s got a peculiar name but has exactly what it says it has: yes, there are goats here and they do little but live their best goat lives up on the roof. Kids can enjoy feeding the goats or trying their hand at old-style prospecting at the gem mining exhibit.

There’s a big gift shop to browse and an inviting front porch for families to savor some fudge or ice-cream while relaxing on the Amish rocking chairs. And the must-do activity here (for people, not the goats) is to take the alpine coaster for an exhilarating twisty-turny ride down the mountain. The ride costs about $15 with discounts for kids.

Go-kart riding isn’t just for big kids at The Track, which lets little racers have a go on the Kiddie Karts. Older family members looking for an action-packed drive could try Wild Woody, where you’ll zoom up a wooden track three and a half storeys before circling back down and navigating a steep heart-racing drop near the finish.

Beyond the go-karts, families will find tons to do here including amusement park rides, kiddie rides, mini-golf and more than 60 games in the arcades. Opening hours vary by season.

This mountaintop theme park offers families a good mix of excitement and relaxing down-time with a view. Its Duelling Zipline gives a pair of thrill seekers the chance to fly alongside one another through the air some 40 meters above ground. Take the canopy walk for a sky-high view over the forest across 16 connected bridges in the treetops.

Families could spend hours exploring the park’s Firefly Village and its restaurants and shops, strolling the botanical gardens or running around the Treehouse Village playground. Admission is about $25 including the gondola ride, with discounts available for kids. Extra charges apply for the zipline and mountain coaster rides.

Play out your family battles for mini-golf glory with 2 outdoor 18-hole courses to conquer. The Old Mountain Trail course leads through a scenic hillside landscape, while the Old Town Square course lets you try some trick shot action in a setting of restored historical cabins.

There's no need to worry about bad weather wrecking your game with a 9-hole “blacklight” indoor course to try. If the kids tire of playing golf, they could check out the escape room, laser tag, the frenzied Atomic Rush game and more. Get the best value out of your visit with a fun pass for around $20, which lets you try 6 activities.

There’s no need for families to spend a lot in Gatlinburg when its lively downtown strip is an enjoyable place to wander around for no cost at all. Colorful shop window displays may tempt you to buy gifts and snacks, but you might be able to score tasty free samples from places like Smoky Mountain Nut House and Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen.

At Ole Smoky, you’ll certainly salivate while watching its candy makers busily churning taffy like a Willy Wonka fantasy scene. Many of the town’s best attractions are found along the strip, including Ripley’s Believe it or Not, which has a dazzling curio-filled entrance area that’s free to explore.