Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is one of those places that surprises you in the best way. At first glance, it feels busy. Bright lights. Endless attractions. A lot happening in a small stretch of road. But once you slow down and settle in, it quickly becomes clear why families keep coming back.
Our time in Pigeon Forge was packed with memories, laughter, and moments that felt easy. The kids stayed entertained. We felt relaxed. And there was always something to do without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
If you are planning a family getaway and searching for the best things to do in Pigeon Forge, TN, here is what our family loved most.
Why We Chose Pigeon Forge for a Family Trip
We wanted a destination that worked for everyone. Somewhere fun for the kids but enjoyable for adults too. Pigeon Forge checked every box.
It is easy to navigate. Attractions are close together. There are plenty of family friendly activities. You can fill your days or keep things simple. Both options work here.
Pigeon Forge also feels welcoming. Many attractions are designed with families in mind. That makes traveling with kids feel less stressful and more enjoyable.
Best Things to Do in Pigeon Forge, TN With Kids
There is no shortage of activities here. Whether you are visiting for a weekend or a full week, these stops stood out as some of the best things to do in Pigeon Forge, TN with kids.
The Island in Pigeon Forge
The Island was an instant favorite for our family. It is lively without feeling chaotic. Everything is walkable. There are rides, shops, restaurants, and space to just wander.
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel is a must. The views are beautiful, and the ride feels calm enough for kids while still being exciting. We loved visiting in the evening when the lights came on and the atmosphere felt extra fun.
MagiQuest Adventures
MagiQuest was one of those experiences our kids still talk about. It is interactive, imaginative, and perfect for burning energy. Watching them move through the space with so much excitement made it worth every minute.
This is one of those Pigeon Forge attractions where kids feel completely immersed. It keeps them engaged while giving parents a chance to enjoy watching the magic unfold.
Titanic Museum Attraction
The Titanic Museum Attraction offers something different. It is educational, emotional, and thoughtfully done. Even with kids, we found it engaging and meaningful.
The exhibits are well organized. The experience flows naturally. It gave us a chance to slow down and take in history together, which felt like a nice balance to the more high energy attractions.
Alcatraz East Crime Museum
This stop surprised us. Alcatraz East is well curated and fascinating. It covers history, forensic science, and famous cases in a way that feels informative rather than overwhelming.
For families with older kids, this is a great option. It adds variety to your trip and offers something unique compared to typical theme style attractions.
Following our afternoon of crime, we decided to venture over to a world of magic and mystery to go on a quest, a MagiQuest that is. My sisters and I love fantasy and exploration, and this indoor adventure to capture Runes was no exception. When we entered we received wands that interacted with chests and hidden objects throughout the arena, and followed a series of riddles and clues in the book. The object is to solve the riddles and collect all the necessary items to advance through the levels and to interact with fairies and other magical creatures to defeat the Goblin King. My sisters found this to be one of their favorite activities–and they range from ages 24 years to 9 years old. Carolynn took advantage of the explorations and followed her aunties around.
After we finished our adventuring for the day, we stopped in for a family meal with all 5 of my sisters, as well as my husband and daughter to have some delicious, fresh-made pizza at Mellow Mushroom. We had good service, and GREAT food. This is definitely a must-have for anyone visiting the Smoky Mountains.
The first parent-only activity we completed was the Hollywood Wax Museum. This was one of the coolest wax museums I have been to, with very realistic and life-like renditions of famous musicians and actors/actresses. The all-access pass includes four attractions in one, and is absolutely and completely worth the experience. After we finished the walk-through of the wax museum, we walked across the parking lot to the other three adventures in the giant castle. The Castle of Chaos is seriously one of the most fun 5D adventures, where you can fight robots or clowns with blasters, collecting stars and points along the way to see who will be the winner. After the fight, we went on the next adventure in the building–Outbreak. I LOVE scary, and this walkthrough of a zombie-infested chemical facility had me running and laughing all while trying to get through the winding corridors of an outbreak that reanimated military experiments. Filled with both animatronics as well as live zombies, you will be sure to have a thrilling adventure. Lastly, we wound our way through Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors, a family friendly mirror activity where you must help save the princess.
The last stop of the night was Crave Golf Club for a round of mini-golf on the roof-top of the building. There are both indoor and outdoor courses, and a gift shop in conjunction with a candy shop that has all the snacks and munchies you could possibly dream of. Challenging holes coupled with the Crave twist of an added challenge based on the spin board located on each hole, keeps the activity fun and exciting. The course is scattered with giant candy and sweets-themed obstacles and decorations. Crave Golf Club is open late, which makes it even easier to fit into a busy schedule.
Sunday was spent at Beyond the Lens, Titanic Museum Attraction, and Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud. To start off, I did not look into what Beyond the Lens was and had no idea what to expect. I was so completely surprised with how cool and fun this place was! A mini escape room, exhibits on Big Foot, VR games (this was so much fun!!), old school and new school games–both video and arcade, and much, much more.
One of my favorite things was the QR code that you are given that pairs with picture stations located throughout the building to capture all the fun experiences. Before you exit the building you are able to see the images that you took throughout the building’s stations and purchase any fun memories that you want to keep.
When I was growing up, the story of the Titanic–the giant unsinkable ship, was always so interesting to me–so of course we had to visit the Titanic Museum Attraction. When you enter the museum, all of the employees are dressed in costumes that are reminiscent of those which would have been worn at the time of the Titanic. Each person, including our daughter, was given a “ticket†to board the ship with a backstory of information, and at the end of the museum tour you are able to find out if the person you boarded as survived the sinking of the Titanic.
My husband Shane’s favorite part of the Titanic Museum Attraction was that the tour uses handheld audio tour guides that correspond with numbers placed throughout the exhibit to allow for a self-paced tour in addition to the employees that are available to guide you. The exact replica of the main staircase was gorgeous, but my favorite part was the room that housed an iceberg to show what the Titanic crashed into, as well as a reservoir of water that is the temperature of the water the night the Titanic sank. The Titanic Museum Attraction does require reservations, so be sure to schedule your visit ahead of time to fit this historical rendition into your schedule.
Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud was a fun, family friendly show that combines thrilling tricks with pure muscle and training to keep you entertained throughout the entire production. Both men and women compete head-to-head to win points for the ultimate bragging rights. It was a nice way to end our partnership with My Pigeon Forge and the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.
The Undem Family Adventures is so thankful for our partnership and all the fun activities we were able to attend while down in the Smoky Mountains, and we hope that if you stuck with us this long, that means you are planning your trip down to the Smokies, too!
This blog is an exchange for admission to the locations above, but fully represents the opinions of The Undem Family Adventures and where you should visit in Pigeon Forge.
