Pigeon Forge
Great Smoky Mountains

Pigeon Forge

Photo by Dennis Buchner on Unsplash

Destination Overview

Located just north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge gives you easy access to outdoors activities as well as the attractions that have made this resort city a popular destination for vacations and honeymoons. It has everything you could want by way of outdoor adventure, shopping, entertainment, theme parks, music, comedy shows and more.

You have a choice of accommodations including luxury resorts and spas, elegant condos, chain motels and rustic cabins as well as quaint inns and B&Bs full of local charm. There are festivals and events year-round, welcoming family restaurants and crafts stores to keep you busy and well fed.

About Pigeon Forge

At a Glance

  • The city is named for the Little Pigeon River, which runs through it. The river in turn gets the name from the flocks of passenger pigeons that used to roost on its banks.
  • Country music legend Dolly Parton was born in nearby Sevierville and came back to establish Dollywood, a theme park with Southern charm. A visit to Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country is a must on this trip.
  • Traditional crafts like quilting, glassblowing and blacksmithing are still alive in Pigeon Forge. You can also take blacksmithing lessons and make your own knife which you can take home with you.
  • Car shows are fun, educational and entertaining. Visitors can watch the classic cars, hot rods, trucks and jeeps roll through town and then join vendors and other enthusiasts to get their fill of car talk and advice.
  • The city makes a great base for a quiet couples’ retreat. Take a stroll by the river at the Old Mill, pack a picnic for a afternoon hike at Cades Cove in Smoky Mountains National Park, catch a comedy or music show, and do some shopping to find unique gifts for each other and for your folks back home.
  • The temperate climate makes this a year-round destination with plenty to see and do in all four seasons.

Honeymoon Hints

  • Pigeon Forge is located just off I-40, and can also be easily accessed from I-75 and I-81. The location makes it an easy drive for a majority of the U.S. population east of the Mississippi River.
  • The nearby McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville is served by five major commercial airlines.
  • While you’ll need a car to get around the area, you can use the Pigeon Forge Trolley Service for local transport. The trolley stops at most attractions, shops, theaters and restaurants and also some locations in Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
  • Visit the Old Mill. It really is old and was built two hundred years ago. It has been in operation continuously since then and gives you a glimpse of pioneer life.
  • A visit to local wineries makes for a quiet romantic interlude. Some wineries also serve local farm products such as cheese and meats.
  • Listen to the music. Country, bluegrass, gospel, and more. There’s always music in the air at Pigeon Forge.
  • Fall is celebrated with displays of pumpkins, scarecrows and other seasonal decor. Visit a farm for a harvest festival or take a tour of a cider mill.
  • All that mountain air is bound to give you an appetite, and there are plenty of dinner shows that will fill you up with delicious helpings of comfort food while keeping you entertained. Check out the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud and Dolly Parton’s Stampede, to name just two favorites.
  • Take a scenic drive. Away from the bustle of the city, spend some quiet moments together amid views of the majestic mountains.