7 Ways to Save on your Pigeon Forge Vacation

The summer season has arrived, ushered in with warm weather days and endless play for children throughout the country. Many families choose this time of year to hit the open road and enjoy the always needed family vacation. Even though gas prices are high, and budgets are tight, there is still one vacation destination making it easy for families to get away together. The Smoky Mountains, home to both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, provide the perfect way for outdoor fun to combine with family entertainment, creating a one-stop, have-it-all type destination. So fill up the family car, stock your cooler with drinks and snacks and gear up for a vacation full of memories.

Here are 7 ways to save while visiting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg:

1) Use the Trolley System. The Pigeon Forge Trolley system has over 100 stops throughout Pigeon Forge and the Parkway, including Dollywood. It’s a good way to see all of Pigeon Forge’s attractions and sights, without having to pay for gas. The Trolley fare is only 50 cents. Plus, there is a new addition, connecting Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, a convenient connection making both destinations easily accessible.

2) Cut corners by cutting into Pigeon Forge Coupons. Coupons for Pigeon Forge are available, as well as Coupons for Gatlinburg, for restaurants and shopping. A few of the restaurant coupons featured are Hard Rock Café, Great American Buffet, Alamo Steakhouse and Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que. The shopping coupons include discounts at Tanger Outlet, Belz Outlet, The Old Mill and Christmas Place.

3) Discover our Direct Deals page on our websites ReservePigeonForge.com and ReserveGatlinburg.com. There are discount Pigeon Forge tickets and discount Gatlinburg attractions available, including deals on Country Tonite, The Smith’s Show, The Track, Ripley’s Museum, RainForest Adventures and Ober Gatlinburg.

4) Pigeon Forge Vacation Packages and Gatlinburg Vacation Packages are also great ways to save on your family getaway. On ReservePigeonForge.com and ReserveGatlinburg.com there are several discount packages available featuring Country Tonite, WonderWorks, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and Tennessee Shindig.

5) Reserve a Dollywood Package. The 2008 Dollywood Adventure Packages allow guests to conveniently one-stop shop. Families can book their Dollywood Tickets, Splash Country Tickets and lodging all in place and one great price! Only Dollywood and ReserveDirect offer these great Dollywood deals!

6) Explore the Great Smoky Mountains! While in the area, discover the most visited National Park in America, the Great Smoky Mountains. Full of things to do for the whole family, take advantage of the hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic views and wildlife for a truly memorable experience. It’s a free and fun way to enjoy the outdoors and your family.

7) Take advantage of discount Pigeon Forge show tickets for children. Shows like Country Tonite, The Smith’s Show and Black Bear Jamboree are offering deals where children get in free with a paying adult! With prices like that, families can’t afford not to go!

Pigeon Forge Offers Unique Vacation Options for Visitors

This summer, make some Smoky Mountain Memories of your own.

Whether it's checking out Dollywood's new $5 million River Battle or tumbling down the side of a hill (on purpose) at Zorb, Pigeon Forge boasts some of the most unique and varied options for vacationing couples, families and seniors.

"Pigeon Forge has fundamental appeal on multiple levels. It's wonderful for families because of the variety of activities. It's great for people who really love the outdoors because our next door neighbor is the most visited national park in the country. It's fun for couples looking for a getaway because there are places you can hide out," said Tom Adkinson, spokesman for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. "Those three attributes alone, laid on top of the fact that it's accessible and convenient -- only 287 miles from Huntington, W.V. and all interstate highways until you get about 15 minutes from our door."

Most people know about the live entertainment that Pigeon Forge is known for, including more than 70 shows by Lee Greenwood this year and other performers in genres ranging from country to gospel to pop. A varied list of restaurants -- including seafood, steakhouses and hibachis -- grows from year to year. Lodging choices in Pigeon Forge are extraordinary, Adkinson offered, ranging from independent and chain hotels and motels to cabins, chalets and condos that feel private, but still maintain their accessibility to the attractions of the area.

The newest additions to the entertainment scene include family-friendly comedy shows at the Comedy Barn and an elaborate magic and illusion show called "Magic Beyond Belief." A favorite of families is a Biblical production called "The Miracle."

"This is one of the most elaborate shows you'll see anywhere in the country. It's staged in a 1,700 seat theater with a very large cast and 100 animals," Adkinson said. "It's the classic battle of good versus evil and the story of Christ."

A new segment at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede features a charging herd of Texas longhorn steers.

And, speaking of Dolly, Adkinson offered, the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee -- Dollywood -- has been growing and expanding nearly every year.

"This year, they have a new $5 million water adventure ride called 'River Battle,' in which the passengers have access to giant soaker guns they can battle with and pedestrians can get into the act as well," he said. "Last year, they added a $17.5 million roller coaster called 'Mystery Mine' that is one of the best in the country."

One of the most exciting additions to the Smoky Mountains is the New Zealand innovation called "Zorb." More details can be obtained at www.zorb.com/smoky.

"It's a silly Web site, but it's the only way to tell a silly story," Adkinson said. "Imagine a beach ball 11 feet in diameter and suspended inside is a beach ball six feet in diameter. If you climb into the inner ball through the tunnel, they'll push you over the side of the hill."

Never fear, though -- those brave enough to try it are either strapped into a harness called a "Zorbit" or enclosed with five gallons of warm water called a "Zydro." Even Adkinson has his "Zorbonaut" certification.

"It's funny to watch and funnier to do," he explained. "It's the only location in North America. You can't do this anywhere else without flying a long way."

If it's less physical challenges you're seeking and perhaps more mental, take the family to "WonderWorks," billed as "an amusement park for the mind." Featuring more than 150 interactive exhibits contained in 55,000 square feet of space, WonderWorks is easy to spot. It's upside-down.

"The building façade is upside-down and inside are all manner of activities. You can get in a simulator and try to land a space shuttle. You can experience an earthquake and a hurricane. You can ride a 360-degree bicycle that if you pedal fast enough will go completely over the bar," Adkinson explained.

Many Pigeon Forge Web sites recommend getting a free Value Card with discounts on lodging, entertainment, shopping, attractions and restaurants before visiting. Visit www.mypigeonforge.com to secure yours.

"One of the reasons we have 11 million visitors every year is because Pigeon Forge is a place of permanence -- you know you're going to enjoy these mountains, but it's also a place of change because we're evolving every year," Adkinson said.


Information courtesy of The Herald-Dispatch
Image courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

Spring into the Smoky Mountains

Spring is a reason for celebration in the Smoky Mountains. The area is wrapped in nature’s glow, with an abundance of greenery and flowers all around. It’s the perfect time to visit because the weather is nice and the Smoky Mountain shows start their new season of entertaining productions. Springtime in the Smokies is a vacation worth discovering!

The beauty of nature in full bloom inspired the popular Springfest, which is a Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg event showcasing three months of family fun. Some of the events included are: A Mountain Quiltfest, the annual StringTime in the Smokies, The Dolly Parade, The Spring Grand Rod Run, and Dollywood's Festival of Nations. There are plenty of things to do in the Smoky Mountains…all we need is you!

Several new attractions are opening this year. New attractions in Pigeon Forge include the Zorb, a peculiar invention that allows riders to experience thrilling speeds and waterworks in a translucent plastic sphere. This Smoky Mountain attraction will be the first of its kind in the United States. Dollywood is adding the Mystery Mine, a roller coaster whose theme is an abandoned coal mine. The 1,811 foot-track zooms along, plunging passengers through hair-rising drops that lead into the dark recesses of the mine. Dollywood is also opening The Cascades in 2007 at their Splash Country Water Park. The Cascades, an 8,000-sq.-ft. lagoon-style pool, features more than 25 interactive elements, including four slides. New Pigeon Forge shows include magician Terry Evanswood at the Magic Beyond Belief Theater, the Mulan show, Patty Waszak Show, and the Smoky Mountain Opry. Three major additions to the Pigeon Forge entertainment scene will celebrate their first full year of operation in 2007. Wonderworks, an entertainment complex for the mind; Helicopter Whirl’d Adventures, an attraction devoted to aviation; and The Miracle, a production that follows the life of Jesus Christ.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is an outdoor paradise that is perfect for a spring vacation. There are numerous outdoor activities in Gatlinburg that make for an excellent getaway. White water rafting is a popular sport in the Smokies because the Pigeon River has some of the best white water rapids around. Camping in Gatlinburg is also a favorite activity for visitors. Since Gatlinburg is the gateway to the Smokies, it’s a great location for easy access to the abundant outdoor recreation found in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Gatlinburg festivals also heat up during the spring season. Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings is a festive downtown event featuring over 30 vendors, delicious food, entertainment and fireworks. The 57th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, Monday, April 23 through Sunday, April 29, is another great event, especially for hikers and nature lovers who love to see delicate wildflowers in bloom. This seven day program features over 150 hiking tours, lectures and motor excursions. Other events include Gatlinburg’s Scottish Festival & Games and Gatlinburg’s Fine Arts Festival. Golfing in Gatlinburg is another favorite pastime for visitors because the courses combine the natural beauty of the area with challenging holes fun for all golfers.

Vacationing in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg during the spring season allows visitors to experience great entertainment and the great outdoors in one great location. Make your Smoky Mountain reservations today and discover what you’ve been missing in beautiful Tennessee.