theme parkMinutes away
Dollywood
The region's beloved theme park — coasters, craft shows, and a full family day, minutes from the door.
Details & hours ↗
Things To Do
Things to Do in Pigeon Forge & the Smokies
Pigeon Forge is where a theme-park morning and a mountain-trail afternoon fit in the same day. Our two Smoky Mountain homes — Pigeon Hills and Waters Edge Lodge — put the Parkway, Dollywood, and 800 miles of national-park trail within minutes. Here is how families work the map.
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The Lay of the Land
The Great Smoky Mountains — 6 handpicked things to do, all within easy reach of Pigeon Hills and Waters Edge Lodge.
The Shortlist
What to Do Around Pigeon Forge
hiking800+ miles of trails
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
800+ miles of trail — waterfalls, overlooks, and black-bear country — starting minutes away.
Details & hours ↗raftingJust beyond the doorstep
Pigeon River whitewater rafting & kayaking
Guided whitewater on the Pigeon River, from splashy family sections to real rapids.
Details & hours ↗
family attractionDowntown Gatlinburg
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
A rainy-day favorite in Gatlinburg — the shark tunnel is the whole trip for the little ones.
Details & hours ↗
entertainment stripBlocks from the door
Pigeon Forge Parkway (go-karts, mini golf, laser tag)
The neon strip of go-karts, mini golf, and laser tag, blocks from the cabin.
Details & hours ↗
hikingOn-resort
Cedar Falls Resort walking/nature trails
Waters Edge Lodge sits inside Cedar Falls Resort — wooded walking trails right outside the door.
Details & hours ↗Right at the Home
You Don't Even Have to Leave
Our Pigeon Forge homes come loaded — half the itinerary is on-site.
Private theater roomWaters Edge Lodge's private theater room — the mountain movie night that ends every day.
Game loungePool, arcade, and a place to keep the kids going after the marshmallows.
Infrared saunaThe reset after a day of miles — infrared warmth in the quiet of the mountain.
Jacuzzi/hot tubA hot tub with the ridgeline in view undoes the day's trails.
Fire pitS'mores and cool mountain air as the dark closes in around the cabin.
Plan It in 3 Days
Your Pigeon Forge Itinerary — Your Way
Four mood-built plans — Fun, Thrilling, Relaxed, and Nature — each a perfect three days of real, nearby things to do. Download the Fun sample now; the full pack lands in your inbox the day you book.
Fun
Coasters, go-karts, sharks, and a theater room to land the day.
Download the free sample ↓Free 3-day sampleThrilling
Whitewater, coasters, and go-karts wide open.
In the booking packRelaxed
Deck coffee, an aquarium stroll, and a fire that ends every night.
In the booking packNature
800 miles of trail, waterfalls, and quiet resort woods.
In the booking packThe full itinerary pack is a booking bonus.Reserve any Travel DRD home and we'll email you all 4 Pigeon Forge itineraries — beautifully laid out, ready to print, built from the same local knowledge on this page.
Book a Home & Get the Pack →
Read Before You Go
Pigeon Forge Travel Guides
Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains: A Family Guide That Admits the Trade-offs
Two things share one road here: the most-visited national park in America, and a strip of go-karts. Here's how to get both without hating either.
Read the GuideDollywood With Kids: How to Plan a Day That Nobody Melts Down On
How families actually structure a Dollywood day from a Pigeon Forge cabin — arrival timing, age-by-area planning, and heat and crowd realities.
Read the GuideWhere to Stay
Our Pigeon Forge Homes
Cedar Falls Resort, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Waters Edge Lodge
Luxury Escape in the Smoky Mountains
Good to Know
Frequently Asked
What is there to do in Pigeon Forge?
Pigeon Forge is where a theme-park morning and a mountain-trail afternoon fit in the same day. Highlights include Dollywood, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon River whitewater rafting & kayaking, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, and more — all detailed on this page with distances and links.
Is Pigeon Forge good for families?
Yes. Pigeon Hills sleeps 10 and the area mixes easy beach or park days with backyard amenities, so every age has something. Our free three-day itineraries are built specifically for family trips.
Do you have a Pigeon Forge itinerary we can follow?
We do — four mood-based three-day itineraries (Fun, Thrilling, Relaxed, and Nature). The Fun plan is a free download on this page, and the full pack is emailed free when you book any Travel DRD home.
Where should we stay to be close to all of this?
Pigeon Hills and Waters Edge Lodge sit right in the middle of it — see the full Pigeon Forge & the Smokies destination guide for the map.
Only 5 Exclusive Properties
Ready to Plan Your Pigeon Forge Trip?
Book a home from our collection and we'll send the full Pigeon Forge itinerary pack — free.