10 Great Places to Visit In Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee

FIRST FLIGHT OUT

When I hear someone mention Tennessee, the first thing that comes to mind is Nashville and its famous barbecue. However, we weren’t heading to Nashville this time. It’s actually on my list of places I want to visit. My husband and I celebrated our birthdays in February, and we planned a couple’s getaway with friends for Valentine’s weekend. I have taken a few road trips out of state without any issues related to COVID-19 regulations. Throughout this time, I have prioritized safety by practicing social distancing, wearing my mask faithfully, and sanitizing regularly.

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This would be the first time since I prefer to say “C” that I would be entering an airport to board a plane. I took my second test this year, and the results came back negative. We had to submit our results before going. This was a requirement for the hotel and events we were attending.

When we arrived at the airport, it seemed like everyone had the same idea as we did. I’m taking the weekend off for the President’s Day holiday. I was surprised to find the airport crowded. There were even flights that had a list for people on standby. The airport was extremely strict about you wearing your masks, and there were sanitizing stations everywhere.

We had to take two short flights, each lasting a little over an hour, from New Jersey to Tennessee. We landed in Knoxville and rented a car to drive out to Pigeon Forge. I usually get nervous when driving in unfamiliar states, but this drive was surprisingly smooth. 

Knoxville Tennesse Attractions

Knoxville, Tennessee, offers a variety of fun activities to enjoy while you are in town. There are many budget places to visit if you want to save and see some sights. Here’s a list of some incredible adventures to add to your list:

Ijams Nature Center is located at 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920/(865) 577-4717. Admission is FREE! If you love nature and hiking, this is a place for you. With 300 acres and 10 miles of trails, an educational center, biking, and paddling, you will have a day full of activities. 

Knoxville Museum of Art 1050 World’s Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916/ (865) 525-6101 Admission is FREE! The museum is closed on major holidays; please check their website for details before visiting. This is a wonderful visit to see beautiful paintings, sculptures, and the largest steel and glass exhibits.

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum 2743 Wimpole Ave #B, Knoxville, TN 37914/ (865) 862-8717 

 

Admission is FREE! I love visiting botanical gardens, and I always check to see if there’s one to explore whenever I travel. This 47-acre garden features walking trails, stone walls, and buildings that create perfect settings for beautiful photos of the latest flowers in bloom. For more information, you can also visit the website. The garden is open year-round.

 

For more great places to explore, visit Knoxville, Tennessee!

PIGEON FORGE TENNESSEE

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at 308 Henderson Chapel Road, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863. The room was clean and had a nice towel decoration on the bed. Breakfast is served daily, offering a variety of options to choose from.

My only complaint is that the bathroom lighting in our room was very dull. I could have used a magnifying mirror with light for someone who wears contacts. The customer service was excellent, from check-in to check-out. There were pamphlets of great places to visit in the area. Our hotel was conveniently located in the heart of all the attractions.

EAT

We were hungry, so we Googled food near us to eat. There are many options within walking distance for food, and it was hard to decide each day. Pigeon Forge is a long strip with attractions within walking distance of each other.

Just some of the food we ate while there: Smokey Mountain Burritos Mexican Grill, Texas Roadhouse, Bullfish Grill, and Corky’s Ribs and Barbeque. There are many places to choose from, including pancakes, Mexican, BBQ, ice cream, and candy shops. There is something for everyone. Just writing about this makes me want to revisit those candy shops.

We didn’t have time to visit any attractions during our visit because we had prior commitments scheduled. My husband and I decided to take a road trip with the kids to spend quality time together. I would recommend staying for at least a three-day weekend to enjoy all the fun activities. I recommend visiting the Smoky Mountain Navigator site to get discounts on food and attractions.

If you love miniature golf, arcades, wax museums, go-carts, aquariums, food, and fun rides. You will have a great time. Plenty of attractions, from the Hollywood Wax Museum, Castle of Chaos, Dollywood, Titanic Museum Attraction, The Island of Pigeon Forge, and Alcatraz East Crime Museum, will keep you busy. These are to name a few!

 

GATLINBURG TENNESSEE

The weather was cold and rainy. I wish the visibility were better, but the fog overpowered the day. We still headed out. I can only imagine the beautiful views on a clear day before I get to our day. I first want to say that we were terrified driving through the mountains in Gatlinburg.

There were barely any rails, and the fog was heavy. If you aren’t careful, you can drive off the cliff. This is a warning to be extremely careful and drive the speed limit.

Please visit the following site of Dangerous Photo Spots in the Smoky Mountains: https://www.mysmokymountainpark.com/.amp/photos/bad-selfies

After driving through the mountains and bad weather, we didn’t make it to the Gatlinburg Skybridge. The fog was coming in heavy, and I was too scared to drive through the mountains in the dark. We decided only to visit Anakeesta Adventure Park. Leaving out early in the morning is best. I suggest visiting Gatlinburg and Anakeesta during clear weather conditions. The parking lots were full, so we drove to three different ones before finding one.

Ensure you have your license plate number (we had a rental). Most parking meters will require it. Parking was $15 all day. Purchasing theme park tickets online is the best way to avoid lines. 

I am not afraid of heights, but something about going on a ski lift makes me nervous. The line moved quickly because we had purchased our tickets online. Again, the best time to visit is in clear skies. Anakeesta offers a wide range of activities for all ages, including ziplining, the treetop sky bridge, the rail runner mountain coaster, the treehouse village, the Anavista Tower, and many more. There are beautiful outdoor and indoor eateries. But with a view like this overlooking the Smoky Mountains, you will want to eat outdoors.

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, are great destinations to visit all year round, offering fun for people of all ages. There is also an RV campground for trailers for people taking road trips. We enjoyed our visit and will definitely return to explore all the great sites.

 

THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS HISTORY

The Smoky Mountains are not only known for their hiking trails that overlook Tennessee, but also for their fishing spots. There is a history with the Cherokee and other Native Americans who once inhabited the area. The Native American tribes who lived here had their own alphabet and political system. In the 1830s, the United States forcibly relocated them from the area, and many of them subsequently moved to Oklahoma. 

Africans were brought to the region as enslaved people. No one wants to tell the history, but it’s my duty as an African American woman who was not allowed to walk freely in this area. White settlers began bringing enslaved people into the Smokies region around 1790. This data is from slave schedules, which list people as property by the U.S. Census Bureau.

There are cemeteries in the current-day park, including five African American cemeteries like Enloe, a family of slave owners that dates back 200 years. Africans were forced to work, tend to farms and mills, fish, log forests, do masonry work, and make moonshine. When slavery ended, the Smokies were a racist area. Black workers were not welcome to eat or sleep in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.