Smoky Mountain Travel Blog

Dolly Parton passed away August 25, 2026, at age 80. For the Smoky Mountains community, we share what she built here and what she meant to this place.

The Annual Great Smoky Mountain Bronco Stampede rolls into LeConte Event Center. Here's everything you need to know before you go — admission, what to expect, and where to stay.

Is The Island in Pigeon Forge free? Yes — admission and parking are always free. Here's your complete guide to rides, restaurants, shopping, hours, and everything to do at The Island.

Everything to know before you visit Dollywood's Splash Country in Pigeon Forge — 16 water rides, ticket options, Neon Nights, and insider tips for beating the heat.

From Dollywood and dinner shows to indoor snow, The Island, and free national park fun — the best family attractions in Pigeon Forge for every age.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are about 7 miles apart — a 15-minute drive via The Spur. Here are the routes, the trolley option, and how the two towns differ.

The best escape rooms in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge — Gatlin's Escape Games, The Great Escape Room, Smoky Mountain Escape Games, and Trapped, with tips for each.

Hand-feed zebras, walk with llamas, touch stingrays, meet penguins, and see black bears — the best animal attractions in the Smoky Mountains for families.

Your guide to the annual Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion in Pigeon Forge — Show & Shine, vendors, the Invade the Cove trail ride, admission, and where to stay.

The best Pigeon Forge attractions for kids — Dollywood, indoor snow tubing, WonderWorks, dinner shows, The Island, and more, with age guidance and tips for each.

The 10 best things to try at The Island in Pigeon Forge — the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, free fountain show, SkyFly, Ole Smoky, laser tag, and more. Free admission and parking.

A complete guide to the Hollywood Wax Museum in Pigeon Forge — interactive celebrity figures, props for photos, three bonus attractions, tickets, and visitor tips.

A guide to Dollywood's best roller coasters — NightFlight Expedition, Wild Eagle, Lightning Rod, Thunderhead, and Big Bear Mountain, with speeds, heights, and strategy.

A complete guide to WonderWorks Pigeon Forge — 100+ hands-on exhibits, the glow-in-the-dark ropes course, laser tag, 4D theater, and VR, plus visitor tips.

Pigeon Forge's first indoor slide park — 20+ slides, air-court dodgeball, a toddler soft-play zone, and all-weather family fun. Hours, ages, and visitor tips.

The best indoor mini golf in Pigeon Forge — Sky Pirates, Crave Golf Club, MagiQuest black-light golf, and LazerPort's neon course. Perfect for rainy days.

Six unusual museums in the Smokies — the world's only Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum, Ripley's, Hollywood Star Cars, Alcatraz East Crime Museum, and more.

A guide to Pigeon Forge car shows — the Spring and Fall Rod Runs, Corvette Expo, Jeep Invasion, Bronco Stampede, and more, with timing and spectator tips.

Two snow tubing options in the Smokies — Ober Gatlinburg's outdoor mountaintop hill (seasonal) and Pigeon Forge Snow's year-round indoor facility. Hours, pricing, age requirements, and tips.

NightFlight Expedition at Dollywood, America's first racing mountain coaster, Slick City's indoor slides, Scooby-Doo mini-golf, and more — here's everything new in Pigeon Forge for 2026.