things to do in gatlinburg, pigeon forge, sevierville tn (2024)

Visit park HQ. Do the driving tour of Cades Cove. You can spend almost the entire day there. Pack a lunch.

Read H. Kephart's "Our Southern Highlanders" before you go.

Trout fishing in the park if the TN out of state license isn't too expensive now. They charge extra to fish the river in the city limits of G'burg. If you fish in the park, either NC or TN license is good and I don't think you need a trout stamp. If you decide to do this, ask around over on the fly fishing forum.

All of this is a bit dated, so check out what I say. Haven't been there in a decade. Been going to the Boone / Blowing Rock area recently to fish and get a break from the FL heat and humidity.

If you're into cars, Floyd Garretts Muscle car museum is pretty cool. Its in Sevierville.

http://musclecarmuseum.com/

After years upon years of going to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, if you want to save money, don't go to the of the 'big attraction' type restaurants.....unless you just want to say you went. The food is good, but not the best. For the money, it's hard to beat the good ole Golden Corral breakfast bar. I've eaten at nearly every restaurant up there at least once. For the most part, I wouldn't eat at a lot of them again. Way too much money for just 'OK' food.

Things to do and 'cheap' barely go in the same sentence when it comes to Pigeon Forge. I found that just going out and riding the country side is just as much fun as anything else to do up there. The aquarium (letsemwalk mentioned) in Gatlinburg is nice. The muscle car museum (Mel mentioned) in Sevierville is pretty cool. I do like the leather shops. They have some cool things to offer for a decent price.

Do the driving tour of Cades Cove. You can spend almost the entire day there. Pack a lunch.

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an absolute MUST!!!! and it's FREE!!! ummm, well execpt for gas anyhow. take a camera!

and you asked about tubing? follow signs from redlight number three(i'm pretty sure it #3) to cades coves-townsend. all the lights are numbered, so it isnt hard to figure out which is which. if you are coming from the park, it will be a left hand turn. there is an older bp gas station at this light. follow road till it dead ends. take a left. you will see signs for tubing all through there.

if you pass all the tubing places, and go two miles down that road, you will be at cades cove.

when you leave cades cove, stay to the right. that way is a very beautiful drive. when you reach the end of that road, you will be right back in the ntl park on 441. the same way you went into gatlinburg from cherrokee.

and i have to agree with bassquatch, the attraction dinners are worthless. 35-50 bucks for each of them for the same quality of food as your normal inexpensive buffet restaraunt.

breakfast at the apple barn rest. is amazing though. but be prepared to get up EARLY and wait! there is always a 1-2 hour wait.

and the aquarium is great! beats the heck out the GA aquarium! it's about $17 per person and well worth it!

AR_hillbilly said:

Is Cades Cove the circle drive about 15 - 20 miles long, where you see LOTS of deers and turkeys and such?

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Yep that sounds like it.