If beach vacations aren’t really your style, I have a perfect mountain destination that you have to visit. Pigeon Forge Tennessee is located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains and there is so much to do in this quaint little town. When I visited Pigeon Forge in the summer of 2018, I went with three other families which made for a lot of fun but also raised the question of where we would all stay. Luckily, we found a beautiful three story cabin that we rented and lived in comfortably for the week. Because the cabin was built on hilly terrain, we were able to get the most spectacular views of the mountains that were only a few miles away. Waking up to those beautiful sunrises was a dream and just living in a huge log cabin was a crazy experience that I’ve never had before and I was ready to have fun right from the get go.
With this being my first trip to the mountains, I was excited to go on a hike with my family and see the beautiful hidden waterfalls that were a staple in the Smokies. We began with an easy mile and a half hike to a waterfall. With a mild incline throughout, the hike was perfect for my young cousins and even my grandparents. The view at the end was totally worth it and the waterfall was breathtaking. Any hike that you take in the smokies no matter how long, will have the best views around.
Another activity that you have to try is zip lining through the Smoky Mountains. This once in a lifetime experience is a great way to see the beauty that the Smokies have to offer. The company I went with was called Smoky Mountain Ziplines and I could not recommend them enough. They were so great with calming any nerves we had and made it so fun while also taking every safety precaution necessary. The canopy tour was a total of seven ziplines and took a total of two hours to complete. There was even one part where we had to repel down to another platform which was so unexpected but so incredibly fun. But what made this experience unforgettable was the views. At the highest point on the tour, you could see miles of stunning mountains and we even saw a pair of eagles! I was basically flying through the air, surrounded by the beauty of the Smoky Mountains that I never even knew could be that stunning. If you go to Pigeon Forge, you have to go ziplining because it’s one of the craziest experiences you will ever have.
This may sound a little strange at first but one of the things that we did in Pigeon Forge was visit an attraction called Goats on the Roof. This place is known for its “Goat Coaster” which is a mile long alpine coaster that takes you through the hills of Tennessee. What makes this coaster unique is that it is basically a one or two person seat that you can control how fast or slow you go. And if you’re like me, you go as fast it can take you with speeds up to 30 mph. The entire ride is so fun and you can even spot real goats on the roof of a barn in which the attraction is named after. Goats on a Roof has many other fun activities that are perfect for people of all ages. Be sure to check it out!
Pigeon Forge was definitely a vacation to remember and I highly recommend it if you are looking for the perfect summer mountain destination east of the Mississippi. There is so much more to do besides the things I mentioned above but whatever you do in Pigeon Forge will guarantee the best memories that will last a lifetime.