Pigeon Forge is probably one of the most the visited places in Tennessee. It’s no surprise as it is located at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It’s because of this, that Pigeon Forge has an endless amount of entertainment for all to enjoy.

After leaving New England to head towards Texas we stopped in Kodak, TN, just 15 minutes from Pigeon Forge. We knew that Pigeon Forge was a popular destination, yet we still didn’t know what to do. We knew that we didn’t want to explore the Smokies. We have plans to visit the national park in 2025.  

Titanic Museum

As a full-time traveling family, we still have daily lives to live regarding work and home school, so we needed activities we could do in the afternoon. One of the things we did was visit the Titanic Museum. Jaxon, our son, has been reading books on the Titanic. He loves to learn as much as he can about the infamous ship and it’ s unfortunate demise. So, what better way to learn more, than visiting one of the largest Titanic museums in the country?

I am so happy we stumbled upon the museum because it was breathtaking. The museum is a two- story, half- scale replica of the original Titanic. It features over 400 artifacts from the ship including personal belongings from passengers and crew members. 

As you walk through the museum, you’re able to experience what life was like on the different levels of the Titanic. We walked through a replica of a third-class hallway and saw a mockup of a third-class cabin. You then get to experience the hallways and cabins of the first class. This included a mockup of the millionaire suite, which there were only two of on board. 

What makes the museum extra special, was getting a boarding pass with the name of a real passenger before you enter. At the end of the museum, you find out if your passenger survived or not. Because you are aware of who your passenger is and what class they were in, you can get a better feel for how life on the Titanic was like for them. In some instances, you’ll see stories about your passenger in other parts of the museum. Sometimes in reference to some of the artifacts.

One of the main features of the Titanic Museum is the replica of the grand staircase. You know, the staircase we saw Rose walking down to meet Jack in the movie?. It is about two-thirds the size of the actual staircase, but it feels just as “grand” as I would imagine the real one would have. It even included the beautiful glass dome on top. As you walk up the staircase and to the first class level, you can immerse yourself in the experience.

In addition to the grand staircase, our favorite feature was feeling the 26-degree water that the passengers were plummeted into on that dreadful night. You think you know how cold 26- degrees would feel like, but until you touch it, you have no idea. It really resonated with all of us. It was somber to say the least but a very powerful experience 

The museum was $40/ adult and $15/child and children under 4 were free. Tickets should be bought in advance especially during the busy months. They do sell out according to their website. Being that it was November, I checked the website the day before but didn’t buy the tickets until we got there. They are open 9am to 8pm, pretty much daily. Be sure to check their calendar as times do change and they do have special events. 

Ripley’s Old MacDonald Farm Mini Golf

The second day we were there we decided to do mini golf after getting done with work and home school. We went to Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf in Sevierville, TN. We love mini golf and if you watch our YouTube channel you already know. 

Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf was 3 courses for a total of 54 holes. We played all three courses, and they were all equally as much fun and challenging. Thanks to the 18^th hole on all three courses, we won a free round on the first two we played.  The cost was $18/ adult and $13/child (not including the free rounds). 

The mini golf courses are located inside the Tanger Outlets in Sevierville. It’s perfect for the families that want to shop and have some fun in between. There are also restaurants within the outlets and all around. Making it a good spot for a nice after dinner or before dinner activity. 

For us, it was a before dinner activity. After playing all 54 holes, we went to the Local Goat restaurant. It was suggested by a local to the area and it turned out to be a great suggestion. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was great. There was a 45-minute wait, on a Friday in November. I can only imagine what it would be like on a weekend in the summer. It was worth the 45- minute wait and knowing what we know now, I would wait longer if I had to. 

Jasmin and I each got a burger. Mine was a TN Whiskey Glazed Burger and hers was the Farmhouse burger. They were both cooked perfectly and the homemade shoestring fries were a perfect complement. We both usually avoid burgers as they can be very hit or miss but we thought these were a hit.

Parking was the only negative to the restaurant. Firstly, we drive a ¾ ton truck and the aisles were narrow as were the spaces. The parking lot was full when we arrived but after being patient, I was able to find a spot. People drove in circles quite a few times. Some even made their own parking spaces on the grass. Just prepare yourself for that if you do visit. 

Next Time

The next time we are in Pigeon Forge, not visiting the Smokies, there are a few things I would like to do. Skyland Ranch and the Adventure Zip Lines are two things that come to mind for our next visit. The other is Dollywood. It was open in November, but admission prices were hefty. Since we weren’t going to spend the whole day there, I couldn’t justify the cost for not being able to take full advantage. If you can spend the day, Dollywood should be on your itinerary, from what I hear. 

Conclusion

There is a ton of things to do in Pigeon Forge beyond what I’ve mentioned in this post. If you’re doing research, first, thanks for coming to our site and second, I highly suggest checking other blogs and websites. We were only there for 3 days so we couldn’t do it all. The other thing to consider when visiting Pigeon Forge is it’s a tourist area. Prices for things are steep, making it easy to rack up a hefty credit card bill by the end of your vacation. However, the cost of memories is always priceless right?

Thank you again for giving this post a read. If you liked it, please feel free to give it a thumbs up below and comment as well. You can also watch our YouTube video below on our short time in Pigeon Forge. 

God bless and stay safe!