A local shares what he thinks a perfect day would look like in Pigeon Forge
On a getaway and you have only a single day in Pigeon Forge? The easy answer is to say the Dollywood theme park and we’d all go home. But we will assume for this blog that Dollywood is out, and we have all of the rest of Pigeon Forge proper to consider:
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8 am: Breakfast at the Lil Black Bear Café
Located at 3068 Veterans Blvd, the Lil Black Bear is a tiny, little-known café with a small but excellent menu. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s all good and authentic. There are golden pancakes, french toast, eggs with meat and cheese with a toast omelet. There are dozens of places to get a good breakfast in Pigeon Forge, but the Lil Black Bear Café stands out for being mom-and-pop owned and operated.
The one caveat is that if I’m with my kids, we might go to Frizzle’s instead. There’s nothing like animatronic, singing chickens serenading you at breakfast. What to do with the rest of the morning now that we’re fed? Many would recommend The Island for a little souvenir shopping and maybe a ride on the Ferris wheel. But not yet friends. We’ve just had a good breakfast filled with carbs, grease and regret. What are we to do? Mini golf, go karts and mountain coasters are on the agenda.
9 am: Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay
Sky Pirates is an epic golf adventure located at 2420 Parkway. This bi-level mini golf course offers Under the Sea mermaids on the first floor and Cloud Sky Pirates on the roof. While many Pigeon Forge mini-golf courses have seen better days, this one is new and fun. Is it too early for a little mini golf? Never! You can also go the Ripley’s route and get a discount on combo passes when you bundle.
10:30 am: Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark
Rowdy Bear’s, located at 2155 Parkway, is where we can choose from snow tubing, summer outdoor tubing and one of two mountain coasters. We’ve given our breakfast time to settle and now? We feel the need for speed. So now it’s 11:45 am. Can we get a quick go-kart race in before lunch? Nope. Time to refuel.
Noon: Lunch at Puckett’s Restaurant
Puckett’s, located at 2480 Parkway, is one of the underappreciated dining spots in the Forge for lunch. Serving a classic, Southern-style meat and three lunches, Puckett’s is a modern version of a throwback style Southern restaurant, the kind you’d find in downtowns from Memphis to Bristol and beyond. Having gone heavy at breakfast and anticipating a big dinner, we might go easy here. The Fried Bologna sandwich is a classic as well as the BLT.
1 pm: Xtreme Go-Kart Racing
Having refueled, we finish our morning adventures with a little go-karting. Xtreme Go-Kart Racing of Pigeon Forge is the destination. Located at 3144 Parkway, Xtreme boasts fast cars and fun tracks. If I have the kids, I’m probably toning it down and looking at The Track – located at 2575 Parkway – which offers a more kid-friendly variety.
Wait? Are you telling me the mini golfing, go-kart racing and mountain coastering recommendations were for adults? Yeah. We do not live by shopping and shows alone. What’s wrong with a little fun?
2 pm: Goats on the Roof
Located at 1341 Wears Valley Road, this is the one with the actual Goats on the Roof – and it is our first shopping destination. What is a trip to Pigeon Forge without surveying the latest in bric-a-brac and other tourist-friendly gewgaws. You’ve got to have a souvenir.
3:30 pm: Shop at the Mountain Mile
There are a handful of outlets remaining in this area. It used to be the premier outlet destination – but there is also a variety of non-outlet shops. Mountain Mile is located at 2655 Teaster Lane.
5 pm: Moonshine tasting at Ole Smoky on The Island
We’re trying a variety of spirits at Ole Smoky. Located at 131 The Island Dr, this is probably the premier distillery company in the mountains. We ate breakfast and lunch fairly early, so we were waiting a bit for dinner. If you want a snack, the Island has some quick snack options.
6:30 pm: Ride the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel at the Island
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel is also located at The Island. Having tried a variety of spirits at Ole Smoky, we’re riding 200 feet in the air to get a scenic view of the strip and the mountains beyond. It’s a good time to relax and reflect on the day so far.
8:30 pm: Late dinner at Local Goat
Located at 2167 Parkway, the Local Goat is arguably the best and/or most popular restaurant in the Forge. It offers a creative menu of all-American restaurant fare. It’s not fancy, but it’s very, very good At the Goat, we’re gonna start with Deep Fried Deviled Eggs and some Beer Cheese Fondue. Our entrée? Wicked Shrimp Pasta or the Hawaiian Ribeye. But I wouldn’t say no to the Bison Meatloaf. Wash it all down with a couple of Bloody Mary’s and it’s time to head back to the hotel.
What? No night cap? Well, I am of a certain age and a large meal and a couple of heavy drinks will probably have me calling it a night. However, we did go by the distillery tomorrow so we might knock one or two back on the balcony. But remember we only have one day. Somebody’s got to drive home tomorrow.
What if we have the kids with us? Don’t let them have the moonshine. But you might consider one of the many dinner theaters. My kids enjoy the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show – located at 2713 Parkway – is my kids’ favorite.
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