Navigating the place in Pigeon Forge where the Christmas spirit is in full swing all year long
In the heart of Pigeon Forge is an unlikely complex – split in half by the parkway – in which the spirit of Christmas is alive and well all year long. The Incredible Christmas Place shops as well as the Inn at Christmas Place offers a taste of life at the North Pole every day of the year right the middle of the Tennessee Mountains.
What is the Christmas Place? Well, on one side of the road it’s a series of Christmas and holiday themed shops where you can buy seasonal items, apparel, décor and much more. Sought after brands include Boyds Bears, Christopher Radko and Department 56 among many, many more. There are themed sections like nostalgic santas, elegant angels and whimsical elves as well as a Candy Kitchen and more.
Five things not do to do at the Christmas Place
1. Be a scrooge
Look, off the jump we know The Incredible Christmas Place and the Inn at Christmas Place aren’t going to be for everyone. Some people – for a variety of reasons – aren’t into the holiday itself or all the cultural trappings that come with it. Some people like Christmas but prefer it tightly kept in the post-Thanksgiving season. All of those feelings are perfectly valid, but if you’re the sort to bristle at buoyant holiday music, décor and more, than maybe just acknowledge the Christmas Places isn’t going to be for you.
You might think you can power through for the good of the family, but maybe just bop over next door to Puckett’s where you can order from the excellent food and bar menu and maybe enjoy some live music that doesn’t involve jingle bells or rocking around Christmas trees.
2. Skip the Inn
If you want the full Christmas Place experience, don’t forget the Inn – which is located across the parkway from the shops. A surprisingly elegant, impeccable themed hotel, the Inn at Christmas Place is one of the better hotel experiences in Pigeon Forge.
In addition to gorgeous, comfortable rooms – jacuzzi optional – the pools are amazing the courtyard with a pretty pond and lush greenery is quite peaceful for being so close to the Parkway. Also, Singing Santa will perform several nights a week, playing guitar and singing carols. After the performance? Milk and cookies!
Of course, all of those amenities do come with a price – though not as bad as you might think. I randomly priced a basic room for the middle of August and got a price of $215 a night, which is slightly on the higher side in Pigeon Forge, but not that bad if you price other vacation destinations.
3. Forget to visit with Santa
What is a celebration of Christmas without a visit with the Jolly Old Elf himself? We already told you about the Singing Santa at the end, but the Santa Haus in the shops also allows fans of St. Nick to meet and greet as well.
4. Forget to get out of the North Pole
It turns out man cannot live by Christmas alone. While the Inn serves breakfast for its guests and both the shops sell a variety of snacks, there isn’t a lot in terms of full dining at either Christmas place. Luckily, there’s plenty to do right in the neighborhood. We’ve already mentioned Puckett’s, which is one of the more underrated dining locations in the region but there are also several chain restaurants as well as the Local Goat nearby.
If you’re staying at the Inn, you also have access to Teaster Lane, the road that runs parallel to the Parkway and allows you to get around Pigeon Forge without getting caught in Parkway traffic.
5. Forget to let it snow
What’s Christmas without a little snow? Pigeon Forge Snow – located on Teaster Lane – is only a couple of minutes’ drive from the Inn and offers indoor snow sledding as well as a slushy snow area. There are no cross promotion offers available that I’m aware of, but it seems like Pigeon Forge Snow offering a small discount to Christmas Inn guests would be a no-brainer. I mean, it seems like a natural tie-in to me.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comments!