A day trip to the Smokey Mountains was just what our family needed to boost our holiday spirits. There is just nothing like Christmas in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg with the family. So we packed up the SUV and headed out for a fun filled day full of Christmas cheer.
I wanted to share with you guys some of our fun activities we did that are toddler friendly and a few that we are going back to do before the holidays are over.
First, here are some tips to make your day easier. It is the busiest time of year in this area. Be prepared and set your expectations accordingly. 1. Bring Snacks: If you have toddlers this seems like a no brainer, but seriously, pack enough because wait times are long wherever you go and this could be the difference between a tantrum or good tidings of comfort and joy. Real life, a small bag of popcorn kept Eli from completely losing it while waiting for our table at the restaurant last weekend. Crisis averted.
2. Patience: Once again, lines are long and even the best planning can sometimes not prepare you for the wait with littles. Give them and the employees at your favorite stores grace. Stores and restaurants are still a little understaffed, so be prepared and have back up plans. Also, make friends and spread holiday cheer while in line. This seriously made the wait at Build A Bear so much better with the boys once we made some new friends and could laugh at the craziness.
3. Buy Tickets Ahead of Time: We are getting more and more used to this because of Covid, but a lot of places I was used to being able to just walk up and buy tickets in the past now only let you buy tickets online in advance. Lesson learned and why we are going back to catch a dinner show with the boys.
Now, let’s get to the fun part of activities to do with your family.
The Island At Pigeon Forge
I was so glad our cousin, Alivia, recommended this. The boys loved the Christmas themed water show with the huge LED Christmas trees that happens every hour starting at 6 P.M.. There were also fun rides, the huge Ferris Wheel, candy stores, ice cream, and Build A Bear. There was so much to do here in one spot with free parking. One thing I will let you know, I personally thought the wait at Build A Bear made it overrated. If I hadn’t already promised Cooper he could build a dinosaur, we would not have waited in that long line.
There are also several eating options here, and surprisingly the wait times were not terrible to be seated. We ended up eating here since I did not realize how hard it would be to get into a dinner show the day of. Lesson learned, but not the hard way. With the variety of options for food, your going to eat good here. I almost forgot, they also have live music during the holidays at various times through out the day. This was also a hit with the boys.
Pigeon Forge Snow
This indoor snow park and snow tubing center allows you to play in the snow anytime during the year. Reasonably priced, it is a short hop over from The Island and gives your family the experience of a White Christmas even here in the south. They currently do not require you to make reservations ahead of time, but make sure to check their website before you go in case anything changes.
Dollywood
We did not go to Dollywood during our day trip last weekend, but I wanted to add it here to the list because it is so much fun for the whole family. We love Dollywood, and the lights at Christmas are spectacular. This experience, though, will take up the majority of the whole day to do everything the park has to offer. They currently have their extended hours for Winterfest going on and do require park reservations. Buy those tickets and make those reservations early if you plan to visit!
Downtown Gatlinburg
I love downtown Gatlinburg at Christmas! With so many lights, Christmas trees, and adorable snowmen lining the streets with open shops, it just screams Christmas. You have to take your kids to one of the many candy shops and let them watch as the candy makers work their magic. I think that and getting to pick out their own treat in the store was one of their favorite things we did. We also really enjoyed the lights and trees around the Ripley’s aquarium. If you need to take an adult minute to yourself, there are also several stops to sample wine and moonshine.
Ripley’s Aquarium
We did not go to the aquarium on this day trip, but it is on our list for our next visit. They have extended hours and Christmas specials during this time of year that we cannot wait to check out.
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
We love Christmas lights, and Shadrack NEVER disappoints! This drive through light show will leave your toddlers and Christmas light crazed husband amazed. We seriously could have just kept driving through over and over again. They also have Santa’s village at the end that includes seeing Santa himself, a petting zoo, and concessions.
These are just a few of our favorites during this time of year. What are your’s while you are visiting the area??