We said goodbye to Summer in Pigeon Forge and I must admit that it was bittersweet. After cancelling all of our summer trips in 2020, I knew that summer break 2021 needed to make up for lost times. After so much travel around the US this year, we decided that we wanted to stay close to home but still wanted to end the kids summer vacation with a BANG! That is how we decided to go to Pigeon Forge. In this post, I am giving you all the details of where we chose to spend our time in Pigeon Forge as a young family of five.
This travel content is brought to you in partnership with Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. Thanks to them, my family was able too enjoy a trip to Pigeon Forge on their behalf. Thank you for supporting the brands that support RosalynnDaniels.com.
The good thing about Pigeon Forge is that it is a drivable destination for residents of the Atlanta area. We live north of Atlanta and it only took us about 5 hours to get there, ( that time includes food and bathroom breaks). Also, another thing that we appreciated is the fact that Pigeon Forge is in the same timezone as Atlanta, so there wasn’t too much adjusting we had to do once we got there and when we returned home.
Where to stay in Pigeon Forge
While there are an array of accommodations to stay at in Pigeon Forge, we are so glad that we chose to stay at Margaritaville Island Hotel. It’s located on The Island, which is an family fun oasis located in the heart of Pigeon Forge. Here’s why we loved it so much:
- The service there is impeccable. Everyone was so kind and accommodating, and this really made a big difference on occasions where we may have been a bit overwhelmed with the kiddos.
- Speaking of getting overwhelmed, Margaritaville Island Hotel gives you an option to have a Margarita Maker in your room. Yes, you read that correctly!
- The rooms are spacious and don’t have carpet. I know this may not be a big deal to some, but for a family with little kids, we just don’t know what type of messy situation will arise. Not having carpet, gave us ease of mind.
- The rooms have fireplaces for chilly nights.
- The bathrooms are huge and modern. We love that there was a double shower head in the shower, so we could have a moment to truly relax while washing up.
- They have a spa on site called St. Somewhere Spa, and it was legit magical. I got a salt body scrub that felt so good, I had to make an appointment for Harvey to get pampered as well.
- Margaritaville Island Hotel has a jazzy rooftop pool that offers a full service bar, food, and options to rent a cabana.
- Because the hotel is located on The Island, you literally have activities and additional food options right outside the door.
This was our first time staying at a Margaritaville property, and I have to say that they exceeded our expectations. So much so, that I booked another stay for the upcoming holiday season!
Where to eat in Pigeon Forge for a family of Five
I know that you guys really came here to learn about the food options in Pigeon Forge, so I’m here to let you know that they were plentiful! I was actually surprised to see so many of our everyday favorite spots located right in Pigeon Forge. So, if you’re worried about not having a dining option that you would love, there truly is no need to worry because they have whatever you are looking for! The funny thing is that we ate local the whole time, which allowed us to feel the spirit of this beautiful city so much more! Here are our top picks:
- Margaritaville – Since we were staying at Margaritaville Island Hotel, it was a no brainer to eat at the Margaritaville restaurant that was literally across the street from the hotel. They had new American cuisine that provided a dish for the every pallet in our family. Of course they had excellent margaritas and I appreciated the fact that they had virtual games for the kids to play at the tables.
- Pucketts Grocery & Restaurant – We went to Pucketts on our first night because they had a lot of barbecue on the menu, so we definitely wanted to give them a try. When we got there, we were pleasantly surprised to hear live music playing near the bar. This restaurant had ample room for our whole family, and the food came out fresh and fast! My favorite item was the meatloaf because it taste like they smoked it on the grill.
- Huck Finn’s Catfish – I’m not gonna lie you guys, I think I might’ve had the best fried chicken I’ve ever had at this restaurant. They give you an option to order All-you-can-eat fried catfish and fried chicken, but they also have a full menu to choose from as well.
What to do in Pigeon Forge with a larger family?
I’m here to let you know that the sky is the limit when it comes to activities in Pigeon Forge. Since our hotel was located on The Island, we had an array of rides and shops to choose from without leaving the property. However, if you want to explore even more, then brace yourself because there are hundreds of activities to choose from. Here are our favorites:
- The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel – When it came to the big wheel, it was the perfect way to end our trip. We were able to ride a VIP style and enjoy the view of the city that offered us so much for our last vacation of the summer.
- Rocky Top Mountain Coaster – I think it was unanimous amongst the family that the coaster was our favorite activity during the whole trip. It was great because all of us could experience it, (except for Hollister of course). Harvey and I were able to switch off with the kids and sit with both of them on the coaster so that everyone could enjoy. The best part about the coaster is that you can control the speed of it, so if you have a youngster like our three year old Ivey, then you can slow down. But of course Ivey and Harper was not having that, they wanted to go to the fastest speed possible!
- The Track Family Fun Park – This place was almost like being at your favorite carnival. They had rides for both adults and young children, which made it ideal for our young family of five.
Overall we had an amazing time visiting Pigeon Forge. It was easy going, fun, and convenient to get to. If you would like to learn more about Piegon Forge, please visit https://www.mypigeonforge.com
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