The Best Family Activities in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge -

If you’ve not made the trip to Gatlinburg and/or Pigeon Forge yet, you are missing out! The area is beautiful and there are plenty of fun family activities! This is a great area to visit with the entire family, even on multi-generational trips, because the area has so much to offer!

Check out some of our favorite family activities below!!

Here are The Best Family Activities in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Top Jump

Top Jump is a unique family-friendly trampoline park. There are several different areas that offer something fun for everyone. Prices are as follows:

For those 42 inches and taller

$24.99 (+ tax) for two hours of fun
$15.99 (+ tax) for one hour of fun

For the little ones under 42 inches

$16.99 (+ tax) for two hours of fun in the KidZone
$9.99 (+ tax) for one hour of fun in the KidZone

The general trampoline is great for anyone of any age. This is a great stop if you are looking for a fun time to wear the kiddos out before bed!

Big kids and adults

In addition to the trampoline area, there is a specific area for toddlers and young preschoolers so they are safe from bigger kids jumping!

Anakeesta

If you are looking for some fantastic family fun, don’t miss Anakeesta! Anakeesta is a mountain-top adventure park that offers something for everyone!

Prices:

Adults (age 12-59): $32.99 +tax
Seniors (age 60+): $25.99 +tax
Kids (age 4-11): $19.99 +tax
Kids (age 3 and younger): FREE

You can take a relaxing ride up to the top of the mountain and then enjoy the dining and various attractions offered at the top of the mountain.

The food is good and the views are unique and amazing.

There is something for everyone at every activity level. Here is the BearVenture Challenge Course.

And here is a picture from the Treetop Skywalk! This is a truly unique way to view the Smoky Mountains and enjoy the land’s natural beauty.

Most importantly, Anakeesta is a great place to be able to relax and simply enjoy family time together.

I didn’t even have to twist their arms too much to get them to take a picture with the Mountain Troll!

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Another one of our favorite family activities in Gatlinburg is Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! I love zoos and aquariums and this aquarium is one of my favorites!

Prices:

Adult (ages 12+): $39.99
Child (ages 6-11): $24.99
Child (ages 2-5): $9.99

tanks at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

In addition to beautiful tanks and displays of sea life, there are many other attractions available!

They have several touch pools throughout the aquarium, with my favorite being the jellyfish!

They have a moving sidewalk to take you through one of the very large aquariums. I love riding these through and looking at the various sea creatures!

Additionally, they have an entire section of penguins! There is even a small crawl-through space where you can pop up in the middle of the penguin exhibit and view the penguins through the glass!

animals at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Axe Throwing

Yes… axe throwing! If you are looking for a fun and unique activity, I found it for you! I never thought I would say it, but I really enjoyed axe throwing!

Axe House is located right on the Gatlinburg strip. It’s on the second story of the building that houses the Chocolate Monkey! (This means axe throwing first and then ice cream afterward!)

My husband and I spent an evening at the Axe House and had a great time!

Prices are reasonable.

Adults (ages 12+):

$17.99 for thirty minutes
$29.99 for an hour

Kids (ages 11 and younger):

$17.99 for thirty minutes
$11.00 for an hour

There are individual lanes so that multiple parties can play at once. They also have the targets marked with numbers and scoring sheets available if you want to keep score.

This was a very fun and unique activity! I’m so glad that we tried it and I can’t wait to do it again!

And last but not least…..the National Park!

If you are heading to the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area, make sure to take the time to visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park!

Cost: FREE!

I’m a huge fan of water, so I really enjoy getting to play in and sit around the streams that are all throughout the National Park. The picture below is of my older boys exploring the area before the rest of us made our way done.

what is there to do in the Smokies with kids

There are plenty of easy walking trails for families and young children, as well as much more adventurous trails for those who are looking for a challenge.

We found a great place to hike with the little kids that led to an amazing trail that our older boys hiked to a waterfall! The little kids had as much fun as the big kids!

We hope you have an amazing time on your next (or first) trip to the Smokies! We have had the opportunity to visit on a few occasions and have had a great time on each of our trips. It’s definitely a place we look forward to visiting over and over!