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Explore The Island In Pigeon Forge Tennessee

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Are you visiting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg this upcoming fall to see the fall foliage? I suggest staying at Margaritaville Hotel Pigeon Forge, Tennessee which located on the The Island in Pigeon Forge. 

The Island in Pigeon Forge is located on the main drag in Pigeon Forge and is a piece of the beach nestled right in the mountains.

You’ll forget that the ocean isn’t a short walk away when you’re walking around looking at the multitude of shops and eateries that all look like they belong on the coast of Florida.

The Island offers restaurants, shops, an arcade, rides, attractions, a fountain show, along with the Margaritaville Island Hotel right on the Island you will not have to move your car because everything is right at your fingertips.

The Island is home to over thirty-five shops all featuring something unique. You’ve got shops for clothes, hats, jewelry, sunglasses, trinkets, toys, puzzles, magic tricks, movie memorabilia, and much, much more.

Everyone in the entire family should be able to find a shop that matches their taste considering about every kind of shop you can think of is at The Island and including staying at Margaritaville Hotel Pigeon Forge.

The Island Pigeon Forge

Attractions – At The Island In Pigeon Forge

The Show Fountains – This state of the art, multi tiered show fountain features a stunning presentation of water, dance, and light with perfectly choreographed music. 

The fountain shows starts at 10am and plays every half hour to a different playlist.  

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Great Smoky Mountain Wheel – Towering 200 feet tall, The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel sites at the foot of the most visited National Park in the United States. 

The Wheel is the centerpiece of the Island in Pigeon Forge and it’s one of the tallest attractions in the Southeast.

Once on the wheel you will have unparalleled view of the Smoky Mountains in an all glass gondola that seats 8 people. 

Little Pigeon River – Located entirely within Sevier County, Tennessee and is made up a series of streams which flow together on the dividing line between Tennessee and North Carolina.

The Rope Course – The kiddos can enjoy thirty different elements, two zip lines, and one simulated free fall.

The Escape Room – The goal of the Escape Room is simple: You have one hour to work together as a team to crack codes and solve ciphers to escape.

7-D Dark Ride Adventure – Experience the thrill of a roller coaster and the excitement of an interactive shooting gallery without leaving your seat! The adventure includes 3-D movie with lights, sound, wind and interactive game.

Mirror Maze – Your family will love getting lost over and over again.  Also featured at the Island Mirror Maze are Laser Maze where kids climb over and under security beams Mission Impossible style and Atomic Rush, a high tech Simon Says game where your memory agility will be tested.

Arcade City – A modern, family friendly state of the art arcade with games for everyone in your family.  The Island uses reloadable play cards, no tokens and no tickets so the kids can have endless amounts of fun.  

Thunder Dome – A giant 32 feet high aluminum dome that houses four trampoline based bungy jumps! The Thunder Dome can accommodate most ages and sizes. 

You strap on a specially designed harness and clip into the super stretchy bungee rope and begin jumping leaps and bounds.

Flying Horse Carousel – Carousels has been around since the beginning of time and attract both the young and the old.  Their majestic beauty transcends time. 

They Flying Carousel adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel and has 22 horses and chariots.

Shooting Gallery – Pick up a rifle, pistol or flintlock and shoot your way around an old moonshine camp and battle against critters. 

The popular games allows for scoring competitions and up to seven players per round.

Shopping – At The Island In Pigeon Forge

Bodacious Bags – Large selection of bags for any occasion

Big Rock Candy Kitchen – Homemade sweets and treats made from scratch

Bootleggers Winery – Bootleggers uses the stuff found in most every kitchen throughout the South.  They bottle each batch by hand.

Margaritaville Store – Take the music, fashion and flavors of Margaritaville home.  Find beach inspired apparel and coastal home decor for every style.

Ole Smoky Moonshine – The 6,000 square foot “Ole Smoky Barn” includes an onsite still, a tasting bar and a retail store with locally made moonshine, jams, and more.  Don’t forget to try the moonshine tasting!

Pepper Palace – One stop shop for everything spicy.  Winner of hundreds of National Awards for product, marketing, and flavor.

Smoky Mountain Sun Shades – Offering a wide selection of name brand sunglasses such as Oakley, Ray Ban, Maui Jim, and Costa, as well as reasonably prices sunglasses and accessories.

St. Somewhere Spa – If you need to unwind the spa is perfect for massages, manicures, pedicures, and facials.  The retail shop is also a great place to purchase gifts, spa items, bath & beauty products.

The Island Trading Post – Offering a fun filled atmosphere with a huge selection of unique gifts including souvenirs, candy, toys, sauces, tees, jewelry and much more.

Dining Options – On The Island In Pigeon Forge

  • Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
  • Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen
  • Timberwood Grill
  • Dick’s Last Resort
  • Mellow Mushroom
  • Sweet Shop of the South
  • Poyner’s Pommes Frites
  • Dude’s Daiquiris
  • Island Yogurt
  • Cinnabon
  • Auntie Annie’s
  • The Island Creamery
  • Mini Donuts
  • Bill’s Lemonade
  • Create-A-Cone

Dining Options – Margaritaville Island Hotel

  • Changes in Latitude Lobby Bar
  • Chill Bar and Rooftop Pool
  • Margaritaville Coffee Shop

Margaritaville Hotel – The Island In Pigeon Forge

Hotel itself is an artful blend of mountain latitude and island attitude, the 134-room Margaritaville Hotel Pigeon Forge is the perfect setting to escape the everyday, discover a new outlook and just chill.

Inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of singer, songwriter and author, Jimmy Buffett, the newest Margaritaville Hotel brings a fresh perspective to the Great Smoky Mountain.

Experience its easy-going, laid-back style and serious approach to genuine Southern hospitality.

Guests can create their own blended beverages to enjoy by the fire or on the balcony with the Margaritaville “Frozen Concoction Maker” available in every room.

The hotel’s attention to detail is expressed in the following selection of amenities placed in every room for the guest’s enjoyment, convenience and comfort.

If you are able to splurge I suggest booking one of Penthouse suites! I promise you will not be disappointed. Click here to book your reservation today.

Margaritaville Island Inn – The Island In Pigeon Forge

Margaritaville Island Inn is a family-friendly property without the price tag of the Margaritaville Hotel Pigeon Forge. 

If you still want to stay close to the Island but need something a little more economical the Inn is for you.

It offers an outdoor swimming pool, and with a location at The Island in Pigeon Forge, it puts guests close to 18 restaurants, retail shops and attractions.

Accommodations have mini-fridges, microwaves, fireplaces and private balconies with views of the riverfront and Great Smoky Mountain Wheel.

They also have Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Makers — a perk for parents, but also fun for non-alcoholic treats for the kids! Click here to book your reservation today. 

Margaritaville Hotel in Pigeon Forge

Transportation On The Island

Fun Time Trolley 

The Fun Time Trolley system offers a safe, affordable, and convenient “hop on, hop off” transportation service. 

With a fleet of more than thirty trolley buses, the fun time trolley services the city of Pigeon Forge and a portion of the neighboring Sevierville.

Trolley service pick up is available right outside of the hotel lobby and in front of The Island Show Fountains.

Look for the Fun Time Trolley stops all over Pigeon Forge. All trolleys depart from and return to Patriot Park at 186 Old Mill Ave.

You can find a trolley running frequently on Main Street, in Wears Valley, to Dollywood & Dollywood’s Splash Country, and to the Gatlinburg Welcome Center. Fares range from $1.00 – $3.00, and children under 3 ride for free.

The Island Tram

A complimentary tram is available for transportation to The Island Parking lots and the Le Conte Center from 10am -11pm daily.  The tram picks up in front of The Island Show Fountains.

Map of the Island in Pigeon Forge

Safety Tips For The Island In Pigeon Forge

  • Don’t answer the door in a hotel room without verifying who it is
  • When returning to your hotel room late at night use the main entrance of the hotel
  • Don’t place your room key on restaurant tables, swimming pool, or any place where it can be easily stolen
  • Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry
  • Dont invite strangers to your room
  • Do not leave valuables in your vehicle
  • Check to see if the connecting doors are locked

Dining Options Off The Island – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

  • Bullfish Grill
  • Blue Moose Burgers & Wings
  • Carino’s Italian Restaurant
  • Harpoon Harry’s Crab House

Attractions – Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cades Cove

Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park.

Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of black bear, coyote, groundhog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible.

Touring the Cove

 An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace.

Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area’s trails. Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round.

Clingman’s Dome

At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome boasts the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The “Dome” refers to the mountaintop, not the man-made observation tower.

The Dome actually lies within both Tennessee and North Carolina and is the highest point in Tennessee. On clear days, visitors may see as far as 100 miles.

Clingmans Dome, open year-round, can be reached by traveling Clingmans Dome Road, which closes December 1 through March 31 and when conditions become unfavorable due to ice and snow.

At the end of Clingmans Dome Road is the parking area, a visitor’s center and the trailhead to the summit. The trail to the reach the park’s highest point is paved and only measures one-half mile.

Roaring Fork

Its name derived from a “roaring” mountain stream, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail twists and turns for six-miles, forming a one-way looping scenic drive through the Great Smoky Mountains.

The narrow roadway only allows cars—trucks, trailers and RVs cannot fit on this road.

The drive along Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail begins at the Noah “Bud” Ogle farmstead, where you can take a walking tour of the historic buildings and pick up a tour map of the roadway sights.

The trailhead for Rainbow Falls can be found just beyond the farmstead, a moderate hike to a stunning waterfall.

It’s a 5.4-mile round trip hike to Rainbow Falls (it’s less than 3 miles one way!) and your reward is the 80-foot high waterfall, the tallest single-drop waterfall in the national park.

Smoky Mountains Tennessee

Additional Outdoor Attractions In The Smoky Mountains

  • Hiking
  • Bicycling
  • Horseback Riding
  • Fishing
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers
  • Wildlife
  • Historic Buildings

Attractions in Pigeon Forge

Dollywood Theme Park 

Known for its down home charm, this world famous 150 acre theme park is as unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton.

From award winning shows to educational craft demonstrations and groundbreaking rides and attractions.  

Dollywood’s Splash Country

Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Amusement Park is the perfect mountain oasis for families to cool down and chill out. 

Located in a mountainous hollow adjacent to Dollywood theme park, Dollywood’s Splash Country features a variety of splashy water attractions for both the thrill seekers and pool loungers in your family.   

You can also rent a private cabana and order delicious poolside treats for you and your family.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies 

Marvel at the 12 foot sharks, giant sea turtles, and thousands of exotic sea creatures as you walk through state of the art clear underwater tunnels throughout the aquarium.

Titanic Museum

Visit the world’s largest museum attraction and enjoy more than 400 artifacts.  Touch a real iceberg, walk the grand staircase & third class hallways and try to walk on the sloping decks to truly see what it was like for passengers and crew.

Alcatraz East

Alcatraz East, which is located near The Island in Pigeon Forge, is a fantastic new crime museum that will have crime geeks drooling. The huge, 25,000 square feet museum includes five unique galleries and over 100 interactive exhibits!

The design of the Alcatraz East building was modeled after the first prison in the State of Tennessee and Alcatraz.

The museum incorporates the castle-like look of the 1898 Tennessee State Prison just outside of Nashville and the watchtowers of Alcatraz.

A Few of My Favorite Exhibits Include:

American Crime
Remember O.J Simpson speeding away in the white Ford Bronco? That vehicle and many other famous getaway cars can only be seen at Alcatraz East.

There are plentiful artifacts and souvenirs including guns, papers, vehicles and more that remind us of some of the most famous criminals in our country’s history.

Punishment
Want to hang out in a jail cell for the afternoon? Now, you have your chance to get behind bars! Spend some time getting your mugshot taken, take a lie detector test, and then experience jail life… temporarily.

In addition to the permanent exhibits, Alcatraz East rotates through temporary exhibits – this was actually one of our favorite facets of this cool museum.

The ugly truth of wildlife trafficking was the temporary exhibit the day we visited. As a local who loves our black bears, it was interesting to discover that our beloved creatures are being illegally killed to produce medicines.

Pigeon Forge Attractions Where Kids Get In Free

Pigeon Forge Attractions Where Kids Get In Free

It can be expensive for a family vacation to Pigeon Forge especially if you plan to visit multiple attractions. I am here to assure you that you do not have to break the bank in Pigeon Forge. The kiddos can get into multiple places around the Smoky Mountains for free, making it more cost-effective to travel and experience everything you want. Check out this list of Pigeon Forge free attractions for kids to help select your activities for your next trip.

Conclusion of The Island In Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

The Island is a great place to visit and it’s only going to get better. Attractions include Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, and Build-A-Bear Workshop.

I can’t wait to visit again this fall! Want to know more insider tips about staying at Margaritaville Hotel Pigeon Forge along with what to do and see in Pigeon Forge and the Smokies make sure you sign up for my newsletter.

Click Below To Watch Video Of The Island In Pigeon Forge

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I hope my Pigeon Forge travel guide provided with you information on where to stay and what to do in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains.   I would love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram.

Pigeon Forge - Things to do in Tennessee

 

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25 Comments

  1. I cant wait to show my husband your post. Both of us family in Alabama and we always go through Tennessee in passing but never as tourist! We’ve been talking about a trip as tourist, so Im going to show this to him! This would be great as family trip or a couples trip!

  2. This is such a detailed account of your trip to Tennessee. The pictures are beautiful and visiting Pigeon Forge is another place on my list. Spa time, that is what I am talking about. Thank you for sharing

  3. This place looks amazing!!! I may have to add this to my list…. These pictures are bueatiful! Can you start taking me with you. Lol

  4. Great post! I used to live in Nashville, and I drove through the Smokies to get to D.C. once, and it was absolutely breathtaking! People go to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to get married oftentimes. This is a great spot to visit and unwind.

  5. Tennessee is on my list of places to go next year. The fact the resort is located near the attraction is having me lean towards going to this place. do you have any advice as to when is the best time of year, price wise to book a trip?

  6. I am from Middle Tennessee, and I haven’t been to Pigeon Forge yet! I know, I need to get on it! Lol! I knew about Dollywood, but I didn’t know there was a Titanic museum there! Wow! And The Island sounds really nice. I just learned something new about my home state! 🙂 Going to pin this to my travel board!

  7. You had me at great massages lol. My husband & I plan to take another mini vacay before the year is over and I’m liking the sound of Pigeon Forge. Thanks as always for sharing your experience.

  8. Yay you got my favorite spa treatment! I love hot stone massages! Glad you were able to stay in a centrally located place where you had rides, eateries etc. I must come back and explore Tennessee!

  9. Pigeon Forge sounds like a cute little getaway destination, I had not heard of it before! Your pics and recap make it seem worth visiting!

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