One Stop, Lots Of Fun

Posted by Phil Rodgers in Pigeon Forge Attraction

These days, it's all about getting more bang for the buck. We all want our dollars to stretch as far as they can go, so it's nice when we find a product or service that allows us to get the most out of what we pay for it. That even applies to vacationing. If you're going to spend X amount of dollars, why not spend them on something that you can the widest range of experiences from?

With that concept in mind, we'd like to share some recommendations for types of attractions that have a lot going on under one roof. Or in our case, a lot going on ON TOP of the roof. In all of these examples, we're talking about travel destinations that offer more than one kind of activity, which increases the chances that everyone in your family, regardless of age, will find something to do that they enjoy.

Amusement parks are an obvious place to start. For the longest time, Dollywood and Ober Mountain pretty much had the market cornered when it came to well-rounded family fun. But within the last five years or so, we've seen new places come on line, including Anakeesta and SkyPark in Gatlinburg and Skyland Ranch in Sevierville.

Each individual location has a comprehensive lineup of things to do, and collectively, they cover all the bases. For example, at Dollywood, you'll find rides for guests of all ages, from kiddie rides to mega roller coasters. The park also has a lot to offer in terms of unique attractions, live music shows and mountain crafts.

Ober Mountain also has a little bit of everything too, from snow skiing and snowboarding in winter to summertime fun like an alpine coaster, chairlift, animal exhibits, summer tubing and more. Some features, like the Aerial Tramway and the indoor skating, can be enjoyed all year long.

At Anakeesta, the exhibits make the most of the park's mountaintop location. It's not about rides as much as it is the surrounding visual experience, which is enhanced by highlights such as Anakeesta's Anavista Tower, ziplines and mountain coasters. SkyPark has the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America as well as a scenic mountaintop trail and a chairlift ride that's one of the oldest still-operating attractions in the Smokies. Skyland Ranch in Sevierville also has a chairlift as well as an alpine coaster and miniature-animal exhibits. Each of these locations also offers shops, food vendors and live entertainment.

In addition to theme parks, the Smokies have a lot of family amusement centers, which offer everything from miniature golf and go-carts to arcades and laser tag. Depending on where you visit, you might also find some kind of bungee attraction or ride that slingshots you into the air. So whether you prefer to keep your feet on the ground or go soaring through the air, you're bound to find something up your alley. A few specific places in Pigeon Forge to look for include Fantasy Golf, Fast Tracks, Fun Stop and Blake Jones Racing Center.

You could also add Goats on the Roof to that category, although in many ways, we're truly unique and don't fit into any category. Nevertheless, you'll encounter a diverse range of fun here, starting with the live goats that live on our rooftop during the summer. You can head up to the rooftop to visit with them or feed them from ground level by pedaling our Goat Cycle, which transports cups of food upstairs for them to chow down on.

But that's just the start. We also have our version of the alpine coaster, the Goat Coaster, as well as Jurassic Tymes mini golf, gem mining and a unique retail shop where you'll find cool gifts and handmade crafts.

This content posted by Goats on the Roof of the Smoky Mountains. Visit our home page, goatsontheroofofthesmokies.com for more information on the goats and their coaster.

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