Category: Vacation Tips

During the week of February 11, 2008 Pigeon Forge, TN had an outbreak of the annoying influenza virus better known as the “flu” but known to locals as the “crud”. With the tourism nature of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee it is easier to catch this nasty bug than your normal hometown. You may make the decision to avoid Pigeon Forge altogether, but you don’t have to. You can still have a great vacation and make it home just as healthy as you left…maybe more tired, but at least illness-free!

Here are a few tips to help you avoid the flu and other illnesses while on vacation in Pigeon Forge.

1. Avoid buffets of any kind (breakfast, salad, hot-bar, dessert, etc). Touching the same spoons and things as many other people (especially while eating) can increase your risk of getting the “crud” as we call it.
2. Pack hand-sanitizer…a simple, pocket-sized version is a great thing to have!
3. Get PLENTLY of sleep….don’t over-exert yourself on your vacation…plan enough to do, but not too much. You may also want to stay away from the parkway to avoid noise if that affects your sleep.
4. Drink plenty of water…stay hydrated…this helps flush out as much as possible. Avoid alcohol as this can weaken your immune system..and water is cheaper anyway, so there’s a tip to stay healthy and save money all in one…free of charge!
5. Speaking of alcohol, avoid bars and “stuffy” places. You’ll wish you had a hangover if you catch the flu after a night on the town.
6. Avoid attractions and arcades where you handle things such as steering wheels, joysticks, whack-a-mole handles, etc. The less you touch, the better chance you have of not getting sick.
7. Keep your kids out of activities that involve physical interaction with other kids. They may hate you at the time and you may never be thanked, but you’ll thank yourself when you’re not up all night with a crying, screaming child. You know who you are.

Most of all, have a great time! There is plenty of fun to be had even with cutting out certain activities. Just be cautious and conscious of what you and your family are doing and have a wonderful time in Pigeon Forge, TN! If you have suggestions on activities to do that are relatively healthy and safe for the family, please share them in the comment section below!

The Inside Pigeon Forge Getaway Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday, July 31. If you haven’t registered in the forums and posted your best tip for visiting Pigeon Forge, TN then I suggest you jump in for your chance to win this incredible vacation package! The winner will receive 24 show tickets worth over $600…just for providing their best tips!

Even if you have already entered or do not even plan on entering, you should check out all of the amazing tips that have been posted…there are over 100 tips and people are still posting! People who have “been there, done that” in Pigeon Forge are providing extremely valuable info on what to do, where to stay, where to drive & park, etc! If there was one thing I would suggest someone do before visiting Pigeon Forge, TN it would be to read through this list of tips. These ideas will save you time, money, and headaches during your vacation…so invest a few minutes and you (and your family!) will be extremely pleased that you did!

If you plan on coming to Pigeon Forge any time soon and are wanting to see some shows, then you’ll want to get in on this! We’re about to announce a large giveaway of show tickets for various theaters in Pigeon Forge. Some theaters are even breakfast and dinner shows, so your food will be covered too! This package will definitely cover entertainment for a few days, so be ready to jump on this. We’ll be announcing the details very soon to our newsletter subscribers first, so join up if you haven’t already by using the sign-up box on the right of this page .

Here’s a hint to get your foot in the door first…register in our brand new Inside Pigeon Forge Forums. This will give you a head start in entering the contest (as well as more contests in the future). The Insider Forums will be home to a ton of inside information about Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville and we want to kick it off the right way by giving someone an entertainment package for their Pigeon Forge vacation. That person may as well be you!

*UPDATE*
The contest is now LIVE! Enter the Inside Pigeon Forge Getaway Giveaway!

If you’ve been to Pigeon Forge recently and have heard someone mumble (or maybe you’ve said it yourself) “I’ll never come back…” then I’d like to offer a way for you to make Pigeon Forge the fun, southern destination it once was. To get to the solution, we need to look at some of the problems.

First off…the traffic. Yes, the traffic can get nasty…and when I say nasty, I mean a snail will most likely blow by you as you inch your way to a dinner show. Fortunately, the city is working on solutions to the mess. The biggest relief is the parkway that will connect Dollywood (and the middle of Pigeon Forge) to Highway 66 in Sevierville to allow for quicker ways in and out of town. That road is partially open already and they are working on the last stretch. To make it even better, choose better times to visit. Try to avoid holidays or “major weekends”. Major weekends are next to holidays or car shows in Pigeon Forge…stay far away. Besides…Pigeon Forge isn’t exactly to blame for the frustrations…it’s the other gazillion tourists trying to do the same things that you and your family are waiting to do. Get reservations for shows and dinner…leave early as well…traffic gets thicker on the north end of Pigeon Forge around 6pm since all of the theaters are located on that end and everyone seems to be heading that way at the same time.

Next up is the employees. Have you had a waiter, salesperson, or other employee not exactly sound like “they’re from around here”? The sad fact is that a large portion of the people living and working here aren’t “locals”. Don’t hold that against Pigeon Forge…we don’t go looking for these people! If you come across someone at a restaurant, attraction, shop, etc that shows the southern hospitality that makes your visit enjoyable then share it with the manager or business owner. Spread the word about how you enjoy the southern, down-home personalities. Get the business owners hiring more locals! True locals are becoming an endangered species around Pigeon Forge. I make a point of it to mention locals in the reviews as it definitely impacts visitors’ experiences. Be on the lookout for a top-10 list of restaurants and attractions where you can find entertaining locals.

Get off the parkway! Yeah, there are a ton of attractions to visit, but Pigeon Forge has a lot more to offer. There are places to hike, fish, bike, walk, run, kayak, raft, golf, etc. Get away from the crowds and enjoy God’s country. There are few places on earth as amazing as the Great Smoky Mountains. Don’t limit yourself to the “tourist traps” on the parkway.

Relax. Don’t be in a hurry and try not to be on a schedule. Pigeon Forge is only 5 miles long, but there is a lot to see and do. Try to enjoy every minute…even when you’re in traffic. After all, you’re spending time with your family & friends…make the most of it. It’s not about getting from point A to point B when you’re here. It’s about the memories you leave with. Don’t let the massive amounts of other people take away the reasons you come to Pigeon Forge. Enjoy the getaway and leave the stress for all the other people “stuck” in traffic & lines!

If you have some tips to share or have had great experiences at restaurant, attractions etc then share them with others in the comment area!