Go Backpacking

  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
×
Home » Destinations » North America » United States

12 Family-Friendly Indoor Adventures in Pigeon Forge

Published: Feb 1, 2025 by Lily Carter |

Pigeon Forge in East Tennessee is an ideal destination for families seeking memorable indoor adventures. Whether you're looking to learn, laugh, or unwind, the city offers a variety of activities for all ages. From exploring interactive exhibits to enjoying unique dining experiences, there's no shortage of indoor things to do in Pigeon Forge to entertain and engage your family.

Photo courtesy of Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge.
Photo courtesy of Titanic Pigeon Forge

This guide highlights 12 family-friendly indoor activities that promise fun, excitement, and relaxation, ensuring quality time together regardless of weather or season.

Table of Contents

  • Attractions
    • 1. Explore WonderWorks
    • 2. Visit the Titanic Museum Attraction
    • 3. Experience Pigeon Forge Snow
    • 4. Laugh Together at the Comedy Barn Theater
    • 5. Discover Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
    • 6. Play Mini Golf at Crave Golf Club
    • 7. Test Your Wits at an Escape Room
    • 8. Explore the Hollywood Wax Museum
    • 9. Enjoy Bowling at The Big Bear Mountain Fun Center
    • 10. Relax at The Island in Pigeon Forge
    • 11. Visit MagiQuest
    • 12. Dine at The Apple Barn and Cider Mill
  • To Sum Up

Attractions

1. Explore WonderWorks

WonderWorks, a family favorite, offers a unique blend of education and entertainment with over 100 interactive exhibits. Housed in an upside-down building, this attraction provides a variety of activities. Kids can immerse themselves in the Bubble Lab, creating giant bubbles. At the same time, older children and adults can explore the Space Discovery Zone and the astronaut training simulator while learning about physics, space, and natural disasters. 

The glow-in-the-dark ropes course and laser tag arena provide additional excitement. With exhibits covering topics like physics, space, and natural disasters, WonderWorks offers something for everyone. Its mix of fun and learning makes it an unforgettable indoor adventure.

2. Visit the Titanic Museum Attraction

The Titanic Museum Attraction offers families a truly immersive experience of the fascinating history of the Titanic. Guests receive boarding passes with the names of actual passengers, instantly connecting them to the ship's story. 

The museum features full-scale recreations of the grand staircase, first-class cabins, and third-class bunks. Interactive exhibits include touching an iceberg, feeling the chill of 28-degree water, and trying to balance on sloping decks. 

Children can participate in scavenger hunts to learn more about the ship's history. The Titanic Museum combines education and storytelling, ensuring an engaging experience for visitors of all ages.

3. Experience Pigeon Forge Snow

Pigeon Forge Snow offers families a unique year-round indoor snow tubing experience, bringing the joy of winter activities without the cold. The facility features real snow in a climate-controlled environment, ensuring a comfortable and exciting experience. Guests can race down the tubing slopes, play in the snow area, or build snowmen. The tubing lanes are designed to accommodate adults as well as kids. 

The snow play area is perfect for younger children, while parents can relax and enjoy watching the fun. This one-of-a-kind indoor attraction brings the joy of snow activities without the cold, creating memorable moments for the whole family.

4. Laugh Together at the Comedy Barn Theater

The Comedy Barn Theater is a family-friendly venue that promises laughs. The show features a mix of comedy acts, ventriloquism, live music, and animal performances. Talented dogs and cats showcase their tricks, delighting kids and adults. 

The interactive nature of the performances ensures that every audience member feels engaged. The theater's clean humor and lively atmosphere make it suitable for families with young children and grandparents alike. A night at the Comedy Barn Theater guarantees fun and bonding, making it a top choice for indoor family entertainment.

5. Discover Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Penguin (photo: Dariusz Robert Drewnicki).
Penguin (photo: Dariusz Robert Drewnicki)

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies offers families a captivating underwater journey. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring sharks, stingrays, and colorful tropical fish. The underwater tunnel provides a 360-degree view of marine life swimming overhead, creating an immersive experience. Interactive exhibits like the touch pools allow kids to touch jellyfish and horseshoe crabs. 

The Penguin Playhouse is a family favorite, allowing visitors to observe playful penguins up close. Educational displays and hands-on activities ensure that Ripley's Aquarium is fun and informative, making it a must-visit indoor destination for families.

6. Play Mini Golf at Crave Golf Club

Crave Golf Club takes mini golf to the next level with its candy-themed indoor course. Families can navigate colorful, imaginative obstacles inspired by giant sweets and desserts. The vibrant design and creative challenges make the course enjoyable for players of regardless of age. 

In addition to mini golf, Crave offers mini bowling lanes and a candy store stocked with treats. The activities' lighthearted atmosphere and inclusiveness make them perfect for a family outing. Crave Golf Club combines fun, competition, and creativity, ensuring everyone has a sweet time indoors.

7. Test Your Wits at an Escape Room

Escape rooms are thrilling indoor activities that foster teamwork and creativity. Pigeon Forge offers themed escape rooms like pirate adventures, haunted mysteries, and treasure hunts. Families must work together to solve puzzles, uncover clues, and complete missions within a set time limit.

Each room provides an immersive environment with engaging storylines and interactive challenges. Escape rooms cater to all ages, offering difficulty levels suitable for kids and adults. The collaborative nature of the experience makes it a fun and rewarding way to spend time together, creating unforgettable family memories.

8. Explore the Hollywood Wax Museum

The Hollywood Wax Museum offers a star-studded indoor adventure where families can pose with life-like wax figures of their favorite celebrities. From movie stars to musicians, the museum features a variety of well-known personalities, making it an exciting photo opportunity. 

The themed sets provide creative backdrops for memorable pictures. In addition to the wax figures, the museum offers attractions like Hannah's Maze of Mirrors and the Castle of Chaos, adding variety to the visit. The Hollywood Wax Museum combines entertainment and fun, making it popular for family outings.

9. Enjoy Bowling at The Big Bear Mountain Fun Center

The Big Bear Mountain Fun Center offers families a fun and engaging bowling experience. The cosmic bowling lanes feature colorful lights and music, creating a lively atmosphere for players. In addition to bowling, the center includes an arcade filled with games suitable for all ages. 

Kids can win tickets to redeem for prizes, while parents can enjoy the venue's casual vibe. The combination of bowling, games, and family-friendly amenities makes The Big Bear Mountain Fun Center an excellent indoor destination for bonding and entertainment.

10. Relax at The Island in Pigeon Forge

The Island in Pigeon Forge offers families a mix of relaxation and indoor entertainment. Visitors can explore unique shops, dine at family-friendly restaurants, or play games in the arcade. The 7D Dark Ride Adventure combines virtual reality with motion simulation, providing an adrenaline-pumping experience. 

For those looking to unwind, comfortable seating areas and scenic views make The Island a peaceful retreat. The diverse attractions cater to all ages, ensuring everyone in the family finds something to enjoy. The Island is an ideal spot for spending quality time together indoors.

11. Visit MagiQuest

MagiQuest is an interactive indoor attraction where families can embark on a magical adventure. Players use wands to complete quests, solve puzzles, and unlock secrets in a medieval-themed setting. The immersive experience includes castles, dragons, and enchanted forests, capturing the imaginations of kids and adults alike. 

In addition to the main quest, MagiQuest offers activities like mini-golf and an arcade, providing various entertainment options. The engaging storyline and hands-on activities make it an exciting and unique indoor adventure for families seeking something out of the ordinary.

12. Dine at The Apple Barn and Cider Mill

The Apple Barn and Cider Mill provide families with a cozy indoor dining experience. Known for its hearty Southern meals and freshly baked apple treats, it's a favorite spot for visitors seeking comfort food. 

Families can enjoy classic dishes like chicken and dumplings, followed by a slice of homemade apple pie. The rustic atmosphere and friendly service create a welcoming environment. After dining, visitors can explore the general store and bakery to purchase homemade jams, cider, and other goodies.

To Sum Up

Pigeon Forge's diverse range of indoor attractions ensures families can create unforgettable memories while enjoying fun-filled experiences. Whether you're exploring the imaginative exhibits at WonderWorks, laughing at the Comedy Barn Theater, or sharing a meal at The Apple Barn, these activities cater to all interests and ages. 

Each adventure provides an opportunity for bonding, learning, and relaxation, making Pigeon Forge a perfect destination for family-friendly fun. Rain or shine, these indoor activities guarantee that your family will have a fantastic time together.

_____

This story is published in partnership with Pigeon Forge Passport.

Related Stories

  • Fishing gear.
    Hidden Fishing Spots in Florida Only Backpackers Can Find
  • South Padre Island (photo by Kelly Lemons).
    2024 Travel Highlights: From Easter Island to the Texas Gulf Coast
  • Boating in Fort Lauderdale (photo: Michelle Raponi).
    Fort Lauderdale Hotel Guide: Where to Stay and Play
  • Savannah trees with Spanish moss (photo: Ashley Knedler).
    Top Five Most Haunted Cities in the United States
18 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

Footer

back to top

About

  • About
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Follow Us

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Submissions

Copyright © 2025 Go Backpacking

18 shares
  • 18