Gatlinburg trip this summer: recs for family fun

They would probably really like Wonderworks. Mine loved it...think he was 4 at the time.

TD - What to do in Gaitlinburg
TD - Things to do in Gaitlinburg / Pigeon Forge
TD - Different things to do in Tennessee (Gatlinburg Area
TD - Gaitlinburg Vacation Ideas
TD - Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Fishing Guides
TD - Let's Talk about Fishing in Gaitlinburg
TD - Gaitlinburg/Pigeon Forge...Where to Eat?
TD - Must Do's in Pigeon Forge
TD - Tubing the river in Gaitlinburg

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I called a white water rafting place that has the smaller slow rapids that my 5 year old can do, along with ziplines and a rope course for $99 each. Dollywood and the water park are obvious stops. I saw that if you go to Dollywood after 3:00 that the ticket is good for the following day as well, and since they are open until 10:00 that time of the year, it seems like a no brainer. I'm sure we'll hit up a hillbilly dinner show as well. Any suggestions on a good one?

There is a petting zoo in Seveirville that has lots of different animals, horseback riding, etc. that my boys enjoy. It's a pretty area over there too. You could spend a few whole days just hiking if you're into that but I'd check out Cades Cove and at least drive up to the state line in the park. Maybe hit some trails along the way. We like the roaring fork motor trail but not sure how it was affected by fire. You could spend one day in Gatlinburg walking around with all the stuff they have there. Maybe another in pigeon forge at different places. The Island is a cool area where we go after dinner a few times to let the kids run around. I'd check out rafting or tubing in the area for sure.

You can ride bicycles on the Cade's Cove Loop in the Summer 2 days a week. It's awesome and beautiful, you can rent bicycles from several outfits. There are tons of volunteers to assist if you get a flat etc.

Also go to either the Oconoluftee Visitor Center (there are plenty of other activities here) or to the Cataloochee Valley to see elk herds.

I did the Lower Pigeon with my daughter who was 9, you had to be 10 to go on the upper part. We had a good time even though the "rapids" weren't much to talk about. Everyone else in our group did the upper more advanced part, a few got shucked into the river, they all said they had a great time.