Pigeon Forge - a Great Student Travel Destination
Posted on Wed, Jan 04, 2012 @ 02:00 PM
Upon arriving in Pigeon Forge, my head was turning from side to side taking in all the fun attr
actions that my student tours would love to do. I had no idea that this little town in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains was focused on FUN! First thing I see is WonderWorks, an upside-down building where the unexplainable will come to life and the unusual will be the norm. Next thing I see along the Parkway is the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show. If the outside of the theater is a taste for what happens inside, student groups are in for some Feud'n and Feasting Fun!
Next door is the Titanic Museum Attraction. Can you imagine one of my performing groups entertaining and then stepping inside to experience the stories of the passengers that sailed on the Titanic? I even found a Titanic Scavenger Hunt on their website that can be downloaded and used for the visit. With prior notice, the crew at Titanic can research a group's city or state to make their visit more personal. Did you know that 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the ship's maiden, and last, sailing? With over 400 artifacts on display, students will learn of the courage of the 2,208 passengers. This museum attraction brings the history to life!
A little of
f the Parkway, it's Dollywood! In 2012 this award-winning park will introduce Wild Eagle, America's first wing coaster with nothing but air above and below you as you travel 60 mph. Wow! Performing groups have the opportunity to perform at Dollywood before thousands of park guests. For educational tours, Dollywood's Science in the Park program and Careers in Theme Park Management and their Wings of America programs are easily adaptable in school standards.
Continuing down the Parkway is Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction, The Smokies Most Fun Place Place to Eat! Whether you're rooting for the North Side or the South Side, it's a friendly and fun rivalry with lots of competition, music, special effects and laughs. I sure didn't leave this show hungry!
Student groups love video games, right? Well, how about having them spending time playing a live-action video game? Magiquest castle sits right on the Parkway and provides six different adventures in one building. Your wand will track everything you do as you use it to solve clues. Another fun adventure attraction is Tomb right across the street. Here, you take on an Indiana Jones-type persona and try to find your way out with clues. Another fun attraction, The Track, sits on the corner of Stoplight 3. Mini-golf, go-carts and bumper boats are loads of fun for youth groups. After an unforgettable experience of rolling down a hill in a giant sphere at Zorb,
I'm ready for more action!
I've often been faced with having to find restaurants in destinations that can feed up to 250 people at a time. Well, Pigeon Forge is not lacking in this department! There are several all-you-can-eat buffets with private dining rooms that can handle our student groups! In addition, there's plenty of motorcoach parking in town. I found it to be a motorcoach-friendly and group-friendly place!
With the Smoky Mountain National Park in the town's backyard, there are plenty of educational and scenic adventures that can be found. Step-on guides can even describe the diversity and history of this national park. Among the over 800 miles of trails in the Smokies, there are several sm
all hikes perfect to release that youthful energy!
Here's something else! Marching groups can join Dolly Parton in Pigeon Forge's Homecoming Annual Parade in May. It's a great way to show off a band's talents! In addition, I found several attractions and theaters that welcome performing groups!
There's even more attractions, theaters, and special events than I have room for in this blog! My list of things to do that are perfect for students could go on and on!
Pigeon Forge – What a fun destination for Peak Performance's student travel. Oh, did I mention....it's an affordable trip?
