Tennessee: Pigeon Forge, Family Vacation Ideas Skydiving, Shopping and Zorbing with Teens. 
Traveling with teens isn’t often easy – their desire for independence prove problematic, especially on vacation. Pigeon Forge holds the key to a successful family vacation with teens. Few places offer a range of activities for all ages, especially teens notorious for thrill-seeking but Pigeon Forge, with WonderWorks, the newest thrill craze zorbing and as always the amazing rides at Dollywood, meets the teen vacation challenge.
Skydiving with the family? At Flyaway Indoor Skydiving age is not an excuse. They have created a controlled flyaway that will even work for the fraidie-pants in the family. Participants take a short class on the proper safety techniques and body postures including how to tuck and fall. The most important part of the class is learning the hand signals. Our instructor, Robbie made sure that each one of our party of eight understood what he was saying in hand signals. The gear includes a jumpsuit, knee and shoulder pads, helmet and goggles. Four people use they air shaft flying room at one time. Each person is entitled to a minimum of three minutes flight time. A giant fan simulates the experience of a free fall. Just jump and feel the lift. Need to know: Athletic type shoes are the best suited for the adventure and sandals are not allowed.
It’s a plane! Seeing a full-sized World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane is pretty awesome but to see it at a trolley stop is too good to be true. At the Veterans Memorial Museum, is a collection of wartime exhibits dating from the 1700’s to present day. We took a self-guided tour on World War II and attempted to make our own unique connections with family events. Displayed here are items dating from the Revolutionary War to our fight against terror today. We saw all kinds of uniforms, weapons, and vehicles from all military branches, major battlefronts and campaigns. Bonus points: They have on display a 1917 Harley Davidson motorcycle that belonged to Adolph Hitler.
Go cart wild. 
In operation for 20 years The Track Family Recreation Center really is a fun-filled center with something for everyone. The Wild Woody a 3-story wood racetrack was our first and second choice to ride. Children may ride in their own cart as long as they are taller than 4’10” tall. Double racecars must have one rider older than 16 years of age in addition to the height requirement. Created for younger children, the Kids Country area contains seven rides in a compact family friendly space.
Need to know: In the brochure rack there are coupons that provide “Buy 2 get-one-free” discounts.
Shop almost forever. On the trolley route, The Historic Old Mill, is a landmark in Pigeon Forge. Located on the Little Pigeon River the gristmill houses a general store filled with gifts and memorabilia rich with the history of Tennessee. We took a tour through the mill and lunched next door at the Old Mill Restaurant. Known for country cooking, most of their meals are made from scratch, meaning gristmill flour and local produce. That made the biscuits and great blackberry cobbler taste even better. We had a relaxing afternoon watching crafty artisans display their talent. Potters work while shoppers watch. Bonus points: Connecting to the Old Mill Square is Patriot Park, a 16-acre park with a walkway along the river.
Stroll with the ghosts of the mountains. Ms. Mary Elizabeth, sprightly and engaging leads the willing on Ghosts Haunting Tours. She is a local folklorist and authority on the fact and fiction of those who vanished without a trace in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Jokes and singing and bears, oh my! For our family the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner & Show was a pleasant surprise. The one-liners, jokes music and songs are well suited to young families. Pre-show entertainment is provided throughout the meal and once the tables have been cleared the pace picks up with fast-paced entertainment. The basic theme was a camp counselor taking a group for an overnight outing. The actors came up with ways to distract the bears with music through the ages of big band, Broadway 50”s, and patriotic. The children in the audience were fascinated with the interaction of black bears and music. I didn’t see a frown on a face. The deal: One child eleven and younger receives a complimentary admission with each paying adult and there is a charge for additional children.
Laugh, laugh, knock yourself out. Known as the place to revive dormant funny bones, The Comedy Barn Theater provides reasons for everyone to laugh. This is the family version of a nightclub. Our favorite part was when two ventriloquists providing comedic banter on stage as dogs jumped over children selected from the audience. Discovery: Pictures are taken of guests when they arrive and may be purchased during intermission. The key chains can be used for a discount on a return visit. The deal: Children eleven and younger are admitted free, one for each paying adult.
Seeing is not always believing. Within a crazy lopsided building along the Parkway is a marvelous theatre and WonderWorks - an amusement park for the mind – a place to be shared by multiple generations; definitely not–to-be-missed if you are vacationing with teens. More than 150 interactive exhibits including gravity machines, photo shadows, optical illusions and memory tasks fill the 55,000 square feet of mind-bending, reality-altering fun. No one will be bored. It is a place to lose track of time.
Make it happen. To order a free trip planner with the latest visitor information, vacation packages, specials, discounts and deals call toll-fee
1-800-251-9100,
1(865) 453-8574, or log onto
www.mypigeonforge.com
