We’d seen Anakeesta advertised for years and were thrilled to finally get to experience it for ourselves! We chose to take the “chondola” up the mountain which was an open air chairlift and might not be for everyone. (They also have enclosed “cabin” lifts or a hayride-style truck you can choose). The theme park at the top is extremely well done to a Disney-esque standard with everything picturesque, clean, and unlike anything I’ve ever encountered at a “theme park.” Our daughter loved the birdhouse themed playground (which is 3 stories tall and includes low-ropes course elements, 3 playhouses, a rope trampoline and lots of slides. We all enjoyed the scenic views, observation tower and rope bridges that stretched through the treetops. The restaurants were delicious and surprisingly reasonably priced. They have attractions you can add on including two mountain coasters and a zip line adventure. We didn’t opt for those, but did purchase tickets to their “Astra Lumina” night light show immersive walk experience. It was absolutely stunning and a highlight of our trip. We definitely recommend adding that to your adventure! This is a must-see that is worth the drive to Gatlinburg! Check out our recap videos of both Anakeesta and Astra Lumina below! Note that the parking lot nearest the ticketing booth fills up quickly. We parked at the parking garage behind the Ripley's Aquarium (which is right across the street) and paid a flat $10 for the whole day which is super reasonable for the area, and it was really convenient. 💰: $34.99 Adult, $22.99 Kids, $27.99 Seniors, (3 and under are Free) 🍔: several excellent options for food at the top, our favorite is the Smokehouse where the kids meal was huge, delicious and reasonably priced enough that even the adults ordered it and were full. 🎟️: there are add-on options including Astra Lumina ($15.99 per person, highly recommend), a zip line and mountain coasters. ☎️ 865-325-2400 📍576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 💻 https://anakeesta.com/
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Our now-six-year-old is absolutely in love with mini-golf so we usually try to find a course to play wherever we go and our trips to Pigeon Forge are no exception. I found the newly opened Lost Mine Mini-Golf & Mountain Coaster online and knew it looked like just the place to include on our Spring Break Itinerary! We cannot possibly recommend this place highly enough. The mini golf course is great with a whimsical bear-and-possum-and-honey theme throughout; our six year old could not stop laughing at the statues and their antics throughout the course. Hole number 9 was by far our favorite; {spoiler alert} never have I ever hit a golf ball into the water on purpose, but what a fantastic gimmick! They also have a putting green at the beginning which is perfect for group photos, actual putting practice or killing time if there are groups in front of you. Their mountain coaster is INCREDIBLE! We loved it so much we rode it during the day and then came back and rode it at night as well; (there is a great bundle deal if you do this so we highly recommend that, see below for details.) The track itself is 5,440 feet long, and takes 9ish minutes to enjoy (depending on how fast you choose to go!) There are both beautiful natural scenery and clever attractions to enjoy as you whiz by, and this coaster features new technology that allows the ride to be not only safer but more enjoyable. We also loved the point of view camera mounted on each vehicle and opted to buy the photo/video package. We also can’t say enough about the incredible staff - everyone we met was kind, knowledgeable and accommodating in every way; truly the finest of southern hospitality. 🏔️🎢: $17.99 Adults, $13.99 youth, $7.99 kiddos ⛳️: $17.99 Adults, $13.99 youth/kiddos 💰: You can also do a bundle of mountain coaster + mini golf for $27.98 adults, $23.98 youth or $17.98 kiddos. Also, you can ride/play again for $9.99 adults…perfect for coming back to take a night ride! 🎟️: Want a discount? Sweet Retreat guests can find coupons in our cabin! ☎️ 865-280-0089 📍2509 Teaster Lane Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 💻 https://lostmine.com/ Be sure to check out the video below for a peek at what it's like to ride the mountain coaster! So much fun! |
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AuthorHi, I'm Bethany the host of The Sweet Retreat At Pigeon Forge. Besides being a host I love spending time with my family, traveling, music, coffee and learning. I hope you'll enjoy reading about The Sweet Retreat and local things to do in the Pigeon Forge area! Archives
March 2024
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