Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Attractions ↠ The Incredible Christmas Place | Mallorie Owens

We stopped by The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee before attending Dolly Parton’s Christmas Celebration Show a few weeks ago and fell in love! I’d been wanting to check it out for awhile now, but it seemed like the perfect time to see what they were all about while waiting for our show to start and get in the Christmas spirit (since it was before Thanksgiving at the time).

The Christmas shop is full of ornaments and gorgeous decor that I wanted to take home with me and a train that had Iris in awe. At the back of the shop was Santa, we weren’t expecting him to be there so early, but Iris was so excited (even though she only wanted to sit next to him, not on his lap) we went ahead and did pictures. She told Santa she wants a bicycle, a baby doll, and a car. So sweet! I’ll take her sitting next to him since last year she had the ugly cry face going on, haha.

We then went outside to wait for my in-laws who were meeting us there and Iris spotted the outdoor train. She could have watched it all day.

The last building we went in was the candy shop to buy (and test!) some fudge. Iris had never tried fudge before and doesn’t eat many sweets so she thought this was pretty great. The ladies were so helpful and friendly and it reminded Dave and I of a larger version of the Alaska Fudge Company in Juneau.

The Christmas Place is definitely somewhere I recommend stopping in if you’re shopping in Pigeon Forge or want somewhere to do Santa photos. This guy was the real deal and I’m even considering going again when Iris is dressed how I planned to have her dressed for Santa pics.

Have you been? I’m eyeing a staycation at The Inn at Christmas Place which is across the street. I’ve seen a few pictures and it looks magical!

PIGEON FORGE TRAVEL GUIDE

♡ MALLORIE

Tips on Enjoying Dollywood with a Toddler | Pigeon Forge Attractions | Things to Do in Gatlinburg, TN

We took a family trip to Dollywood in April on what turned out to be the first really warm day here in Tennessee and we had so much fun watching our (then) 18 month old enjoy her first amusement park rides! We knew our fearless girl would love riding anything they’d let her on, but Dollywood has rides for everyone!

Here are my tips for enjoying Dollywood with a toddler, and a few extra tips too…

Bring an umbrella, fan, and spray bottle in the summer months!

There aren't a lot of shaded areas and there can be lines, so we have thought about bringing an umbrella on our next trip during warmer months to help shield Iris (and ourselves) and not worry about her getting burnt while having fun. We will definitely be bringing a little fan and spray bottle along with the usual sunscreen.

Work your way up.

I’m sure you already have an idea of your child’s preference for “scary” things like rides and what they can and can’t handle, but even so, if this is your first time doing amusement park rides that is a whole other ballgame for your toddler. Iris loves anything as wild and crazy as possible and being scared, but we started with the train, then went for the carousel (she was a bit unsure for a minute), and then rode rides like the flying elephants and the tea cups.

Map Out Your Day.

This goes hand in hand with the last tip, but rather than wander aimlessly (since your toddler will need a nap at some point and, if you’re there in the summer, it’s too hot to wander), make sure to scout out the rides ahead of time and make a loose plan for the day. Most of the toddler rides are in Country Fair, so you can plan to spend a lot of your day there. If you need a break from the heat grab a Dippin Dots like we did or catch a show in the ac!

Try the barbeque!

If you’re there during a meal time, we recommend the BBQ at Hickory House BBQ. We had the pork sandwiches and they were amazing, Iris was all about the corn. Amusement Business Magazine named Hickory House BBQ the best pork barbeque of any theme park in the country, so obviously they’re doing something right!

Go during the holidays.

We’ve been during Christmas and are SO excited to be going during Halloween this year! Dollywood is extra magical when it’s all decorated for the holidays. I know most people go during the summer, but if you’re able to make a fall or winter trip I highly recommend it. Especially during the fall, Tennessee is insanely gorgeous when the leaves change and the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area are so beautiful and the weather is perfect for being out all day at the park.

Here’s a video of our first family trip to Dollywood:

Make sure to follow along in real time on Instagram and my other social media accounts linked below during our trip to Dollywood and the Christmas Celebration Dinner Show on Friday!

We were given complimentary tickets for this trip to Dollywood, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

♡ MALLORIE