Pigeon Forge, with more than 15 new or expanded attractions in 2015, is more fun than most any vacation spot in the Southeastern United States. With the Great Smoky Mountains rising majestically beyond Pigeon Forge, visitors can expect to enjoy the best of both worlds — entertainment and the great outdoors.

From some perspectives, Pigeon Forge has the appearance of another typical oversized, tourist trap, but its many nuggets make it a top tourist destination.

The charm of all the Smoky Mountains has to offer in outdoor activities is the icing on the cake for vacationers. White water rafting, tubing down a cool mountain river, hiking a family-friendly trail, or quietly fishing in a mountain stream are among many of the fun things to do outdoors.

You can begin your day with a hearty breakfast or brunch at the new Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast on the Parkway which serves until 2 p.m. daily.

Paula Deens is one of the newest reasons to visit Pigeon Forge this summer.	The mountain rivers provide a place to relax and cool off on a hot summer day.
Among the new attractions in Pigeon Forge for summer 2015 is the Mirror Maze located at The Island at Pigeon Forge.	Ole Smoky Moonshine is the newest distillery which has opened in Pigeon Forge.

A visit to Old Mill Square will cause you to discover that cornmeal can be used for more than making cornbread when you come across the Old Forge Distillery and its genuine Smoky Mountain moonshine.

A shopping expedition at The Island in Pigeon Forge will lead you to Emery’s 5 and 10 (a nostalgic East Tennessee tradition that relocated from Knoxville), a Build-a-Bear Workshop, and an outpost of the Ole Smoky Distillery, the Island’s newest retail shops.

Pigeon Forge certainly has its share of great restaurants. Without further ado, here are the newest eateries:

• Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen has opened on The Island in Pigeon Forge. Ground level is a retail store, and a 300-seat restaurant is on the second level overlooking The Island Show Fountain.
• Harpoon Harry’s Crab House, sister to the Harpoon Harry’s Restaurant in Punta Gorda, Fla., brings a diverse menu and live entertainment to the banks of the Little Pigeon River.
• Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast, as we mentioned previously, opens at 8 a.m.

One of the nation’s most anticipated hotel openings happens this summer when Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort opens next to Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country. It will have more than 300 rooms designed especially with families in mind. Guests will have special privileges at Dollywood.

This is the first full season for the Margaritaville Island Hotel on The Island in Pigeon Forge. You’ll sense Jimmy Buffett’s easy-going vibe throughout the 137-room hotel.

On stage in Pigeon Forge is the new “Magic Beyond Belief” at the Smoky Mountain Opry starring illusionist Darren Romeo, a protégé of famed Las Vegas celebrities Siegfried and Roy. Among Romeo’s co-stars is a regal white tiger. Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner theater is showcasing an investment of more than $2 million that includes an ever-changing light wall with 12.5 million LED lights. The Sable Equestrian Theatre, now in its first full season, adds another dose of horsemanship to Pigeon Forge with “Imagination on Sand,” a fascinating show that includes galloping horses, trick riders and amazing sand art.

Dollywood is celebrating its 30th anniversary season, and Dollywood’s Splash Country is marking 15 years of wet fun. Among Dollywood’s special activities is the Showcase of Stars, a series of celebrity concerts in August and September. Dolly Parton herself is booked for Aug. 8 and 9.

The Outdoor Gravity Park offers multiple ways to play with gravity. Perhaps the most amusing is a watery ride inside an 11-foot-tall OGO (that’s an Outdoor Gravity Orb) down a 1,000-foot-long hillside.

The multi-faceted Island in Pigeon Forge development continues to expand. New businesses include the 7-D Dark Ride Adventure, the Island Ropes Course, the Escape Game and the Island Mirror Maze.

The Coaster at Goats on the Roof offers another way to enjoy mountain scenery. It’s a control-your-own speed alpine coaster that takes you on a ride almost a mile long.

So there you have it — an array of new shows, attractions, restaurants, and places to stay.

“Frankly, it’s difficult to keep up with all that’s new – that’s the fun of Pigeon Forge. There are discoveries throughout town,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Complete citywide information is available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling 800-251-9100 or by visiting smokyvacations.com.