The effervescent Parrot Mountain and Gardens is located just outside Pigeon Forge and is a must for families, friends, locals, and visitors. The four acres harbor hundreds of tropical birds and thousands of trees, plants, and flowers. Guests are given the opportunity to interact directly with the beautifully plumed birds, petting and feeding them in the designated area. There is even a nursery where guests are welcome to hold the baby birds. Overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains is the deck, where lunch from the deli may be enjoyed while the birds serenade. A secret garden is lush with birds flying freely and pathways that display all of the gorgeous flowers.

Dana Wharf was the first whale watching company in Orange County and has been offering tours since the Harbor opened in 1971. The fleet includes a 63 -foot calm ocean Catamaran, and the 95-foot Dana Pride. Cruises are narrated by expert captains with sightings guaranteed.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country - and with good reason. The forest ridges run along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, providing a home to myriads of animals and plants. As a wildflower preserve, the park has over 1,500 flowering plants that can be found all year, more than any other national park in North America. An array of activities may be had: camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking, bicycling, horseback riding, and auto touring.

The megalithic archaeological site of Filitosa is known for its curious menhirs, with detail of facial features and body outlines carved into them. The earliest artefacts dug up here date back to 3300 BC (the menhirs are estimated to have been erected around 1500 BC). There are a small museum and a thousand-year-old olive tree on site.