A day at WonderWorks is a great way to get indoors and take a break from the heat (or the rain) in Pigeon Forge. This indoor attraction is a fun way to spend a day with the family learning, exploring and playing all at once. Here’s how our most recent visit went.

The first thing you notice when you pull into the parking lot is the massive upside-down building, a preview of what’s inside. The upside-down theme carries through the entrance, where you walk through a spinning tunnel that flips you “upside down” (or right side up?) with a great effect. A step or two in, it feels like the whole room is spinning. It made me a little queasy. For young kids, anyone with a weak stomach, or parents with strollers, there’s a bypass just to the left that skips the tunnel. If you use the same-day re-entry option, you can skip it on your way back in too.

The environmental room

After the tunnel, now properly upside down to match the building, you’re greeted by a series of environmental displays. The first mimics the temperature of the ocean water the night the Titanic sank: stick your hand in the ice-cold water and see how long you last. Our group’s best was about 45 seconds, though we saw plenty of people go much longer. The display is small and encourages you to linger, so if the room is crowded it can take a while to get your turn. There are plenty of other exhibits in the room while you wait.

Earthquake and hurricane simulators

The two most popular displays here are the earthquake and hurricane simulators. Both have a short line where your group waits its turn. The earthquake simulator sits your group in a “café” while you feel an earthquake firsthand. We could have done without the simulated screaming pumped loudly into your ears; having grown up in California, I’ve been through a few real earthquakes of that magnitude, and nobody screams that loud. The ride is mostly a shaking room, so unless your group has never felt an earthquake, this is one to skip.

The hurricane simulator, on the other hand, usually has a short line and is a blast for the whole family. It simulates category-one hurricane winds for about 30 seconds, and it’s fun to see who can handle the wind in their face. Our kids opened their mouths for some extra hilarious hijinks. Don’t miss it, if only for the nice breeze on a hot summer day in Pigeon Forge.

Lightning

The last exhibit in the environmental room is a Tesla coil display that simulates lightning strikes, a loud, crackling finale before you head deeper into the building.

The climbing wall

The indoor climbing wall was a highlight for our kids. You’re clipped into an auto-belay harness, so even first-timers can go for the top, and the lighting changes color as you climb. Our kids climbed it on both of our visits.

Bed of Nails and the giant piano

The Bed of Nails is the exhibit everyone has to try: you lie down on what looks like a bed of spikes, the nails rise up beneath you, and thanks to physics, spreading your weight across hundreds of points means it doesn’t hurt. It’s a great photo, and a surprisingly good science lesson.

Nearby, the giant floor piano lets you play a tune with your feet, with sheet music on the wall for songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Easier said than done when you have to jump from key to key.

Hands-on science

WonderWorks is packed with hands-on physics. One of our favorites was the pulley chair, where you hoist yourself up by pulling a rope and feel how the pulleys multiply your strength. In the bubble lab, you stand in a ring and pull a giant soap bubble up around yourself.

Rides and simulators

Beyond the exhibits, WonderWorks has rides and simulators that cost a little extra or come with combo tickets. The boys rode the motion simulator, where the seats pitch and roll with the action on screen, and there’s a robotic-arm ride that swings riders through the air on a giant industrial arm.

Our verdict

WonderWorks is a great half-day for families, especially on a rainy day or a hot afternoon when you need air conditioning. The kids burned off energy on the climbing wall and learned a little physics along the way. Skip the earthquake café, don’t miss the hurricane shack and the climbing wall, and look for combo tickets if your group wants the rides.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Where to stay

WonderWorks is on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, an easy drive from Firefly Hollow Cabin in Sevierville with no steep mountain roads. After a day of hands-on science, the cabin’s game room keeps the fun going with a 4-player arcade, ping-pong, foosball and an Infinity game table, and the hot tub is waiting for the grown-ups. Every bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom, and it sleeps 11. See the cabin, or check your dates below.