Places to Visit Traveling to Gatlinburg Tn From Nc
12 Peak-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Gatlinburg, TN
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Arriving in Gatlinburg, y'all might wonder how a identify so modest could go so big. Gatlinburg is a pop tourist destination, and information technology'south like shooting fish in a barrel to effigy out why. This town is the master point of entry to the virtually visited national park in the United states of america. Even with more than 12 meg park visitors each twelvemonth, the little town of Gatlinburg does everything possible to make you experience welcome.
Gatlinburg attracts many unlike types of tourists. If y'all similar to shop and make the scene in a carnival-like temper, get your kicks on the Gatlinburg Strip and ride the Space Needle for an hawkeye's view of the activity below.
Desire more space with a broader perspective? Have a elevator to Anakeesta, Ober Gatlinburg, or SkyLift Park and be dazzled by world-class theme parks fashion upwards in the sky. Move on up a little higher to the Top of Old Smoky on Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and you might decide that at that place's no need for sky to wait!
Gatlinburg is a perfect escape for romantic couples, families seeking things to do, and individuals needing gear and supplies to prolong mountain adventures. It might come equally a surprise that you become a different blazon of company than when you lot first arrived. Choose from our list of attractions and things to practise in Gatlinburg.
Note: Some businesses may exist temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues.
1. Groovy Smoky Mountains National Park
The Sugarlands Visitor Center of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a creekside walk or shuttle bus ride away from Gatlinburg. This eye and its attentive rangers volition help you sentinel out all the things to do in Neat Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are arriving from North Carolina, make a pitstop at the Oconoluftee Company Center, and watch for herds of elk who might be foraging.
With a map and directions, head out on a trail that is right for y'all. If driving is more than your manner, choose a breathtaking auto route. Some of the highest Smoky Mount views are within an hour'southward drive of downtown.
Hiking on 900 miles of trails is the almost popular activity in the park. Walk beside spring-fed creeks under the awning of mixed deciduous and conifer trees. The park is home to more than 1,400 species of flowering plants, including mountain magnolias, wild azaleas, mount honor, orchids, and rhododendrons.
Wherever yous become to fix camp, picnic, or fly fish, be sure to stop, wait, and listen. These moments atop a mountain peak or beside a whitewater river will remain with you for the residue of your days.
Address: 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Official site: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
ii. Clingmans Dome Observation Tower
Clingmans Dome is the highest betoken in Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At six,643 feet, the Clingmans Dome Observation Belfry is a ane-hour ascent by car from downtown. Sunrise and sunset on clear days are the all-time times to see views that bridge 100 miles over the misty mountains.
The observation tower rises 45 feet above Erstwhile Smoky to behold the panorama of Tennessee and neighboring Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. In one case yous arrive at the Clingmans Dome parking lot, take the half-mile paved walkway to the base of the tower and follow the concrete ramp to the pinnacle. On the way up, yous cross the world-renowned Appalachian Trail, which meanders all the way to Maine. Interpretation signs at the tower inform yous about the peaks and towns beneath, including Gatlinburg.
Official site: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/clingmansdome.htm
3. Bulldoze the Cades Cove Loop Road
Caput to Cades Cove Loop Road for a scenic drive or bicycle tour into the pastoral countryside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Depending on the ho-hum-moving traffic and number of stops you lot make, it can take 2 to four hours to consummate the eleven-mile journey. With more than than two one thousand thousand visitors each year, plan to go far early in the morn. The lineup can stretch for many miles, especially during the flavor of autumn leaves.
Once home to a community of settlers, the area draws tourists with its picturesque rural meadows, pioneer homesteads, churches, and mount views. It'due south well-known for a hike to Abrams Falls. In addition to grazing horses, you are probable to run into browsing deer and blackness bears.
Official site: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm
4. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies submerges y'all in a marine world where having fun is the focus of your underwater experience. Throughout your bout, you are surrounded by massive exhibits containing swimming creatures large and small. Ripley's Glass Bottom Gunkhole Risk presents sea life from a different perspective.
Many exhibits are interactive to enhance learning opportunities. This includes stepping into a run across-through glass tunnel that provides a 360-caste view of sharks and other body of water predators swimming by. At the large shallow lagoon that is home to 3 species of stingrays, y'all can safely touch their backs every bit they swim shut to the edge of the tank.
Visitors dearest to gather in the Penguin Playhouse for wildlife interactions. In the playhouse, go nose to beak with the curious residents of this penguin colony. Whether you connect with them higher up or below the water, information technology's a care for to gawk at each other!
Address: 88 River Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Official site: world wide web.ripleyaquariums.com/gatlinburg
5. Anakeesta
Anakeesta–the Cherokee give-and-take for "high ground"–is an award-winning theme park where you can spend a couple of hours or a whole day. Top attractions include the treetop skywalk and 880-foot skybridge hovering 50 feet higher up the 70-acre rainforest. Grab your partner and duke information technology out on the dueling zipline bout. Descend 1,600 feet on the Rail Runner Mountain Coaster.
Half the adventure is riding the Chondola to the 600-foot tiptop, where you disembark into a variety evidence of things to do. Throughout your visit, stop to adore the best view of the Smoky Mountains from downtown Gatlinburg. A cornucopia of ix food and drink outlets keeps y'all fueled for what'due south around the next bend.
Accept a few moments in the Memorial Wood Walk to view photographs and read testimonials of residents who survived the Gatlinburg fire storm in 2016. Wander through the lush botanical Vista Gardens before climbing the AnaVista Tower. The tower's commanding view of Mount Le Conte in the Smoky Mountains is one of the rewards for reaching the highest indicate higher up downtown.
Address: 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Official site: https://anakeesta.com/
6. Ober Gatlinburg
Ober Gatlinburg is a ski resort and amusement park offering year-circular recreation. The complex features a 30-minute chairlift to a scenic lookout, indoor water ice-skating rink, ski runs, an alpine slide, mini golf, and Kiddie Land. Instead of driving the steep and twisty road to the tiptop, hop aboard the 2-mile Aerial Tramway to Ober Gatlinburg from downtown Gatlinburg.
The Wildlife Encounter expanse at Ober Gatlinburg provides viewing opportunities of black bears, river otters, and bobcats within habitat enclosures. A curt trail leads to alpine meadows, wildflowers, and lookouts from Mount Harrison. At speeds up to 25 miles per hour, the Ski Mountain Coaster plummets through a half-mile of tight turns and rollercoaster dips.
Ober Gatlinburg needs no enhancements but here they are: seven restaurants and a multilevel concourse featuring 15 stores.
Address: 1339 Ski Mountain Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Official site: https://obergatlinburg.com/
7. Walk the Gatlinburg Strip and Ride the Space Needle
The Gatlinburg Strip is a mini version of the Las Vegas Strip that packs the mile-long corridor with amusements. In addition to places to stay, the strip is a crazy quilt of wax museums, escape games, arcades, axe-throwing competitions, craft demonstrations, candy workshops, carnival rides, and a gazillion stores in dorsum alleyways. Every year, countless pizza slices and scoops of ice cream are consumed, and the upturned hats of music-making buskers are filled with dollar bills.
At whatsoever indicate along the strip, you'll spot the 407-human foot Gatlinburg Space Needle piercing blueish skies and starry nights. This is where the New year's Eve Ball drops and the Pyrotechnics Show explodes. Ii glass elevators lift visitors to the ascertainment deck for unforgettable views.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Gatlinburg: All-time Areas & Hotels
viii. Gatlinburg SkyLift and Skybridge
Skylift Park includes the most thrilling walk in Gatlinburg, the Skybridge. The renowned Skylift is an open up-air chairlift that transports y'all from the Gatlinburg Strip to the park atop Crockett Mountain. Skylift Park includes feats of engineering science that place you in the sky higher up the gorgeous mural that surrounds Gatlinburg.
SkyTrail combines three types of footpaths into 1. From the SkyDeck, a cantilevered boardwalk is suspended off a cliff. The boardwalk ends where two rope bridges start, creating a gateway to 4 viewing platforms of the Tulip Tower. From here, a path follows the ridge to SkyPark'south gem in the crown: SkyBridge.
Vertigo-defying visitors step onto the SkyBridge to cross a 700-foot unmarried bridge that is 500 anxiety above Gatlinburg. A 30-human foot section of transparent glass in the heart of the bridge is all that separates y'all from the depths below. The bridge completes the loop that returns yous to the SkyDeck.
In one case you've caught your jiff, re-fuel at the SkyCenter with its spectacular view of downtown and the Smoky Mountains beyond. Time your visit to celebrate the year-end Lights Over Gatlinburg consequence. Skylift staff string 60,000 bulbs to illuminate the park and create a 200-foot tunnel of light on the SkyBridge.
Address: 765 Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Official site: https://www.gatlinburgskylift.com/
nine. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Follow Old Cherokee Road out of downtown Gatlinburg to reach the start of the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This loop road is one of the nigh popular drives when visitors come to the Smoky Mountains. With trailheads and historical pitstops forth the narrow windy road, plan to spend hours completing the 5.5-mile loop.
Earlier heading out on the trail, selection up a copy of a booklet to the park'southward motor trails. Information most plough-of-the-century pioneer cabins, small-scale farming, and grist mills provide an intriguing historical backdrop to the glorious waterfalls, creeks, and old-growth y'all'll encounter along the way. Two of the most popular waterfalls in the park are accessed past hiking trails from the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls.
10. Visit the Great Smoky Arts and Craft Community
During your visit to Gatlinburg, you will notice many references to its community of artisans. The Nifty Smoky Arts and crafts Community represents the largest collection of independent artists in North America.
In an eight-mile loop east of Gatlinburg, you lot can connect with artists in their workshops and galleries and audit their creations. Browse more than 100 shops if yous're looking for gifts. Hop aboard the Gatlinburg Trolley and follow the yellow route. It covers the viii-mile Glades and Buckhorn Road loop, with stops at places to eat.
Official site: https://greatsmokyartsandcrafts.com/
11. Book an Take chances at Nantahala Outdoor Center
The eighteen,000-square-pes Nantahala Outdoor Centre (NOC) is the largest and closest outfitter to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the south end of the Gatlinburg Strip. Before heading out for a hike, check trail weather condition at the forepart door.
Dating back to 1972, NOC is a pioneer in white water rafting tours and wilderness skills preparation. Consult with its outdoor guides for professional communication about your next outdoor adventure. All guides are certified in rescue and wilderness survival. While visiting NOC, receive a discount when y'all book a river adventure on one of 6 celebrated white h2o routes in the Smokies.
Participate in on-site activities, such every bit scaling the inside 25-foot climbing wall. Become the kids balancing on the swinging rope bridge or crawling through the bear cavern. Relax beside the fireplace before plotting your side by side movement.
Address: 1138 Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Official site: https://noc.com/retail-locations/noc-gatlinburg
12. Hollywood Star Cars Museum
The Hollywood Star Cars Museum is a fun diversion for immature and sometime walking the Gatlinburg Strip. Featuring more than than 45 cars used in Hollywood movies, the collection includes vehicles from Gone in 60 Seconds, The Fast and the Furious, and Days of Thunder. Other famous favorites include the original Batmobile from the 1960s Television receiver show, Batman (besides as a Batmobile from 1992's Batman Returns), and Herbie from the Disney pic franchise of the same name.
Vehicles on bear witness were endemic or driven by Michael Jackson; Elvis Presley; James Dean; and local fable, Dolly Parton. If you can't bout the whole museum, admire the fins and chrome from the sidewalk.
Address: 914 Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Official site: https://www.starcarstn.com/
Where to Stay in Gatlinburg for Sightseeing
To aid you observe the perfect identify to stay at a rate that works for yous, we recommend these highly rated hotels in Gatlinburg, each with like shooting fish in a barrel access to downtown attractions and the Slap-up Smoky Mountains National Park:
Luxury Hotels:
- For those seeking a luxurious stay that'south close to a variety of things to run across and practise in and around Gatlinburg, The Society at Buckberry Creek is an excellent choice. This luxury mount retreat offers spacious accommodations with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, relaxing in-room massages, and easy access to hiking trails.
- Other great luxury options in the heart of the activeness are the Mount Village Inn and Baskins Creek Condominiums , both specially popular with larger groups and families for their well-appointed, modernistic condo-style units (consummate with kitchens).
Mid-Range Hotels:
- Good centrally located choices in the mid-range category include Courtyard Gatlinburg , which features well-appointed rooms plus great amenities, including a fun log-cabin-style eating house, an outdoor pool, and a big hot tub.
- Some other mid-range choice with a user-friendly location worth considering is the Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg Downtown , a 3-star hotel most the primary street, which features comfortable rooms, an indoor pool, a hot tub, and fire pit.
Budget Hotels:
- A great option for the budget conscious is the Quality Inn & Suites Gatlinburg , which offers comfortable rooms (hot breakfast included) and a good-sized seasonal outdoor pool.
- Other upkeep options worthy of consideration include Clarion Pointe Downtown , a 2-star hotel offering free Wi-Fi and breakfast, plus an outdoor pool (seasonal), and Econo Guild Inn & Suites on the River , which offers a number of larger suites with kitchenettes (breakfast is included).
Tips and Tours: How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains
- See the Waterfalls: The Smoky Mountains are home to more waterfalls than you could ever promise to see in a unmarried visit. This is thanks to the extreme rainfall (an boilerplate of 85 inches a twelvemonth) and the spectacularly steep mountains. A user-friendly way to see some of the most beautiful falls is an organized tour. A fun option is the Overnight Backpacking in the Smokies tour . This guided adventure starts at the park's Greenbrier entrance for a moderate hike along an Appalachian mountain path, taking in some of the park'due south picturesque cascades. Camping gear and meals are included.
- Sights of the Smokies: For those seeking a more immersive, solar day-long experience – and all nether the watchful eye of a knowledgeable, dedicated guide – you may want to consider the Sights of the Smokies All Day Bout . Highlights of this eight-hour chance include learning well-nigh the history of the region through visits to historic sites including the manufacturing plant at Dove Forge, dating dorsum to 1830, plus Wears Valley, which played an important part in the Ceremonious War. Other stops include historic Townsend, followed past a drive along the scenic Foothills Parkway West. (The bout includes coach transportation, and an optional lunch is available equally an upgrade.)
- Striking the Road in Great Smoky Mountain National Park: Few regions of the US offering so much stunning scenery in a destination equally piece of cake to reach as Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With iii entrances, it'due south easy to plot a route through the park that will have you drive through the most scenic parts, and still have you dorsum at the hotel in plenty of time for a late lunch or dinner. Meliorate still, accept a picnic, and accept your time. Starting forth the Newfound Gap Route, you'll find plenty of skillful excuses to stop, exist information technology at the Sugarlands Visitor Centre or somewhere forth the beautiful Greenbrier, a stretch of road that volition pb you to some of the park's most cute wildflowers. Be sure to catch a park map.
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Tennessee's Musical Roots: The state of Tennessee offers no end of fun things to run across and practice. A must-visit for music fans is the state capital of Nashville, habitation to such landmarks as Music Row, widely considered to exist the middle and soul of America's music manufacture. Other related attractions hither include the Land Music Hall of Fame, The Grand Ole Opry, and the Ryman Auditorium, where then many great artists have performed through the decades.
Music fans will likewise want to include Memphis in their Tennessee itinerary. Here, you'll be able to visit the Graceland dwelling house of Elvis Presley, and enjoy countless museums dedicated to musical icons of blues to land and rock and roll, including the fantabulous Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum.
Chattanooga (Choo! Choo!): The delightful, small city of Chattanooga makes a great base from which to explore Tennessee. The city is famous for its connection to the railway, and visitors are ever pleased to discover the city's original 1909 railroad station intact (information technology'south now a lovely hotel, including some old carriages for rooms). And cheers to a dandy preservation effort, it's possible to take a runway journey on a celebrated steam railroad train run by the Tennessee Valley Railroad.
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