What better way to tee off with the kids than doing it while making your way down a mountain slope? At Hillbilly Golf in Gatlinburg, that’s exactly what you’ll be doing and enjoying every minute.To access the two courses, you’ll take a funicular tram up the 300-foot incline to the top. The ride up gives… Read more »
Take a silent, fun coaster ride down the mountain, by day or by night! Take a silent cruise through the Smoky Mountains on the Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster. It’s a fun and inexpensive way for you and your family to experience the sights and sounds of the mountains…Read more »
Learn All about the Sinking of the Titanic at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge If you’re thinking about visiting Pigeon Forge, would you believe that, of all places, it’s the home of 1 of 2 museums in the country honoring the Titanic’s sinking? (The other is in Branson, Missouri.) Pigeon Forge’s Titanic Museum… Read more »
MagiQuest houses four unique attractions including a maze of mirrors, black-light pirate mini-golf and a laser-beam obstacle course. MagiQuest is a video game you move through on your feet, an interactive world you move through, immersive for all the family. Play solo or as a team, at your own speed…Read more »
The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend offers a deep dive into the history and culture of the Southern Appalachians and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including Cades Cove. The Center preserves the history of the Native Americans and the earlier inhabitants of this area, with displays and recreations, including an authentically created Appalachian… Read more »
Located just 35 miles from Gatlinburg, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian serves as a scenic road trip and an extraordinary destination. Highway 441, that many take to Sugarlands Visitor Center and on up to Newfound Gap, also continues to the North Carolina side of the national park, to the town of Cherokee, which hosts… Read more »
At The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, there are over 20,000 sets of shakers on display from all around the world. Not only that, but there is a massive pepper mill collection that you can view, too. If you had to make a list of all the condiments people love, salt and pepper… Read more »
Anakeesta is a mountaintop theme village serving up fun, activities, dining and shopping – and amazing views – up on the mountain just a chairlift ride away from downtown Gatlinburg on Parkway. The whimsical mountaintop village area offers stunning views of the Smoky Mountains in all directions – unique views to some visitors since this… Read more »
Gazing up at the rolling hills of the Smokies is an immersive experience, but what if you could see the mountains from an entirely new vantage point? Thanks to Gatlinburg SkyLift Park you can do just that, and get beautiful, sweeping views of the surrounding mountains from high above while enjoying some stellar entertainment and… Read more »
Ober Gatlinburg sits above Gatlinburg on Mt Harrison, and for 50 years has offered skiing and snow sports in winter and plenty of other fun activities that are good all year round. Access to the area is as simple as taking the nation’s largest Aerial Tramway, right from Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg (there’s also a… Read more »
SkyFly: Soar America offers a flying theater style of travelog, an immersive, big-screen experience on a moving chair rack that creates the feel of flying while also cruising through some of America’s most fabulous landscapes. The sensory effects also include wind, mist and even scents, to simulate the reality of flight, and absorb all the… Read more »
Experience a 360-degree panorama that celebrates the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the most unique and treasured environments throughout North America, and the community of Gatlinburg is proud to be the gateway to this special locale. Of course, the rolling summits and lush forests look magnificent from… Read more »
It can be hard to find the right church when you’re traveling, so here’s our guide to help you. The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area offers many places to worship during your visit to the Smoky Mountains. Church Listings You can find a variety of churches through the ChurchFinder.com website.Here are some shortcuts to selected… Read more »
The Bush’s Beans Visitor Center makes a great side trip when visiting Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. This unlikely venues offers 100 years of history, and a lot of information about that can of beans you’ve seen all your life. There’s a museum and a gift shop for unique souvenirs, and of course a restaurant so… Read more »
Tour the Hollywood Star Cars Museum and you’re in for an exciting Gatlinburg, TN attraction. Movie buffs and car enthusiasts will rejoice. So slide your keys into the ignition, start ‘er up, and coast on down to the Museum at 914 Parkway. Get ready to tour a collection of more than 40 famous vehicles. There’s… Read more »
If you need an indoor activity to do with the whole family while you visit the Pigeon Forge area, the wax museum is the only one of its kind you can find in the entire country. You can experience some of the modern stars like Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman. If you appreciate some of… Read more »
Gatlinburg Pinball Museum has over 100 vintage pinball machines and arcade games, and your all-day pass allows you to play as many as you want (no coins needed!) the whole day, even with breaks during the day (lunch, etc.). The pinball museum feels more like an arcade, since this museum is hands-on interactive, giving you… Read more »
Ripley’s makes no secret of it: this is the strangest place you will visit in Gatlinburg. Inspired by the wildly famous television show, the Believe it or Not Museum gets you acquainted with some of the weirdest, most bizarre, and unusual experiences our planet has to offer. Yes, the Smoky Mountains area reminds you of… Read more »
It doesn’t have to be Halloween to scare yourself out of your wits, because any time is good to visit the Mysterious Mansion in Gatlinburg. This three-level haunted attraction is open throughout the year and has been scaring the young and old since 1980. How young? Hmm, probably older than about 7-8 years – experience… Read more »
Explore the history of Gatlinburg with a touch of the macabre, in a Ghost Tour of the town and the skeletons in its closet. Operated by Appalachian GhostWalks, and awarded one of the Top 10 ghost tours in America by USA Today, the Gatlinburg Ghost Walk offers an opportunity for you and the whole crew… Read more »
Located near our Gatlinburg Falls cabin rental location of Gatlinburg Falls Resort, Cooter’s Place is a tribute to the good ol’ TV show about the Dukes of Hazzard. Visit Cooter’s Garage in Pigeon Forge, TN, and you will be transported back to the days of the adrenaline rushing car chases with the General Lee and… Read more »
Great Smoky Mountains National Park seems endless with its vistas of rolling mountains like waves running into the distance – but hidden in the middle of it all is a beautiful flat valley of almost 7,000 acres, a haven for wildlife of all kinds, and human visitors. This is Cades Cove, the most popular destination… Read more »
Taking a scenic drive is one of the easiest and most rewarding things you can do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With almost 400 miles of roadway in the park and the surrounding scenic area, you can drive to specific locations to enjoy, as well as tour through steadily changing vistas of great beauty…. Read more »
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a remarkable accomplishment by the National Park Service, a slow and easy drive through nature that’s as richly rewarding as a hike or nature ramble, with beautiful scenic views, along a mountain river and through lush forest teeming with wildlife, but in the comfort of your car. Situated just… Read more »
The park has over 150 maintained hiking trails, offering more than 850 miles of hiking. Here’s our definitive guide to hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including a trail map of the national park, links and resources, most popular trails – AND the hidden gems, easy strolls, nature trails and best hikes…Read more »
The Nature Trails of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are short and fairly easy trails developed by park rangers with the non-hiker in mind. They’re self-guiding, and some even have brochures that point out the many things to notice. Even though many of them are quite easy, and suitable for families with small children and… Read more »
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 2,000 miles of running water, and its folded topography allows for rocky slopes at every elevation and almost literally around every corner. Water plus sloping rock equals waterfall – and the park has them in abundance. Gatlinburg is the center for visiting these falls…Read more »
The Quiet Walkways of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are short and relatively easy trails that lead directly from the road and plunge quickly into selected areas of natural beauty. They offer a peaceful and rewarding experience, and some of them are easy enough for any non-hiker to take a walk in the woods…Read more »
Here are some of the best places to take an easy walk, even by wheelchair, and still enjoy the natural outdoors of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, without having to take a strenuous hike. Many places are accessible even for families with young children or the challenged, in the national park and surrounding area…Read more »
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a designated world biosphere with a rich diversity of plant and wildlife. One of its more spectacular displays is the amazing profusion of wildflowers that bloom each year in the springtime, predominating in April. The national park contains more than 1,500 flowering plants in its half-million acres, and more… Read more »
Chimneys Picnic Area is a popular section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park with parking, picnic tables, grills and bathrooms. On Hwy 441 between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC, easily accessible from both sides of the park, it has 68 picnic sites, some directly on the riverside, and shady spots to relax in…Read more »
Little River Trail is perfect for people with no hiking experience. We recommend it for families, and all ages, although not suitable for baby strollers or wheelchairs. There’s no need for hiking boots or any gear beyond a small backpack, some water bottles, and maybe some snacks. Sneakers and shorts is fine…Read more »
Cataract Falls is one of several natural waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that can be accessed via a hiking trail. This particular trail is a short and easy walk, which means it’s a great option for all the family, including small children who may tire easily, and inexperienced hikers. The Smoky Mountains teems… Read more »
Little River Road is best known as the road to Cades Cove from Gatlinburg. It starts at Sugarlands Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just a very short drive south from Gatlinburg and meanders along the Little River, offering spectacular scenery, overlooks, waterfalls and other natural attractions…Read more »
Autumn leaf color changes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is for many people the event of the year. The rolling mountain landscape forested with more than 100 varieties of trees provides a display of changing colors that lasts for almost 7 weeks. (For tips on where to go to view the colors, see our… Read more »
Laurel Falls Trail is one of the most well known hiking trails in the national park, and it leads to the beautiful 80-foot titular falls that are on many visitors’ must-see lists. This is a fairly easy trail – possibly the easiest one leading to a great waterfall. It’s a paved path that features relatively… Read more »
