If you were wondering about the best place to go this summer, we highly recommend the Great Smoky Mountains. Come achieve a Gatlinburg TN summer vacation like no other when you visit us here. The summer season is almost here and with it comes a variety of summer activities and events that will make your summer trip one you will never forget. Take a look at what you and your family can plan for this summer in Gatlinburg:
Whitewater Rafting
The summer season encourages us to dig deep and find a sense of adventure. This is especially true when you visit locations such as Gatlinburg where you have all kinds of outdoor activities surrounding you. One of our favorite outdoor activities to enjoy in the summer is whitewater rafting. Take on the Pigeon River with the trusted professionals at Smoky Mountain Outdoors. They have been voted as a top 10 whitewater rafting experiences here in the country and have been leading rafting expeditions since 1993. The summer season is a great time for upper river and lower river rafting experience. You will find higher class rapids on the upper river perfect for experienced rafters while the lower river is great for families. Either way, you will have a scenic expedition complete with thrills perfect for the summer season.
Cool Off Inside Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
If you need a moment to cool off from the summer heat, you should do so inside Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. This local aquarium is right here in Gatlinburg and offers a stunning selection of underwater critters. Ripley’s features all of your favorite underwater creatures, including sharks, sea turtles, penguins, jellyfish, octopus, and of course, tons of fish! You will come across sprawling habitats where the underwater animals share a space together in harmony. Walk through the glass tunnel as sharks and more swim all around you. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies offers over 10,000 sea creatures along with educational programs perfect for the young children in your family. Don’t miss out on a visit this summer.
Enjoy a Round of Mini Golf
Make sure the dad in your group stays with the family instead of wandering off to golf during your trip by enjoying a round of mini golf as a family. You will find that Gatlinburg is ready to provide the mini golf fun this summer with a few different courses to choose from. Check out locations including Hillbilly Golf, Gatlin’s Mini Golf, and Crave Golf Club that can be found all around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Show up with a little friendly competition to make the most of your game.
Take a Scenic Drive
You can easily check out the surrounding wilderness during your summer visit with a scenic drive through the area. Gatlinburg is situated right along the Appalachia that is 800 square miles of beautiful mountain scenery including the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Many locals choose to drive through the Newfound Gap Road, where you can enjoy stops along the way to enjoy the Suglarlands Visitor Center or Newfound Gap. Head over to Greenbrier where you can find a 6-mile stretch that includes an abundance of wildflowers in full bloom. If you are in the hiking mood you can make a pit stop by Ramsey Cascades. While it is a 4-mile hike to the falls you will find the end result to be absolutely worth it. The scenic drives around Gatlinburg are sure to convince you to hit the road for an hour or two of stunning scenery.
Check Out Anakeesta
Gatlinburg is home to a variety of theme attractions but none so memorable as Anakeesta. This is the perfect mountain top adventure park that is located just over Gatlinburg. Getting up to Anakeesta is done through a gondola ride from Downtown Gatlinburg. The journey starts with this mesmerizing trip with stunning views of the valley. You will be taken up to Firefly Village that starts all of the fun. You will find a variety of shops to purchase gifts from along with dinner that overlooks Gatlinburg. The TreeTop SkyWalk is a part of Anakeesta that features 800 feet of connected hanging bridges; in fact, this is the longest tree based sky bridge in the country. If you stop by at night you can enjoy the Astra Lumina, a night walk through the woods where the stars will be shining bright and is the first Lumina experience in the United States. Don’t forget additional activities including the Hellbender Mountain Coaster and BirdVenture Play Area.
More Fun This Summer in Gatlinburg
This is the start of your summer fun right here in the area with a Gatlinburg TN summer vacation. Reserve one of our stunning cabin lodges here in the area.
Get ready for another exciting vacation getaway this summer in Gatlinburg. Beat the summer crowds and visit early on in the season for unbelievable fun while still maintaining your social distancing. Check out these early summer activities found only in Gatlinburg:
Go White Water Rafting
Gatlinburg is the perfect place for adventure seekers as the area has plenty of thrills. Nearby Little Pigeon River features crystal blue waters making it perfect for some white water rafting. The river flow is controlled by the local dam that has weekly releases giving you plenty of days to book a white water rafting experience. Local rafting companies can take you on a guided tour in a private or public group. Come see how you fare against Little Pigeon River!
Take the SkyLift
For the best views in all of Gatlinburg look no further than the SkyLift. This aerial tramway will take you up the mountains for a unique experience only available here. Once you reach the top take as many pics as you like before heading back down. SkyLift Park also has the longest suspension bridge for pedestrians in all of North America. The SkyBridge even features glass floor panels so you can look down at the gorge below you. This is not for the faint of heart but is always recommended for incredible views!
Visit Ober Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is covered in snow during the winter season but the snow melts away from summer giving Ober Gatlinburg plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. Stop by with your family for a variety of activities including indoor ice skating, ski mountain roller coaster, the alpine slide, a scenic chairlift, bumper cars, mini golf, water raft rides, and many more. The aerial tramway even has dinner options so you can easily spend the day at this popular attraction.
Visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Cool off with a visit to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies right here in Gatlinburg. This spacious aquarium features plenty of underwater creatures such as sharks, turtles, and rays. The underwater habitats have all kinds of wonderful animals that are a joy to see up close in person.
Plan Your Summer in Gatlinburg
Planning for your stay this summer in Gatlinburg is as easy as booking your next stay with us. Our vacation rentals will keep you comfortable throughout your stay with luxury amenities and spacious properties.
From bowling to magical adventures, there’s no shortage of amazing things to do when it gets a little too hot to be outdoors here in Gatlinburg! If you’re looking to keep cool on your next trip to the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, here are a few things to do in Gatlinburg to keep in mind:
Gatlinburg Community Center
If you’re looking to beat the heat this summer in Gatlinburg, then there are few better cooler places you can find by heading down to the Gatlinburg Community Center! Located right in the heart of Gatlinburg, the Community Center is a 52,000 square foot facility that offers something fun for everyone! An indoor swimming pool, bowling center, large fitness area, racquetball courts… you name it, they have it. The Gatlinburg Community Center truly can be fun for the entire family and is a great way to spend a day indoors and keep cool.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Highly rated as one of the best family attractions in all of Gatlinburg, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is the perfect day adventure! Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is home to a wide variety of ocean and marine life for you to discover, including sharks, manta rays, penguins, and so much more! Uncover the mysteries of the coral reef from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, or get up close and personal with the ocean’s most terrifying predators at the shark lagoon… the choice is yours! Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is an amazing day adventure that is both educational and exciting for the whole family.
MagiQuest
Want something a little different for the kids to enjoy? Then take a trip up the road to Pigeon Forge and visit MagiQuest: the interactive and live-action role-playing game! MagiQuest puts players right in the heart of a magical fantasy land and gives them the power of true sorcerers and witches (with real magic wands too!). There are three different adventures to embark on, and each will have players combining their new magical powers with their resourcefulness to solve the mysteries of the game. MagiQuest is the perfect day adventure for kids of all ages, and is a great way to keep cool and have fun!
Whether you decide to explore the depths of the oceans with sharks or solve the mysteries of a magical world, make sure that on your next Gatlinburg vacation you reserve one of the Cabin Rental’s Store’s properties to come home to! The Cabin Rental Store has a number of amazing rental properties all throughout the Gatlinburg area, and there’s no better place to recharge your batteries and relax after a long day of exploring everything the Great Smoky Mountains has to offer. So, don’t wait – contact us to make your reservation and to learn more about things to do in Gatlinburg!