Gatlinburg is home to many exciting activities and beautiful attractions, so deciding what to do exactly during your trip may be a difficult choice! This is why we have created a list of our top 5 things to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Whether you would prefer to explore the bar scene, attend local events, visit local restaurants or watch wildlife, we have a list of the top spots for you. Read on to learn more and be sure to book our vacation rentals in Gatlinburg TN today!
If you’re on a budget, don’t worry, there are still plenty of things to do. Take a trolley ride or a leisurely stroll around downtown Gatlinburg or take a few free tours of local distilleries. Get the most bang for your buck with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you can enjoy kayaking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildflowers almost year-round, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, abandoned cemeteries and schoolhouses, waterfalls, gorges, and more.
Of course, it’s not a bad thing to focus on eating and drinking while you’re on vacation. We’ve got lists of the top restaurants, coffee shops, and fine dining establishments. Plus, there are plenty of those distilleries and wineries to visit too. While you’re wandering around beautiful downtown Gatlinburg browsing in local shops and galleries, be sure to visit the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community with over 100 shops featuring art, pottery, baskets, photography, and more by local Appalachian artists. Or visit a few historical attractions like Elkmont Ghost Town and the Appalachian Quilt Trail. Plus, there’s sure to be a museum dedicated to something you like with Hollywood Star Cars, pinball, salt & pepper shakers, and the Guinness World Records museum.
And there are plenty of attractions in Gatlinburg to keep you busy and entertained for a while. Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Area offers skiing, snow tubing and snowboarding in winter, but also has an amusement park complete with roller coaster, miniature golf, and ice bumper cars. With Dollywood, Dollywood’s theme park and Splash Country a few miles away, you won’t run out of fun shows, rides, or activities either. And, right in the heart of downtown, Anakeesta’s mountaintop park offers great views from the observation tower, as well as ziplines, a single-rail mountain coaster, a treetop skywalk and more.
For amazing views and sightseeing, take the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway, the Gatlinburg SkyLift, or hike across the Gatlinburg Sky Bridge, America’s longest pedestrian bridge (complete with glass floor inserts). The top of Gatlinburg’s Space Needle offers breathtaking panoramic views of Gatlinburg and the Smokies. And there are exhibits and activities in the tower too. Natural attractions and sightseeing spots are everywhere you look here in Gatlinburg. Head to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for an abundance of wildlife and natural beauty. There are many wonderful trails to choose from, but we recommend the Chimney Tops Trail, Cades Cove, and the Sinks on Little River Gorge Road. And if the wildflowers are blooming, try the Schoolhouse Gap Trail and the Kanati Fork Trail.
